WWI Battlefield Tours: Cantigny – Baptism of fire

America's first divisional attack of WWI 

In spring 1918, the German Army began a series of Western Front offensives. Russia leaving the war freed many German troops for service in the west. The Germans employed new tactics, specially trained assault troops and artillery breached Allied defenses for additional troops to follow through. Their intent was to force Allied negotiation before American forces joined the war. Under the stress, the Allies urgently asked for American troops in training to be committed to battle.  

The American infantry division was a combined-arms force of almost 19,000 soldiers. There were nearly 11,000 infantry in two brigades, and over 4,500 artillerymen. Divisional staff and engineers, along with signal, transport, supply, and medical troops made up the rest of the division. By comparison German and Allied divisions had half the number of men, but a proportionally larger amount of artillery.

The first American divisional attack of the war took place at Cantigny, a village 5 km northwest of Montdidier in the Somme region. It had fallen to the German Eighteenth Army during the first spring offensive in March. 

The 1st Division, including campaign-tested regiments from the Mexican border operations, had been the earliest American combat troops in France in May 1917. Their training included individual regiments fighting separately in French or British divisions. Nearly a year after their arrival, the 1st was sent to the front line opposite the heavily fortified village of Cantigny. 

The Germans spent most of May 1918 bombarding the division with high–explosive artillery and gas. After enduring this prolonged shelling, the 1st was ordered to take Cantigny. The town was captured on the first day of the assault, May 28, with the division's 28th Infantry Regiment in the lead. After taking over 200 prisoners, the Americans withstood a series of strong counterattacks over the next two days.  

The 1st suffered 1,603 casualties, including 199 killed, taking Cantigny. Although a local operation, it boosted Allied morale to see the American Expeditionary Forces taking the offensive. With this small victory, and the deployment of the 2nd and 3rd Divisions to defend Chateau-Thierry, the German high command realized that the long feared American infusion of manpower was now a reality. 

Read the entire article on the ABMC website.
External Web Site Notice: This page contains information directly presented from an external source. The terms and conditions of this page may not be the same as those of this website. Click here to read the full disclaimer notice for external web sites. Thank you.