Marking yet another momentous milestone in my writing: This is the 258th & final book for me to reference. It’s a beauty to finish on. #Twitterstorians#2ndMarne.
@HiraethHayseed Jacob - lots of autistic people develop a deep passion, even expertise for a particular subject (pls don’t call it a “special interest”). As long as there is balance in her life, you shouldn’t worry too much. Reading this helped switch my thinking.
@RichardGlyn99@ThePoiluProject BEF’s contribution was significant - that’s not in doubt. It was a coalition effort. The success of 1918 came out of Foch’s leadership.
@RichardGlyn99@ThePoiluProject Which allowed Haig and Pétain to carry out Amiens on 8 August, at Foch’s instruction. It was a true Entente battle & coalition warfare proper, but it’s a fact that the majority of troops involved were French (something British historians seem to forget).
@RichardGlyn99@ThePoiluProject Then the victory of 18 July - 2 August would not have been possible without the efforts & manpower of the AEF (plus 4 British divisions & 3 Italian). And Foch’s planning & Pétain’s execution.
This created the conditions for what followed - they unlocked the Western Front 2/
@jkuehn50 The problem for the US is that Trump has alienated so many of America’s traditional allies & many doubt his motives. He’s turned a pariah state into a victim.
@panthemanii@magdelaine_p@ThePoiluProject@medievalmlord That’s just not true.
2nd Marne 18 July = majority French.
Amiens 8 Aug = majority French.
Meuse-Argonne 26 Sept = 55% American 45% French at start.
French Army of summer 1918 was the most advanced & effective fighting force in human history.
@ThePoiluProject I have and I believe that without Pétain’s prompt intervention on evening of 21st march, then the BEF would have been in an existential crisis within 72 hours. The French plugged a gaping gap in British line.