The Battle of the Marne

The Battle of the Marne was one of the earliest battles in the First World War, and ended in a decisive victory for the Allies on the Western Front. Prior to this battle, German troops had been advancing relentlessly across Western Europe, sweeping through France and Belgium in spite of the latter’s neutrality. This all changed with the counter-attack by British and French soldiers, which put an end to the movement of troops and saw the beginning of trench warfare, one of the abiding symbols of the First World War. Understanding the Battle of the Marne is therefore crucial to understanding the four-year war of attrition that followed it. In just 50 minutes, you will learn about the tactics deployed by the German and Allied forces and find out about the outcome of the battle and the huge number of casualties.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough analysis of the main events of the battle and the strategies of both sides. It also features biographies of the key commanders and leaders, including Helmuth von Moltke and Joseph Joffre, a valuable introduction to the political and social context and an evaluation of the battle’s impact, giving you all the essential information about this crucial combat.

About the Battle of the Marne

The Battle of the Marne took place from 6 to 12 September 1914 in the north-east of France. The German army had planned to defeat France as quickly as possible before turning their attentions to the East, and at one point came within around 30 miles of Paris. It was therefore imperative for the Allies to push them back; they achieved this by launching a major counter-attack and forcing the Germans to retreat until the front stabilized. Subsequently, both sides dug trenches, opting for a kind of warfare that resulted in major loss of life and came to characterize the First World War.

This clear and accessible 47-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to the Battle of the Marne
• Political and social context
  • Tensions between the European powers before 1914
  • Summer 1914: European powers enter the war
• Commanders and leaders
  • John Denton Pinkstone French, British marshal
  • Joseph Joffre, French general
  • Helmuth von Moltke, German general
• Analysis of the battle
  • The German and French war plans
  • The invasion of Belgium and the Battle of the Frontiers
  • The Battle of the Marne
• Impact of the Battle of the Marne
  • Trench warfare
• Summary