Battle of the Marne
1914 CE · France
The Battle of the Marne was fought in 1914 CE in France between France and the British Empire vs Germany; Allied victory that halted the German advance on Paris and led to trench warfare.
Battle of the Marne: quick facts
- Date
- 1914 CE
- Location
- France
- Belligerents
- France and the British Empire vs Germany
- Commanders
- Joseph Joffre and John French vs Helmuth von Moltke the Younger
- Result
- Allied victory that halted the German advance on Paris and led to trench warfare.
- Era
- 🪖 World Wars
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Battle of the Marne?
The German Schlieffen Plan nearly succeeded as armies swept through Belgium and into France, reaching within 30 miles of Paris. In a desperate counterattack, French commander Joffre struck the exposed German flank along the Marne River, famously requisitioning Parisian taxicabs to rush reinforcements to the front. The Allied victory saved Paris and ended Germany's hope for a quick victory, condemning both sides to four years of trench warfare.
Did you know?
Paris taxicab drivers who ferried troops to the Marne were later paid their full metered fare by the French government, totaling about 70,000 francs for the 600 taxis used.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of the Marne on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.