6/6/1918 US troops halt one German offensive as Ludendorff prepares another #1918Live

German forces have made unprecedented gains since the start of the Blücher-Yorck offensive in the Chemin des Dames sector, the third phase of Ludendorff‘s spring offensives. Standing now on the Marne, German troops are closer to Paris than at any point since 1914. But it becoming apparent that the offensive has failed: the Allies have not collapsed and are now beginning to contain the Germans. In a worrying development for the Germans, American troops are starting to appear at the front in strength. Today American troops go into battle in Belleau Wood, successfully blocking the German advance there. This marks the end of the German offensive.

Allied troops are buoyed by the appearance of the American troops. It is a sign that they have weathered the storm and that the tide is turning in their favour. For the Germans, it is a sign that time is running out. The