Battle of Saint-Mihiel

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Date	12–19 September 1918
Location	Saint-Mihiel salient, France
Result	Pyrrhic Allied victory

Combatants

United States

German Empire

Commanders

John J. Pershing

Georg von der Marwitz

Strength

American Expeditionary Force

German Fifth Army

Casualties

7,000

2000 dead and 5500 wounded

Hundred Days Offensive
Amiens – 2nd Somme – Arras – Havrincourt – St.-Mihiel – Epéhy – Hindenburg Line – Meuse-Argonne – Courtai – Selle – 2nd Sambre

The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12 - 15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and a number of French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions. The United States Army Air Service (which later became the United States Air Force) played a significant role in this action.

This battle marked the first use of the terms 'D-Day' and 'H-Hour' by the Americans, though it was not the first battle that the Americans were involved in despite popular belief to the contrary.

The attack at the St. Mihiel salient was part of a plan by Pershing in which he hoped that the U.S. would break through the German lines and capture the fortified city of Metz. It was one of the first US solo offensives in WWI and the attack caught the Germans in the process of retreating. Hence their artillery was out of place and the Americans were more successful than they otherwise would have been. It was a strong blow by the U.S. and increased their stature in the eyes of the French and British forces. However, this battle again illustrated the critical role of artillery during WWI and the difficulty of supplying the massive WWI armies while they were on the move. The U.S. attack faltered after outdistancing their artillery and food supplies as muddy roads made support difficult. The attack on Metz was not realized as the Germans refortified their positions and the Americans turned their efforts to the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

[edit] Aftermath

For all historians, the battle of Saint-Mihiel is an example of advancing an army against one that preferred to leave a difficult to supply bulge. Overall casualties were low as defense was mainly rear-guard oriented. Strategically it was good news for the Allies. Compared to huge battles such as Verdun or the Somme, this was merely a skirmish. Its real importance is in the huge boost that this advance had on the US and Allied morale.