143: The Meuse-Argonne Offensive (pt.2) – Breaking the Kriemhilde Line

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 September 2023

⏱️ 58 minutes

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Summary

“All right, General. We’ll take it, or my name will head the list.” This is the story of Meuse-Argonne and the Americans’ continued struggles to take the Kriemhilde Line. Tennessean Alvin York hates war, yet he finds himself an unlikely hero when his youthful days of hunting turn him into a prisoner-taking sharpshooter as the US First Army presses forward against the Germans. But this isn’t a battle just for the First Army anymore. A stressed-out, breaking, Black Jack Pershing finally decides to go for the US Second Army and name generals to command each. He’ll oversee “only” the whole two-million-strong American Expeditionary Force. If he can keep his job, that is. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau is doing all he can to get the American fired. Nor is Black Jack doing any better at getting along with his usual French frenemy: Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Meanwhile, General Douglas MacArthur is traumatized–so many of his doughboys are slaughtered, why, he wonders, did God spare him? Elsewhere in the battle, Choctaw doughboys save the day as they use their native language to bypass eavesdropping Germans. Yet, for all of this, can the Americans break the Kriemhilde Line? We’ll find out. ___ 3 Ways to dive deeper into History That Doesn’t Suck Join our growing Facebook community Get our weekly newsletter, The Revolution Become part of the HTDS Patreon family Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	History that doesn't suck is a bi-weekly podcast, delivering a legit, seriously researched
0:03.6	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
0:06.5	If you'd like to support HTDS or enjoy bonus content, please consider giving at patreon.com-forward-slash-history-that-doesn't-suck.
0:20.0	It's just past 6 a.m. on a cold, misty morning, October 8, 1918.
0:25.6	Or with the doeboys of the US 82nd Division's 328th Infantry, as they battle their way westward through the thick trees and rough terrain of the Argon forest.
0:35.6	And I don't say battle lightly. The Germans are putting up a fierce fight.
0:40.6	Right now, the 328th is on Hill 223, a position they managed to take last night.
0:45.6	But before them, the triangular-shaped air valley is filled with death.
0:51.6	German shells are dropping like yesterday's rain, while German machine guns seem to be mowing down every ground-clad Yankee in the first platoon.
0:59.6	Good God! If these Americans are going to survive, let alone have any success.
1:04.6	They're going to have to take out these machine gunnests.
1:07.6	The task falls to G company, and amid the battle's chaos, Sergeant Bernard Early is ordered to slip off on the left and flank these gunners.
1:16.6	The Sergeant gathers 16 men, three corpals and 13 privates, and together they stealthily move through the thick brush.
1:24.6	The hope is that they can sneak around the German machine gunnests and capture them from behind.
1:29.6	It seems to be working. They make it through the brush and ascend a tree-covered ridge without being noticed.
1:37.6	Here, the 17 doeboys begin to debate their next move when they see two Germans passing through the woods.
1:43.6	Noting their foes, Red Cross bands, the Yankees hold their fire instead, ordering them to stop.
1:48.6	But both refuse. A doeboy then fires, after which the whole detachment pursues.
1:55.6	The two terrified Germans get away, but as the Yankes continue down another ridge, they soon stumble upon a small cabin-like structure.
2:03.6	It's a command post. Dozens of Germans are here.
2:07.6	Stretcher bears, officers, military men of all stripes, not one of them is armed.
2:13.6	Bernard and his men emerge from hiding, rifles drawn, ready to take the whole group captive.
	...

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