The First Battle of Aisne
September 13th-28th, 1914
After their defeat at the 1st battle of Marne, the German's first and second armies under the command of General Alexander von Kluck and General Karl von Bulow continued their retreat from the British and French forces. It was debated that the British and French forces could have much farther advances after their victory at Marne if the moved more rapidly and continued there assult on the retreating Germans. But they instead advanced slowly due to caution and fatigue. It wasn't till the 11th of September that the French and British noticed that the Germans were intending to stop their retreat at the River Aisne.
When they arrived at the Aisne, the Germans armies were joined by the German 7th army under the command of General Josias von Heeringen. The Germans were then able to entrench themselves along the Northern bank of the River Aisne and also used the Chemin des Dames Ridge because it granted a long and desired defensive position which helped them in there defence.
Apon they reached the German positions at the Aisne on Sept. 13th, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) under the control of Sir John French ecompanied by the French 5th and 6th armies (commanded by General D'Esperey and Maunoury), assulted the enctrenched Germans. The French and British forces continued their assult on the German defensive positions on the Plateau after having built a bridgehead north of the river on th 14th of Sept. During the assult, the Germans continued to show their strength in defensive warefare by deploying machine gun fire, heavy artillery, and having counter-attacks within a few hours after the allies assults. Thus forcing the French and British back and allowing only small advances.
Fighting was finally abandoned on September 28th because no side could manuver past the other especially the French and British troops not being able to breaking through the entrenched Germans. However, both the Allied forces and the Germans would try to instead out flank each other in a northward movement called the 'race to the sea' (which was started by the French Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre).
When they arrived at the Aisne, the Germans armies were joined by the German 7th army under the command of General Josias von Heeringen. The Germans were then able to entrench themselves along the Northern bank of the River Aisne and also used the Chemin des Dames Ridge because it granted a long and desired defensive position which helped them in there defence.
Apon they reached the German positions at the Aisne on Sept. 13th, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) under the control of Sir John French ecompanied by the French 5th and 6th armies (commanded by General D'Esperey and Maunoury), assulted the enctrenched Germans. The French and British forces continued their assult on the German defensive positions on the Plateau after having built a bridgehead north of the river on th 14th of Sept. During the assult, the Germans continued to show their strength in defensive warefare by deploying machine gun fire, heavy artillery, and having counter-attacks within a few hours after the allies assults. Thus forcing the French and British back and allowing only small advances.
Fighting was finally abandoned on September 28th because no side could manuver past the other especially the French and British troops not being able to breaking through the entrenched Germans. However, both the Allied forces and the Germans would try to instead out flank each other in a northward movement called the 'race to the sea' (which was started by the French Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre).