Many French business leaders have heard of the 1st Battle of the Marne that saved Paris in 1914, but few in any nation remember the 2nd Battle along the same river. During the fateful summer of 1918, the future of Europe and the world hung in the balance as Imperial Germany risked all on a final throw of the dice and the Allies were pushed to the limit of their endurance.
Only one hour’s drive from Paris, the scene of battle covers the triangle of rolling plateau cut by deep ravines between Reims, Chateau-Thierry, and Soissons. The drama started with the German breakthrough along the “Ridge of the Ladies” – the ill-omened Chemin des Dames – swung west to the desperate defense of the Marne, and finished with the decisive (and strategically and tactically innovative) counterattack at Soissons.
One million Allied soldiers, including 330,000 Americans, and British and Italians as well, fought under the French command of Marshal Ferdinand Foch. The battle had a remarkably modern feel, featuring thousands of airplanes and nearly 500 French tanks.
At the strategic level the military commanders like Foch, Sir Douglas Haig, and “Black Jack” Pershing interacted with some of the most famous political leaders of the 20th century – “the Tiger” Georges Clemenceau, Lloyd George, Woodrow Wilson. The interaction between political vision and objectives and the harsh world of military requirements is an especially noteworthy feature of this campaign.
Studying the 2nd Battle of the Marne offers a rich tapestry from which business leaders from all activities can draw powerful lessons. |
