28/5/1918 Cantigny: US troops have their baptism of fire

Ludendorff‘s goal in the spring offensives is to defeat the Allies before US troops arrive in sufficient numbers to tip the balance in their favour. By now there are nearly 650,000 Americans in France but their combat ability remains largely untested. Some on the Allied side fear that, unlike the battle-hardened troops of the French and British, the Americans will quail at their first experience of real fighting. Many of the Germans also cling to this belief.

Today US troops receive their first serious experience of combat. The village of Cantigny lies on high ground captured by the Germans during Operation Michael, the first phase of the spring offensive. From here the Germans are able to observe Allied lines beyond. Now US troops attack, supported by French tanks. They overrun the German positions and then hold the village in the face of determined counter-attacks.
Cantigny is a small…