It’s time to start the new battle we’re going to cover, which will be the American-led Meuse-Argonne Offensive of 1918. We’re going to begin with an interview with Mr. Randy Gaulke, a fellow WW1 enthusiast, researcher, website master, and battlefield tour guide.
Mr. Gaulke runs the website www.meuse-argonne.com, which contains a wealth of information regarding the 47-day battle that defined American involvement in the Great War. The website contains several features such as bibliographies, articles, research statistics, travel tips, and a feature called “People of the Meuse-Argonne,” where individuals who study, write about, or live in the Meuse-Argonne give a quick biography of themselves. There is also a meuse-argonne.com FaceBook page, which connects you with hundreds of like-minded and incredibly helpful folks who readily share information, photos, and travel tips.
Please check out: www.meuse-argonne.com
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624894481060334/
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I’ve not yet finished listening to this podcast, but the enthusiasm for the subject is infectious.
I totally agree with Randy’s point, that the Americans tipped the balance; they didn’t win the war, nor were they ‘bit part’ players in some sort of sideshow. No doubt in my mind that without them, the war would have dragged on into 1919 & perhaps beyond.
Particularly struck by his fact that by the autumn of 1918, the AEF was holding an equal amount of front to the BEF forces, enabling Divisions to be released for attacks elsewhere along the line.
Hugely enjoying the depth these podcasts go into & the amount of research done in preparation. THANKS!
The other comments was Randy’s comment about the 100 days being the ‘be all & end all’ of the end of the war. I absolutely concur with this view. Foch’s great counter offensive of 2nd MARNE starting on 18th July was the clear turning point of the Great War. It threw back the massive German Friedensturm offensive, which turned out to be the German’s last throw of the dice in 1918.
So yes, it would be great if it were called the last ‘116 days’ & 2nd Marne given its rightful place as the start of that period, instead of just some much forgotten footnote. Even here, people assume it started on 15th July & that is the listed date on wikipedia for example.
Hi Richard,
Thanks for the kind words! I agree with the correct name of the “Last 116 Days” and should have gone with that in my episodes. I can still fix it, though.
Mike