Get knee deep into history following the American Expeditionary Forces in their St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives of late 1918. On 24 July 1918 General Pershing issued orders announcing the formation of the First American Army, effective 10 August; and in early August Generals Pershing and Foch agreed that this army should eliminate the St. Mihiel Salient. The German Supreme Command had already planned a retreat from the salient to a more defensive position, and the first German troops had started moving when the offensive began.
The rapid success of the St. Mihiel Offensive, lasting only from 12 – 16 September 1918, would give a shot in the arm to America’s coalition partners and make the A.E.F. over-confident.
In late 1918 Foch ordered Allied attacks in parallel all along the Western Front to give the German Army the deathblow. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive began on 26 September, but it would not go as smoothly as the previous assault. Green troops and leaders would suffer severe casualties in the face of a skilled adversary fighting for survival on terrain that favored the defender.
Briefings during this tour will focus on the complexities of coalition war-making in late 1918, advances made by Allies on other fronts, General Pershing and other key A.E.F. leaders, and a comparison of U.S. and German casualties.
This tour is timed to coincide with the 107th Anniversary of the start of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Price is per person based on double occupancy.
Pick-up at CDG at 12:00pm. Visiting select sites in the St. Mihiel Salient, including the St. Mihiel American Memorial, with a focus on the 26th and 1st Division assaults. We will visit an altarpiece attributed to 16th Century French Sculptor Ligier Richier in Hattonchâtel. Introductory dinner that evening. Hotel TBD in the St. Mihiel Salient or Verdun.
Please Note: Pick-up and return point for this tour will be CDG Airport. A specific meeting point will be provided later. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the meeting point. Participants with their own vehicles can arrange to meet us at an alternate location.