Definition

Proper noun: * A specific military engagement in World War I: The Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames refers to a major offensive launched by German forces in May 1918 along the Chemin des Dames ridge in France. It is characterized as a German tactical victory that failed to achieve strategic objectives, partly due to the impending arrival of substantial American forces.

Usage

• The term is used as a proper noun to name this specific historical event. It is typically preceded by the definite article "the."
• Example: "The Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames was a costly German offensive in the final year of World War I."
• Example: "Historians often analyze the Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames as an example of a pyrrhic victory."

Advanced Usage

• The battle is frequently cited in military history to illustrate the difference between tactical success (winning an engagement) and strategic failure (failing to win the war or achieve a long-term goal).
• Example: "Despite gaining ground, the German army's effort during the Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames ultimately resulted in a strategic failure, exhausting their reserves for little lasting advantage."

Variants and Related Words

• Third Battle of the Aisne: This is another name for the same battle, as it occurred in the Aisne River region.
• Spring Offensive (): The Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames was part of this larger series of German offensives in 1918.
• Chemin des Dames: This refers to the geographical location itself—a ridge and road in northeastern France that was the site of several battles.

Synonyms

• Third Battle of the Aisne (direct synonym, alternate name).

Related Phrases

• World War I battle: A general category to which this event belongs.
• 1918 offensive: A descriptive phrase indicating its time and nature.
• German Spring Offensive: The broader operational context for the battle.

Noun

1. a battle in World War I (May 1918); the Germans tried to attack before the American numbers were too great to defeat; the tactical success of the Germans proved to be a strategic failure