Battle of Soissons (1918)

This article is about World War I. For the Spring Offensive during the Vietnam War, see Easter Offensive.

German Spring Offensive, 1918
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Date 18 July – 22 July 1918 Location Northern France Result Allied victory
Belligerents
German Empire	France United Kingdom United States
Commanders and leaders
Erich Ludendorff	Ferdinand Foch
Strength
At least 234,000 men, 230 tanks and 210 planes	At least 345,000 men, 350 tanks and unknown number of planes
Casualties and losses
168,000 casualties of whom 56,700 died	125,000 casualties of whom 32,458 died

The Battle of Soissons (also known as the Battle of Soissonnais and of the Ourcq (French: Bataille du Soissonnais et de L'Ourcq)) was a World War I battle, waged during 18 July to 22 July 1918, between the French (with American assistance) and German armies.

Ferdinand Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander, planned a major counter-offensive on 18 July; 24 French divisions, including several British Divisions, and the Buffalo Soldiers 92nd Infantry Division (United States) then under French command, and reinforced by other Allied troops including eight large U.S. divisions under U.S. command, and 350 tanks, sought to eliminate the salient that was aimed at Paris.

The Allies suffered 125,000 casualties (95,000 French, 13,000 British and 12,000 American), while the Germans suffered 168,000 casualties.

The battle ended with the French recapturing most of the ground lost to the German Spring Offensive in May 1918.