In July 1918, sensing that the German Army had lost crucial momentum,
Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch saw an opportunity to end the
First World War. In drafting his plans for a final grand offensive, he
assigned the most difficult sector -- the dense Argonne forest and the
vast Meuse River valley -- to the American Expeditionary Forces under
General John J. Pershing. There, the Doughboys faced thickly defended
German lines with terrain deemed impossible to fight through. From
September 26 through the November 11 armistice, US forces suffered more
than 20,000 casualties a week, but the Allies ultimately prevailed in a
decisive victory that helped to end the Great War.
In Thunder in the Argonne, Douglas V. Mastriano offers the most
comprehensive account of this legendary campaign to date. Not only does
he provide American, French, and British perspectives on the offensive,
but he also offers -- for the first time in English -- the German view.
Mastriano presents a balanced analysis of successes and failures at all
levels of command, examining the leadership of the principals while also
illuminating acts of heroism by individual soldiers.
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive is widely regarded as one of America's
finest hours, and the amazing feats of Sergeant Alvin York, Major
Charles Whittlesey of the Lost Battalion, and Lieutenant Sam Woodfill --
all accomplished in the midst of this maelstrom -- echo across the ages.
Published to coincide with the centennial of the campaign, this engaging
book offers a fresh look at the battle that forged the modern US Army
