War chronicle · 5–12 September · Marne, France
German hopes dispelled
The tables turn as Germany is driven back in the Battle of the Marne.
German forces have reached the River Marne, barely 50km from Paris. But thanks to the desperate, delaying actions fought by retreating British and French troops, the Germans are becoming exhausted. Their soldiers are running short of ammunition and food supplies.
The French seize the opportunity to launch a counterattack. The Battle of the Marne rages for a week, ultimately involving a million Allied (mostly French) and 900,000 German troops in one of the biggest battles of the entire war.
Although casualties are about 250,000 men on each side, the battle ends in a strategic victory for the Allies with the Germans driven back over 100km to the River Aisne. The Germans have just lost all prospects for a quick conquest.
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