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19 1918 armistice that ended world war i. Up next on american artifacts, historian Mitchell Yockelson and french battlefield guide Guillaume Moizan guide us to several key locations in northeastern france, including place wheres hearry truman, an others had life experiences. We have an unexploded 75 millimeter ar till rear shell on the floor of the Argonne Forest. This is about an hour. Were standing in front of the pennsylvania monument dead indicat dedicated in 1927 to honor the veterans of pennsylvania many of them in the 28th National Guard division that were directly involved with liberating the town that was in the 407 day meuse argonne operation that involved the doughboys. You grew up not far from him. Is it easy to say you explored these battlefields on many occasions as a young manned and today as a battlefield guide . Yes, indeed. I was born in the small town around 15 miles away from here. And i grew up close by the Argonne Forest, so always walking in the forest when i was a child, discovering remains of frenchies bomb holes. Then i start to get some interest about the war. If we find remains here, where is the frontline . Who fought here . And thats how i got my first interest. But then ive been working in several countries and came back to my homeland and start to work as a professional tour guide. Im quite specialized in the world war i and im leading quite many tours with American People. I start to try to be as knowledgeable as possible on that topic. Many times these are people that are already quite knowledgeable. They travelled already to normandy, to dday, world war ii most of the time. But then they got interested in world war i and they wanted to discover where their grandfather or father was, in fact. So thats very interesting because you learn a lot in contact with these people, showing the ville lathes where they fought, trying to find remaitr remains. And slowly as you work with people whose fathers were in the divisions, your start to become more knowledgeable of each division. Thats very, very interesting. Because here in the forest, this is what we will discover here today, we still have remains everywhere. The Argonne Forest was kept mainly as a red zone so nothing was built or touched for one century. So we have preserved ground, remains of trenches, and thats what makes it very interesting. You said it was a red zone. Is that something that the french government has designated to make sure this is protected land to remember the battles . Yes, indeed. The red zone is a preserved ground where the battlefield was kept as it was. When it was green, it was all the soil was green. Its for remembrance, of course. We also had some economical reasons. French government thought it was too expensive to clean the soil, rivers, and keep youing it as it was. But of course nowadays we still keep it for remembrance. So were going to explore the battlefield, some of the significant points. Guillaume will talk about his experiences exploring these areas for many years and his perspective as a french historian and what the significance of the meuseargonne means to him and to just history in general and where we are today. Why dont you tell us a little bit about what the significance has been through history. Of course. First of all, it is a small town. Its like from 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitant. So the town is very famous to the french people since since its a small town where the king of france, louis the 16th was arrested with Marie Antoinette in 1791 so everyone knows of that small town. On the day they were arrested, it seems like they spent one night as prisoner in that tower. So now it is called tower louis the 16th. But then, of course, the town was occupied by the germans during the First World War for four years, almost day by day as they came here Early September, 1914 and the town was liberated by american troops on september the 26th of 1918. So that was quite the Logistical Center for the challenge. They had Railroad Tracks here to give the supply to all the troops that were on frontline. And the frontline stabilized around three miles south of the town. So thats context before the beginning of the meuseargonne offensive. And its called meuseargonne because left flank from the american offensive is the Argonne Forest well see in a few seconds and the right flank is the meuse river. So we are 20 miles away. And, by the way, the frontline was around 20, 22 miles wide for the meuseargonne offensive. There were photographs taken by american single corpse photographers here of the town. And its showed very much destroyed, the buildings have been caved in. Do you know if the town itself was destroyed before the meuseargonne operation or during . Well, it was already damaged, thats for sure. We were close by the frontline. Every town that is close by the frontline was affected. So it was already quite damaged by the french artillery, by the german artillery, also at the very beginning when they came here. But most of the damage is due to the meuseargonne. We have heavy battles going on in the street and i know you know a lot about it. This is when we will have most of the damage in town. Why do you think it was of strategic importance for the americans to take it on the