Coursify
Create New CourseGalleryContact

History of WW1

Unit 1
Axis Powers
The Central PowersCauses and Alliances of the Central PowersImpact of the Axis Powers
Unit 3 • Chapter 3

Battle of Marne

Video Summary

The Battle of the Marne, fought from September 5th to 12th, 1914, was a pivotal battle on the Western Front during World War I. Initially, the German advance, part of the Schlieffen Plan aiming for a swift victory over France, had achieved considerable success, pushing deep into French territory. However, the French Sixth Army, under General Michel Maunoury, counterattacked the German right flank, aided by a crucial role played by French taxis transporting troops to the front lines. This counterattack, along with the determined defense of the British Expeditionary Force and other French units, halted the German advance and forced them into a strategic retreat. The battle marked the failure of the Schlieffen Plan and the beginning of trench warfare on the Western Front. It represented a significant Allied victory, preventing a swift German victory and significantly altering the course of the war. The Marne effectively ended the era of swift, maneuver-based warfare that characterized the early months of the war, ushering in four long years of static trench warfare.

Knowledge Check

Which crucial element contributed to the Allied victory at the Battle of Marne?

What was the primary German military strategy that was thwarted by the Battle of Marne?

What significant development on the Western Front resulted from the Battle of Marne?