The Day the Marne Turned

July 18, 1918, began in northeastern France not with a grand speech, but with movement at dawn. Between Soissons and the Marne, an Allied counteroffensive began that pushed the First World War in a new direction. French soldiers advanced, accompanied by Americans, Britons, and Italians. After months of German attacks, Paris was still overshadowed by fears that the war could reach the capital. Now the situation was turning.At the center was a dangerous German salient southwest of Reims. Since the end of May, German troops had gained ground there and ...