first day of the battle . Well, we are not far away from the first line, from the jumping line. But then its the biggest town on that part of the meuseargonne. It was an important Logistical Center, especially Railroad Tracks. They could organize supply for everybody to supply their entire frontline. So if you got through touch a town, you cut the german from any supply on the frontline. Thats quite an Important Movement to be quickly in the town. Can you point out for us the direction of the american advance early that morning when they jumped off after the artillery barrage . And maybe even, if you know, where the artillery positions would where they would have been positioned and firing on the german lines . Yeah, yeah. In fact, the american offensive started around three miles south of the town close by a village for the 28th division. They were the one who had to liberate the left riverbank of a small river. Well see that in a few minutes. And so 28th division make their way coming from south marching north. When the entire military offensive is marching north, wr breaking through several german lines. They were coming from south to north quite quickly early in the morning of september the 26th. And then they captured that part of the town, half of the town was liberated by the 28th. And the other part right riverbank was liberated by the 35th. And then they made their way further north along the river, all the way along. So the direction is from the south to the north. So were walking through the pennsylvania monument, which was erected in 1927. One of the key architects was paul kret from philadelphia. He lived in france as a young man. He knew the area, came to the united states, did his studies and then he was hired by the american monuments battle commission to help with the cemeteries and the memorials. But, guillaume, i dont think this is part of the monument, this is a private memorial . Yes. This is a huge state memorial, very impressive one. Swords facing the ground symbolizing peace, same with a place to burn the eternal flame, again, symbol of peace. So thats quite quite an impressive one. And this memorial honors the pennsylvanians, not just at the meuseargonne, but pennsylvanians served all over. And so its important to pennsylvania in their War Commission in honoring the members of their communities who fought during the war, just as though they had done the same thing during the civil war. You have a large monument in t gettysburg for pennsylvania soldiers who fought in their homeland. Lets walk over towards this wall. As we approach, what are we going to see . Yes, well youll see we are kind of on a hill, first of all, and well see the valley of the small river flowing on that part of what was the battlefield. So well see the river zigzag shape. Now its quite its quite a quiet river. But as soon as it start to rain, it grows it grows up quite quickly and then it start to be a kind of natural barrier. So the river was the limit for the first days between 28th division fighting on the left river banks, that means the part where we are. And 35th fighting on the right riverbank. And their offensive direction was still the same, coming from south marching north. So after liberating the town, of course 28th did not stop here. 28 division made their way further north. On the left flank in the argonne for left that you see right there, we see the plateau of the Argonne Forest. Inside the forest was the 77th division. The new yorkers that will probably speak quite much about today. That was not the easiest part fighting into the forest. And we see quite well the Argonne Forest go which is a large ridge around 40 miles long, ten to 15 miles wide, and that was the limit between the french Operation West side of the Argonne Forest and champagne region, and the american operation east side of the Argonne Forest to the meuse river. So why did it take until the ought tux 1918 forfall of 1918 liberate this area . Tell us a little bit of what happened leading up to september 26, 1918. Yes, thats a very good question, in fact. So the germans at the beginning of the war they came, as you know, through luxembourg and belgium. So we have some heavy battles going on right there. French, belgium troops are quite defeated, quite much. So the french general on the head of the french head quarter order a big retreat. And the french will then march south. Theyll march 20, 25 miles a day south. So germans are following the french retreat. And they will invade the argonne quickly. Early on september, 1914, they occupy the town, occupies the argonne, but still make their way further south. They wont stop here. They will try to go further south. Then, big battle is starting, and that battle is the first battle Early September of 1914. We wont enter into detail, but thats a big defeat for the german. They have to withdraw from their position back north in t. When they come back to the argonne, we have hills, ridges, forest, good place to stop in fact. So coming back into the argan, the german will start to dig trenches, put barb wire, and when they attack, the german defenses stronger than the french counterattack. Very quickly here, late december of 1914, frontline destabilized. That wont mean that the french wont fight to try to defeat the german here, but german defenses are too