🪖 World Warsmedium
Battle of the Marne
1914 CE · France
Quick Facts
- Year
- 1914 CE
- Location
- France
- Era
- 🪖 World Wars
- Difficulty
- medium
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.
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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.