A Meuse-Argonne Website
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"A Dangerous Corner in Exermont, Oct. 7, 1918." Source: American Armies and Battlefields in Europe, page 320.
Dear Battlefield Visitors and Historians:
Click Here to See 90th Anniversary Activities in France!
Click Here to See the Photo of the Month!
*** CANCELLED FOR 2008 ***
IF INTERESTED, STAY TUNED FOR 2009 EVENTS
Five-Day, Small-Group Battlefield Tour, August 2008
Introduction
At 2:30 a.m. on September 26, 1918, 3,980 French and American guns opened fire in the Meuse-Argonne. Just a few hours later nine U.S. divisions, many of them green, would jump off in the greatest American offensive of the First World War. Now—90 years later—you can follow in their footsteps.
The Tour in General
Explore the American offensives of World War 1 in a five-day, small-group tour led by German tour guide Markus Klauer and American tour guide Randy Gaulke. Through their multi-cultural approach, participants will experience both the American and German sides of the conflict.
Tourists will spend three days on the Meuse-Argonne battlefield, one day in the St. Mihiel salient and one day touring the Verdun battlefields. The short duration of the tour will allow the independent traveler time to visit other sites in Europe.
By limiting the tour to a maximum of 12 people, each person will have more hands-on time with the tour guides and the other guests. This will facilitate better discussions, easier exchange of information and sources, and the opportunity to learn new skills, such as working with the French IGN 1:25,000 scale maps. With advance notice, the tour can be modified to cover areas of significance to individual participants.
Click Here to View the Full Brochure!
A Q&A Session with Tour Guide Randy Gaulke
Testimonials from Prior Tour Participants
*** Cancelled for 2008 ***
If interested, stay tuned for 2009 Events
A New Year (2008) and a New Emphasis:
It's been 90 years since the massive American campaigns that helped to end the Great War; yet even today the average American understands little of the German forces opposing the doughboys. A few authors, including John Mosier and Jack Sheldon, have shed light on the German side in recent years. (See related German bibliography.) Yet other authors continue to publish books with little review of the German documents or books and articles that contain "colorful" language describing the brave, foolhardy doughboy and the horrible Hun.
It is my hope that this website can bring about a better understanding of the enemy that the Americans faced in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. In 2008 my goal is to systematically identify the German units facing their American opponents, and to begin to translate their regimental histories, personal accounts, and other records. Serious researchers can then read this information side-by-side with the appropriate American records.
It's a modest start, but hopefully this website can add some value.
Use the links below to move to the section you want to visit:
| features.htm | Feature Articles |
| gallery.htm | Photographs of the Sector--Especially Then and Now Photographs |
| map_case.htm | Current and Period Maps of the Sector |
| bibliography.htm | A List of Suggest Books and Other Resources |
| links.htm | The Usual List of Links to Related Websites |
| travel.htm | Pages of Useful Tips to Help Arrange Your Travel |
| news_&_events.htm | The Latest News From the Sector (Including Books & Media Publications) |
| author.htm | Meet the Website's Author |
| graham's truck page | See the truck page built for 9 year old Graham Gaulke. |
Randal S. Gaulke
mailto:lavarennes@patmedia.net
This site officially opened on 20 Sept. 2003.