strong. We have heavy battles forwards one year, one year and a half later, 1914, all the year 1915, big battles going on in the Argonne Forest. But that will never give any advantage for one or the other account. The classical infantry offensive was then switched to a mine war. Mines in the argonne. We have a lot of mine craters still visible nowadays. Soldiers realized they were not able to go over the top and cross in no mans land. It slowly heads the idea to dig in from their position, under the enemy line. When they were under the enemy lines they put some explosive and provoke mine explosion from a distance. Then the enemy was killed or wounded in his trench,thy would try to cross into no mans land to capture that trench. That means slow battle because you need to dig your tunnel, put the explosive and everything that and would never give many advantage. But for three years, we will have a heavy battles speaking about mine war. But, if we look at the entire frontline, even if we have battles going on here, that one war four years. To my opinion, we were needing an important numerous advantage to make the difference to go back to movement war. That what we did not have for four years here. Thats why it stayed quite stable liesed in t stabilized in the argonne. General pershing refers to it as open warfare. He was insistent the americans not stay behind the trenches but to utilize weapons, small arms, their rifles, the 1903s, the 1917s that they had been trained on, which is sort of it was kind of a running joke in the army because a lot of the troops hadnt actually spent time training. Especially in the united states. Many of them had fired guns and when they came over here, they often fired their weapons for the first time. So the Movement Warfare was important. Why had the french not tried the Movement Warfare earlier to dislodge the germans that were in the hills and occupying the area behind the barb wire and the trenches that you just told us about . Well, they tried but never succeed. We will have big operation going on, we have to think as a frontline as, well, are the entire frontline that is around 400 miles long, stabilized frontline, we will have offensive every year from time to time, by the french, by the germans, but never on a very wide scale. I think this is the point for four years we never have very wide frontline. So when the enemys able to have a breach into the enemy lines, its not on the wide front lines. They cannot take benefit from their operations. The french will try hard in 1914, later in the champagne. Not far away from the argonne, around 30 miles. But that wont work. They will try again, same location, september of 1915. Big battle for the first time we have a huge artillery preparation by the french that doesnt work. Or, yes, it worked because the french, they moved the frontline around three miles in three weeks. But if you compare to the entire 400long miles long front lines, thats almost nothing. I dont know exactly why we could not switch to that movement war, but every army tried hard every year before 1918. But the americans, of course, they will give something very important, fresh troops plus they are very numerous. And they will give the numerous advantage to the a ally and tha helped switch back to a french war and finally defeat the germans. You mentioned the number of americans. The American Division at that time the main Tactical Unit was more that be 27,000 officers and men. That was what . Twice the size of the french and british . Yeah, its about twice the size. What about a german unit, do you know how many german troops were in this vicinity by the time of the operation that commenced on september 26th . There were german divisions in line. I dont know how many there were, but they were all along the frontline, but not only on the frontline. Germans always organize their defenses with several fortified lines. So one first line to break through was the stabilized front lines that were here for four years. And of course they had very deep and strong position theres, including a lot of machine gun position, almost every hundred yard along the frontline. But then the germans also organized deep defense. They will use any ridge that we see in the distance as a place to retreat to try to face and slow down or stop the americans. Plus, they had one very strong line that well see later on known as the cream hill deline. Months before the offensive, they set it up, in case they were not able to resist on the frontline, at least they could retreat to that line, which is around ten miles from here. Lets head to cheppy now which was important on the first day. It involved the 35th Missouri Kansas Division which included a young battle commander by the name of harry s. Truman. Further on in the fighting in the woods around him involved a young tank commander by the name of george s. Patton. Were standing in front of the missouri monument, which honors the troops from missouri. Many of them had served in the 35th division which is one of the National Guard divisions part of the American Expeditionary forces. One of its most famous members was a battery commander and artillery commander by the name of kapcaptain harry s. Truman. The 35th division fought directly in this area, about four miles back in the front they were firing artillery