Fighting for the Butcher

The Marne, summer 1918: A great German offensive aimed at Paris is in full swing. Called upon by the Allied Generalissimo Ferdinand Foch, the under-prepared 34th (New Army) Division of Lieutenant General Sir Alexander Godley’s XXII Corps was rushed by rail through the French countryside to support the projected Franco-American counter-offensive to strike back against the Boche invader.
 
Ruthless General Charles Mangin, a hero of Verdun, had twice been sacked and twice reinstated, most recently in June 1918, by Premier Georges Clemenceau and Foch. Both recognized his unique military talents would be perfectly suited to lead the planned counter-offensive intended to sever the Marne salient. Taking command of the French Xe Armée, Mangin was charged with executing the primary thrust and, driving his forces rapidly eastwards, planned to sever the enemy’s jugular vein and close the neck of the ‘poche’ thereby cutting the enemy escape route. To accomplish this, the 34th Division was temporarily placed under his command.​