Meuse–Argonne offensive

The Meuse–Argonne offensive (also known as the Meuse River–Argonne Forest offensive,[6] the Battles of the Meuse–Argonne, and the Meuse–Argonne campaign) was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. It is also the deadliest battle in the history of the United States Army, resulting in over 350,000 casualties, including 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and an unknown number of French lives. American losses were worsened by the inexperience of many of the troops, the tactics used during the early phases of the operation and the widespread onset of the global influenza outbreak called the "Spanish flu".

Meuse–Argonne offensive
Part of the Western Front and Hundred Days Offensive of World War I
An American gun crew from Regimental Headquarters Company, 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, firing 37mm gun during an advance against German entrenched positions.
Date September 26 – November 11, 1918 Location Near Montfaucon, northwest of Verdun (present-day Grand Est region), France 49°16′21″N 5°08′31″E Result Allied victory End of World War I
Belligerents
United States  France Siam[1]	Germany
Commanders and leaders
John J. Pershing Henri Gouraud Henri Berthelot	Wilhelm of Prussia Max von Gallwitz Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
Units involved
American Expeditionary Forces First Army Second Army Fourth Army Fifth Army Siamese Expeditionary Forces[1]	Army Group German Crown Prince Army Group Gallwitz Army Group Duke Albrecht
Strength
: 1,200,000 personnel[2] 380 tanks 840 planes 2,780 artillery pieces : 850 personnel[1]	450,000 personnel
Casualties and losses
Total: 192,000[3] : 122,063 26,277 killed 95,786 wounded : 70,000 casualties : 19 dead[1]	Total: c. 126,000[4] 28,000 dead 42,000 wounded 26,000 POWs taken by Americans 30,000 POWs taken by French 874 artillery pieces captured by both[5]
Meuse-Argonne American Memorial Location within France

The offensive was the principal engagement of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I. It was one of a series of Allied attacks, known as the Hundred Days Offensive, which brought the war to an end. It was the largest and bloodiest operation of World War I for the AEF even if, given the scale of other battles on the Western Front, its size was limited and the operation itself secondary, being far from the main offensive axis.