towards the hill. Can you point us toward that and tell us a little bit about the significance of why the americans attack that hill . So the hill is right behind us, about two miles from here we can see the top of the trees far in the distance. So it is an observation position used by the germans first, but then the french will try to recapture it. And finally the frontline was stabilized just on top and we will switch into a mine war. For three 1 2 years we have heavy battles going on, especially underground war with the mine war. So then the french were relieves, troops were relieved on september 26th by soldiers of the 35th and their first grounds they had to liberate was capture the hill. Of course to take dominating ground, and then they could see what was going on. Next, the town and cheppy village, so from the hill, thats their jumping lines, through the fields, some small woods including the wood of cheppy right there, and finally making their way into both with with with bahrain and cheppy. Captain harry s. Truman wrote home to his fiancee telling him about the battles he was involved in and about his experience in war. One of his more vibrant letters involves the first days attack on september 26th when his artillery was supporting the american attack against the hill. And now ill read from one of the letters that truman wrote home. 75 millimeter ammunition was fired from 4 00 a. M. To 8 00 a. M. Earlier in the day. After his unit reached north of the hill, his battery waited as the germans launched the harassing fire that are lasted most of the day. The hill, he wrote, was nothing but a bog. Mud, mud, mud. When his battery was ready to fire on the hill, they realized the guns wouldnt raise high enough to reach it. Forced to improvise, the men placed the tail of one gun in a shell hole and fired rounds in the again direction of germany. While trying to keep out of harms way, one of trumans men was sitting in a shell hole when a dud lit right between his legs. If he hasnt a charmed life, truman joked, no one has. This monument is many of the state memorials that youll see throughout the western front. Its not maintained as part of the American Battle monuments commission, but the state of missouri will pay to have someone make sure that its cleaned up. And after the war, many of the states just like pennsylvania wanted to honor the troops from their area who fought in the various units throughout the western front. Guillaume, lets head towards the cheppy woods, because the 35th division after the hill headed in that direction. But they ran into trouble in the woods, is that right . Exactly. The wood of cheppy which is one mile away from here, thats where the german had some very strong lines. And well see remains of original trenches there that are quite impressive. And in those woods, the american troops, mainly the 35th division, were supported by a tank brigade led by Lieutenant Colonel george s. Patton. So what are we looking at here . Well, thats a map, a bmc map showing the frontline from the operations. So we met at the town, thats where we see the memorial, and we were just at cheppy to see the missouri memorial close by. And now wetor enter into cheppy. Cheppy is famous for nebraska ve very special man that was wounded close by. Thats where we, a small wood on the hilltop which is dominating the plain, which is the plain we have right there on the map. So the american offensive was to start from the hill to straight line. And so american soldiers had to make their way north, including, of course, capturing the cheppy and then the towns of cheppy and others and making their way north. So thats where we enter right now. Cheppy, to see some of the 45 line germans that spent four years in that small wood. So small river to the left here, and the offensive from the 35th was from the right bank of the river to the small valley of the river. We are marching the same way as the american operation was starting. So, like, jumping off the line and making our way north. And where would the german positions be . Well, all along the ridge here into the slope of the dominating the ground where the american had to fight. Which is quite open field. So the germans used the hill tops, they will always try to choose their land how to defend and always have the dominating position. And that will be a bloody day for the american troops. September the 26th is a successful offensive, but thats quite bloody for many doughboys. On the 27th, the 35th division attack broke down and the division itself started to fall apart and eventually within the next couple of days they would have to be relieved. Yes, its true. Its one of the first divisions that was relieved. They suffered heavy casualties in very few days. So we have remains from a german shelter to the right. Not in good shape, this one. So we see piece of it, piece of concrete. So that was a german shelter. So now we have any kind of blackberries growing all over, but we clearly see this remain from the germans. And then the trench is coming, but it was seen probably by the farmer close by. Of course it was going through the small pass and we will find it into the forest right now if we move few meters. And this one is still quite deep. Of course we have to imagine it a bit deeper, probably from six to seven feet deep. But, still, after