The+First+Battle+of+the+Marne

The First Battle of the Marne was a battle fought in World War I. This battle took place in September of 1914. In this battle, the Allied forces in combat were France and the United Kingdom. Of course, a major nation from the Central Powers was the German empire. The French and British armies forced the German forces down the Marne river which flows in a crescent shape through France. This became a bloody part of Europe’s history.

There are many reasons why World War I started. One contribution to the war was the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, which made Austria declare war. Then, the alliance system that was in play dragged 20 nations into what would become the first World War. The First Battle of the Marne was an Allied victory of this war that caused the Germans to retreat to the northwest. This was a very decisive battle and a key component of the Allied forces winning the war. The First Battle of the Marne introduced the very important tactic of trench warfare. This also marked the first use of radio intercepts, air reconnaissance, and extensive use of auto transportation of troops in wartime. In fact, the French General, Michel-Joseph Maunoury, demanded the use of Paris taxis and buses be provided to rush troops to the front. This became known as "taxis of the Marne."

This specific battle impacted many people from everywhere around the globe. The First Battle of the Marne made people realize how violent and brutal the whole war would be. This especially affected Germany because it was a major loss and disadvantage for them. The effects of this battle were tragic, with hundreds of thousands of casualties. Today, a museum marks the site of The First Battle of the Marne know as the Museum of the Great War. Here you can see over 50,000 objects and documents as well as over 200 uniforms representing the majority of the nations involved in World War I. You can also take a tour of the battlefields of the Marne where a monument and memorial have been dedicated to those from the region who lost their lives during World War I.