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The Battle of The Aisne


Battle Name : The Battle of The Aisne

Date(s) : 13 September 1914 - 28 September 1914

Part of : First World War , The Western Front ,

Outcome : A victory for German Forces over French & British Forces

Type of battle : Land

Summary

After the Allied victory of the Marne, their pursuit was slow, due to exhaustion, giving the Germans plenty of time to build defences along the heights overlooking the Aisne River. Once they arrived on the 13th, the Allies launched frontal attacks across the river which were initially successful, but counter-attacks beat them back almost to the start line. Fierce fighting then ensued along the line eventually descending into artillery duals, and convincing both sides of the futility of frontal assaults against prepared positions and modern weapons. The Allies thus decided to try a set of flanking movements in the direction of the coast which became known as the 'Race to the Sea'.