one century, never restored, thats quite a position. In fact, every year we find hundreds of unexploded shells, hand grenades, everything. So we have deminer that comes for it. We are just in the crossing here. Im in the firing trench, but we have a communication trench to the right that goes to another trench line, then to another one, then probably to first position, any kind of Ammunition Stores or whatever. And then my position, of course, was deeper. We have to imagine from six to seven feet deep and looking there, we can see we are on the slope quite on top. And if we imagine the american soldiers coming toward us, of course we have to imagine most of the trees are gone. Thats quite a dominating position for the germans. Every 30 meters, more or less, we have one more communication trench. So weve got crossings everywhere. That was a way for the relieves to come also. All the way to treat the wounded. And weve got some ground now. Thats probably from the firing of the artillery september 26th in the early mornings, three hour long. And weve got some disturbed ground, because these are some of the german first lines that were to be lost on the first hours. So . So on the morning of september 26th, the 35th division attack is heading in this direction. Were in heavily fortified trenches of the germans lines, but there are german trenches further down the ridge, plus there are shell holes from not only firing from the morning of the 26th, but had been left over from previous french attacks, right . Yes, exactly. Because, well there are part was shelled by the french every day, even when we said it was a quiet sector, that doesnt mean we dont have shelling. Every day is shelling. So we have, of course, a lot of shell hole by the american artillery preparation. But also from the previous months, weeks, or years. So the 30 5th division, the missouri kansas troops are heading in this direction, but theyre starting to fall apart. Theres heavy german firing and the troops are scattering. There is support by tanks led by patton. He sees whats going on and he wants his tanks to help, take out german machine gun nests which are all around us. Hes leading the tanks forward, but they also run into trouble, right . They start getting blocked up into shell holes and trenches. And so the tanks cant go any further. Patton, who was known as a very animated officer, hes on foot. He grabs a shovel off of one of the tanks and he teaches his men and encourages them probably use a lot of profanity, and he has them start digging out of the trenches. Eventually, they get the tanks dislodged and they head forward. As theyre moving, patton is hit by a machine gun blast most likely right somewhere from around this area . Yes, probably. Probably he was fighting in the field down there while something looking like, and most of the firing was probably coming from the so patton is hit. Hes shot in the leg near the groin. Its a horrible wound. Hes bleeding profusely. One of his aides grabs him and is able to drag him in while the machine guns are blasting all around him, keeps their commander out of further harm, places him in a shell hole, and they begin medical treatment. And literally theyre able to save his life. Eventually they can get an ambulance up. Now, the fighting is going on, theres few roads leading to the front. Theyre mostly shell holes so it takes a long time for the ambulance finally to reach patton. They place him in the ambulance. Theres a long, rough, bumpy journey back to the rear. Hes sent first to a Field Hospital and eventually to a general hospital. September 26th, the morning of the first days attack, the battle and the war is over for george patton. Now, didnt patton come back here at some point and photograph where he thought he got yes, he did. He did, he came and he took a photograph from where he thinks his location of the shell hole where he spent several hours before being evacuated. So it seems to be somewhere here close by is the forest and firing was probably coming from one of these positions. So the exact location is not exactly known, but thats somewhere in here. And then isnt it true, about 20 skix yea 26 years later when hes leading the third u. S. Army his troops are fighting not fryar from her as theyre pushing the third advance. Yes. The third army liberated again the south part of the town just a few days before the beginning of the battle of metz. This is probably 1914 . Yes, as soon as the germans got here, they start on the hill. And then were facing the frontline on the hill right there. They have trenches there, but also in the valley. These are all like upper position, easier for machine gun this is a typical location for machine gun preparations. If you imagine the american trying to its a small river, but, still, you have to cross it. I cant imagine being told, okay, you got to attack this position and being fired on. We have i run stuff on top from the wires that were probably around, then i see over there some remains from like a smokestack maybe or yes, or could be the ceiling from a small underground shelter that was then covered with ground. And then we have a lot of disturbed ground. So that part was heavily heavily shelled. Thats what you realize as soon as youre on top. Sometime after the heavy rain you find bullets just looking oh, unexploded shell. So dont touch it, but you can spot it. Wow. Very cool. So what caliber is that . 