1918-2008 - 90th Anniversary of the American Offensive in the Meuse

The largest part of the American involvement in World War I took place in the Meuse department in Eastern France. Between June, 1917 and November, 1918, more than 1.2 million U.S. troops participated in the battle.

This year the Meuse is marking the 90th Anniversary of the American offensive with a series of events to commemorate the role of the U.S. troops in bringing the war to an end. While some of the events will take place throughout the year, the most significant ones will be held in late summer and fall, concluding with the Armistice celebration on November 11th. In addition to the efforts of the Meuse Tourist Board, the General Council of La Meuse has created an English-language website—http://us.offensives1918-meuse.com—dedicated to the history of the American offensives in La Meuse and to the commemorative events that will be taking place this year to honor the American soldiers.

The Meuse department is in the Lorraine region, between the vineyards of Champagne and Alsace. Approximately midway between Paris and Strasbourg, it has always been a strategic location within Europe. The town of Verdun is probably the best-known site in the Meuse, but U.S. troops were mainly deployed in the St. Mihiel Salient and Meuse Argonne areas.

After suffering heavy losses throughout the summer of 1918, the American First Army, led by General Pershing, together with French forces under the command of General Petain, launched an offensive to recapture St. Mihiel Salient on September 12. The heavily fortified target had been under German control since the beginning of the war, but the mission was accomplished within 24 hours. Recapturing the area between the MeuseRiver and the Argonne forest was not as easy but U.S. forces eventually captured the Butte de Monfaucon before the Armistice brought the conflict to an end. Among the troops that took part in the campaign were George Patton, George Marshall and Harry S.Truman.

Visitors to the Meuse today will see a scarred and pock-marked landscape from the bombardments of 90 years ago, as well as rolling green hills, river valleys and forests. Over 80 commemorative sites dedicated to the American involvement dot the countryside. The largest American military burial site in Europe is in the Meuse at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon where 14,246 U.S. soldiers are buried.

A special commemorative brochure created by the Meuse Tourism Board, “1918-2008 - 90th Anniversary of the American Offensive in the Meuse,”(BrochureUSA - pdf - 1.2 Mo) details the sites with suggested tours and excursions. “Meuse--Secrets Uncovered” (Meuse secrets uncovered - pdf - 4.1 Mo) will introduce the visitor to the Meuse’s truffles, wine, sugared almonds and Madeleine cakes along with information on accommodations in chateaux, country auberges and cottages.

Commemorative Events 1918 – 2008 in the Meuse

International Symposium on the role of Americans in the War
Verdun - September 18-20

Concerts "American Music in 1918"
Saint-Mihiel - June, Neuvilly-en-Argonne June 28, Verdun – July 25, Montsec - September 13
Vauquois - September 14, Varennes-en-Argonne - Septembre 27

Sound and Light show "Des Flammes à la Lumière"
Verdun – mid June through July

Open-air cinema--"Les américains et la Grande Guerre" (Americans and the Great War) Gondrecourt-le-Château, Saillant de Saint-Mihiel, Varennes-en-Argonne – July and August

Exhibit on the 90th Anniversary of the end of World War I
Verdun - July through December

Historical reanactment "Libération du Saillant de Saint Mihiel"
Nonsard – September 13

Illumination of the route from Saint Mihiel to Montfaucon d'Argonne
Various locations - September 20

Sound and Light show "Libération de l’Argonne"
Montfaucon-d’Argonne - September 26-27, October 3-4

History book exhibition "1918-2008"
Verdun - November 7-8

Official Franco-American commemoration
Romagne-sous-Montfaucon - September 25 (to be confirmed)

November 11
11:00 am-ringing of the bells of all the Meuse communities
2:00 pm – 12:00 am - reading of the names of the Americans buried in Thiaucourt and at Romagne-sous-Montfaucon

For more information contact:

Meuse Tourism Board/Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Meuse
Hôtel du Département, BP 514
55012 Bar-le-Duc cedex - France
Tel: 011 33 (0) 3 29 45 78 40 – Fax: 011 33 (0) 3 29 45 78 45
E-mail: contact@tourisme-meuse.com