Germany’s Western Front: 1914: Translations from the German Official History of the Great War, Part 1

IX Operations on the Meuse and Aisne

1. third army’s Battle north of the aisne, 28–30 august On 25 August, Fourth Army continued to pursue French troops retreating from Neufch âteau, attacking the enemy’s positions on the Meuse and Chiers on the battlefield of Sedan, where German troops had achieved victory in 1870 .1 At 19:00 on 26 August, Fourth Army Headquarters reported to the OHL, “Attack on Donchery–Sedan proceeding . Army’s left wing acquired the line Sailly–Olizy and is advancing on the Meuse . . . . Tomorrow the army attacks across the Meuse, VI Corps across the line Dun–Brandeville .”2 The French put up stiff resistance that kept the army on the left bank of the Meuse until 27 August . This forced Duke Albrecht to seek urgent assistance from both Third and Fifth Armies in mounting flanking attacks; his requests were refused . On 28 August, Fourth Army continued to attack all along its front . The units at its centre made little progress, taking heavy casualties; both flanks were repeatedly threatened by counterattacks . Nevertheless, Duke Albrecht hoped that his costly attack across the Meuse might achieve more than a bridgehead across the river . 1 The following is a summary of Reichsarchiv, Der Weltkrieg, 1914 bis 1918, Band III: Die militärischen Operationen zu Lande: Der Marne-Feldzug: von der Sambre zur Marne (Berlin: E.S.Mittler und Sohn, 1926), hereafter DW III, Chapter 1, Parts 1 and 2: “Fourth Army’s Operations on the Meuse, 26–28 August,” 14–40; and “Fifth Army’s Advance to the Meuse, 26–28 August,” 40–55 . 2 DW III:21. IX Pp Operations on the Meuse and Aisne 314 part ii: from the sambre to the marne Throughout the day, he repeatedly sought assistance from Fifth and Third Armies to strike behind the enemy, cutting off their paths of retreat .While Fifth Army remained occupied with events on its own front, Third Army agreed to send a mixed detachement of a few infantry battalions supported by a squadron of cavalry and a single field battery in the direction of Vendresse–Sapogne to strike the enemy’s rear . By nightfall, reports had been received that the French were again retreating through Vendresse and Chagny in a westerly and southwesterly direction; meanwhile, aerial reconnaissance showed that the enemy was also retreating along the Vendresse–Le Chesne railway . Fourth Army’s evening report to the OHL read: After heavy fighting the entire Fourth Army has gained a firm foothold on the western bank of the Meuse between Sedan and Pouilly east of Beaumont and has, in several places, pushed the enemy (XI, XVII, Colonial, and elements of II Corps) back . The enemy appears to be in retreat . Masses of troops have been observed on the Chémery–Vendresse road . Tomorrow the enemy will be pushed still farther back . Our own losses and gains cannot be estimated at this time, however for some units losses have been severe . The soldiers have again fought gallantly . . . . XIII Corps is redeploying from Signy l’Abbaye via Poix Terron into the rear and flanks of the retreating enemy .3 On the night of 25 August, Fifth Army was situated with its front facing southwest along the general line Marville–Spincourt–Landres . Due to strong French counterattacks on Fifth Army’s southern flank, Fifth Army Headquarters’ plan to push the enemy north towards the Meuse and away fromVerdun had failed . Nevertheless Crown Prince Wilhelm still hoped to secure the tactical victory he had won by mounting a pursuit with his right wing . Reports received during the course of 26 August created the impression that the enemy had withdrawn from the Theinte to the line Damvillers– Azannes . Before the army’s right wing, this retreat appeared to have taken the enemy beyond the Meuse . Behind the French Front, heavy traffic was reported along all the 3 A note in the original reads: “The draft for this report in Fourth Army Headquarters’ files reflects the above wording. In contrast, in the copy of the telegram found in the OHL files the last printed line is missing and in handwriting the word‘retreating’ has been replaced by the word ‘fleeing.’” There are no clues to explain this conspicuous difference.’ See DW II:14–39. operations on the meuse and aisne 315 railways leading south from Sedan and Mézières . Meanwhile, reports were received around noon suggesting that Sixth Army had pivoted to the line Moncel...