75, Something Like that. Probably 75. So would that have been fired by the americans, you think . By the american or french if its a 75, yeah. So, later on ill call the deminer and explain where it is and they will come for it. Do we need mark it somehow . No, its quite easy to find here, so ill explain the location. Ive got maps and ill explain exactly where it is. I suppose, because of the rain, it fell down from here. You see the erosion is quite new. So i suppose the heavy rain, it collapsed and thats why now its inside the trench. So it probably had been buried for a hundred years. Yes. Yeah. We think we need several centuries to have the ground cleaned again. So, as we had heavy rain over the last day, good point is that soil is cleaned by the water and we have a lot of piece of shell appearing. You can see the piece of shell because its quite thick, first of all. Its quite heavy comparing to the size. And some like this one is very sharp. And the idea is to explode in sharp pieces to give very bad wounded to the soldiers. So here are some that just looking around we start to see. And then i see a small one right there. Which is another one. This is another one. So you have to try to find the oxide color from the iron. And these are pieces i found just in one minute, looking around its everywhere. We speak about battles that is won, 1 1 2, but the war lasted for four years here. So we have battle going on every day. So the remains are just everywhere in the argonne. So were at neuvillyenargonne. In the church, it was the last village before heading to the frontline and was used during the war by the french and then later on by the americans. And that church has a very famous picture that was taken here and we to explain more about it. Translator once the the last village before the front. And all the people of the village at the time evacuated the village and went to the southern part of the state or out of state. And so the germans started to the village was empty, there was nobody in it anymore, the germans started to bombard the village, pretty much destroyed it. But the church stood up. There it was always part of the war, and some of the wars survived. So when the americans came into here, they decided to use this church as an infirmary. It became what they called a triage. They actually brought the wounded and the soldiers here, the Wounded Soldiers here, and they were at this point decided in which hospital they were being sent to by the by the how bad were they wounded or how bad were they hurt . So the pos sit was moit was from the northern walls, in the frontline stabilized a few yards outside north. So this was the part that was the main one, thats one we see on the picture. It was used as a Field Hospital by the 110th regiment and one solder from that regiment, i think, takes something as a souvenir from the church and was given back. So thats what were going to have to ask mr. Translator during world war i one of the american soldiers from this church took a cruise six that he found in the ruin. And took it home with him and kept it all his life. And so about ten years back, his granddaughter was given this cross after his passing. And so she decided she wanted the village that actually was the owners of this cross to receive it again. So she started researching and she found this photo of when the church was in the and she, from this photo, she managed to find the village, because she had actually no idea where it was or the name of it. And she found this village and correspond corresponded with me and she was wanting to give in cross back which is now in the heart of the church. And this happened two years ago. She came back and this cross there are crucifix was given back to the church. And her name his name was alfred annes, a alfred aines. She was his granddaughter and she was patricia carson. This just was one of the first church that had been rebuilt after the war. And so this Church Actually became was, again, used as a church by 1920, 1922. Its a french soldier who died, and we see his family coming to visit his grave. And with some french soldiers around that survived. In the background, we see destroyed village showing the village of neuvilly during the war. So we see destroyed walls. And open top appearion top appe palace, we have the christ appearing above the scene. It was produced by an artist from nancy called the benoit. They worked a lot after the war producing stained glass for the destroyed churches and chapels in the 20s and 30s for the restoration of churches. And this is a commemorative stained glass. Blendings religion and the war, which is something very interesting to look at. [ speaking Foreign Language ] so we are inside the church. We are looking at the pictures showing american doughboy playing organ in that church. And we are just on the exact location where the picture was taken. We have the very same columns and the same virgin still there. The organ is on the original location. Not sure whether its the original one, but it was restored several time. Maybe its partly original. So that picture was taken on october the 11th of 1918. I already saw the picture, but few months ago i have an american client who explain he wanted