battle of the chemin-des-dames

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battle of the chemin-des-dames

The French soldiers defended their positions during the Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames.

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.
battle of the chemin-des-dames

The French soldiers defended their positions during the Battle of the Chemin-des-Dames.

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