to go and he showed me the picture. So ive already heard about it. And then looking for the it seems like its quite quite an important one because speaking with the mayor and his wife right now, as i say, they have from time to time American People asking to enter into the church to see the location of that picture, where it was taken. Our began first division, october the 11th. So these are the few details we have. [ speaking Foreign Language ] the village was a german camp during the war for four years. We were seven miles from the frontline, so that was quite safe. So that was an important german camp. Same with the villages around, so the church was used by the german. And they said they had kitchens inside. We have pipes out of it so that was used as kitchens and they were living in the entire village. There was many villages, some of the inhabitant had no time to escape from the village because the germans, they arrived very quickly after one month into the war they were already here. And so some of the inhabitants stayed and lived under german pressure for four years. Farmers had to farm for the german troops. They had to work for the german troops. Sometimes adding new pavement on the streets, anything. And thats what was a light for the People Living under german pressure during that time. And that was the case here. And then the first divisions they enter the line half a mile from here and they will liberate at ground. So this villages were probably part of the offensive that liberated the village. So picture is not taken on the very same day, seems like its few days later. But these are the very same soldiers that liberated it. So we are entering into a wood located on the hill that was part of the german cream hill deline. So the fortified line where the german tried to stop the american offensive. As soon as we enter into the wood, well find remains from german trenches that are still quite deep, in fact. And here, american troops from the 42nd division fought there and had to make their way through some of the most fortified german lines. Okay. You have these zigzag shape, its quite quite deep still, in fact. Clearly see the zigzag shape coming from the top of the hill right there. And then going down, finally turning left to go all along the ridge from the farm to the trinity farm. So these are the fortified lines dug by the german months from the american offensive. The attack was launched on october it was led by the 84th brigade of the 42nd division. The 42nd division was known as the Rainbow Division because it included National Guard units from across the united states. 84th brigade was led by Brigadier General Douglas Macarthur who had risen through the ranks. First he started as chief of staff for the 42nd division and the 84th Brigade Commander had been sacked and macarthur was promoted because he was an officer that led from the front and proved himself in battle. In fact, he would end the war with more decorations than any other eaf commander. Taking thedesahion was important. The 84th brigade reported to an officer from the citadel and tough guy. Hed tell macarthur your brigade will take this position or want to see a list of 5,000 casualties. Macarthur retorted, we dont take that position, not only will you see a list of 5,000 casualties but ill be at the top of that list. The attack on the 14th, the 84th brigade or 83rd brigade on its flank was heavily pushed back by the germans. This whole area was heavily fortified with machine guns, artillery, but wire, the germans had strung wire all along the line. M macarthurs men got forward, they were stopped by the wire and hung up on it. Casualties were mounting. One report said bodies were piled on top of each other. The next day, the october 15th, the attack started again. Still the 84th couldnt break through. Finally, pushed by somerall who said you will keep attacking until you take that ground, macarthurs troops late in the day on the 16th finally broke through the line and drove the germans back and the americans were on the high ground. The germans, although, didnt go far and were repeatedly firing, but the position for the most part was in american hands and that helped alleviate fire elsewhere on the line which allowed further american troops to come up. So where would macarthurs men have come from that, behind us . Yes, exactly. From where is the so first well face the two farms. Musardes farm and tuilerie farm then make their way into the forest climbing up the top of the ridge called the Cote De Chatillon and the german trenches we see right now. The perspectives, the americans, they were even further on top but already from here we can see very far away. So were standing in front of the monument which symbolizes the entire campaign that lasted 40 to 7 days from september 27th through november. The battle ended with the armistiar armistice of world war i in 1918. Really it was the muse argan battle that basically pushed the germans to their knees recognizing that the 1. 2 million americans who fought in the battle if they continued would only grow and if the war continued into 1919 the germans had no chance of winning. The village is now rebuild down here. We have remains still there. Germans got here got to the village at the very beginning of the war and they kept it for over four years but during four year it was the highest ground of the argonne. Fortified it, having a lot of observation shelter everywhere around us and still see the shelters around, in fact, they are still there. Thats why it was so heavily fortified, in fact. This were building in the middle of the church is, in fact, a german observation shelter. It was built with the very sa same we have a small entrance on the rear side. It was an observation position since its the highest ground of the of the hill. Then the highest ground of the entire musse argonne american offensive. Monument, sacrifice the soldiers committed here was the place for the American National memorial that we see right now. Its consistent of big columns looking like greek or roman temple with character on top and this character is facing south. Hes looking at the troops, especially the one of the 79s that will come to liberate first then the entire argonne and finally the entire french country. So back in history, 1,000 years ago, a monk was walking in that far of the country always having a falcon on his shoulder. When he came to the top of that hill, the falcon never wanted to leave so he decided to stay here and create an abbey and then took the name of the falcon. So an abbey was created here. Several time it was rebuilt. This is the very last church built for the abbey. This is from the 13th century dedicated to st. German. This church was used as a Parish Church for the village until 1914 and shelled by the germans when they arrived and damaged by the french and later on americans and finally this is the final result after four years of war going on here around. It was such a big church comparing to the size of the village but thats because at the beginning it was a church from the abbey. So this ground is kept and maintained by the abmc. They take care about the semitarks tsem cemetery, monument, ground around including the ruin of the church. Entering into the church we see the remains from the battle. Heavy holes. Big impacts from the shells. Shells everywhere. We have some impacts coming from bullets, also direindirect firi into the columns. And the church, it finally collapsed. The architect who designed the memorial is the american architect john russell pope. And this memorial was built in the early 30s, in fact. Its concrete made. 60 meters high. The highest american memorial in europe, this one. And john russell pope, of course, designed a number of buildings in washington, d. C. , including the National Archives where, ironically, records documenting this battle are now kept. And mafu khan was an important strategic landmark in the battle. It was taken in the second day even though general pershings objectives wanted his troops to take it on the first day. And push forward because its on the highest ground of the musse argonne area. The germans had this highly fortified and could fire on the advancing american troops but the woods and the heights, itself, proved to be very difficult to penetrate. And it was, again, until that second day when the 79th division, which consisted of National Army troops from maryland and virginia and pennsylvania finally broke through. It was actually one main regiment, the 313th infantry known as baltimores own men from that city who pushed forward through the woods, up the hill then surrounded falcon mountain or mauntfaucon as its known and penetrated up the ridge and drove the germans away. Ing of, the germans didnt go too far. They were able to withstand american fire and literally made their own stand bringing up more reinforcements which forced the battle to go on for another more than six weeks of heavyduty fighting. The battle, of course, ended with the armistice of world war i p i, 11 00, november 11th, 1918. Tonight on American History tv beginning at 8 00 eastern, the cspan cities tour explores the american story with a look at the Great Depression era. Hear story and visit places around the nation related to this historic economic downturn. Thats followed by city tours stops featuring the history of chapel hill, north carolina, amarillo, texas, san antonio, texas, and Brian College station, texas. Watch American History tv now and over the weekend on cspan3. The presidethe president sc affairs available now in paperback and ebook. Presents biographies of every president. Organized by their ranking by noted historians. From best to worst. And features perspectives into the lives of our nations chief executives and leadership styles. Visit our website, cspan. Org thepresident s, to learn more about each president and historian featured. And order your copy today wherever books and ebooks are sold. And now author mark wilkins examines the psychological impact of world war i Aerial Combat and the disorder known as aeroneurosis, a condition brought on by flying. He also talks about diary entries from pilots who experienced this condition and explores their lives after the war. This twohour event was hosted by Smithsonian Associates last september. Tonight, we are very pleased to welcome back to the smithsonian mark wilkins. Mark wilkins is a historian, writer, and museum professional. He is the current curator of maritime history at the calvert marine museum. He has also been director and curator of both the cape cod

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