BATTLE OF THE ARDENNES – WWI
21–23 August 1914
SUMMARY
The Battle of the Ardennes was one of the battles that comprised the Battle of the Frontiers during the first month of WWI. The battle was by accident as the French 3rd and 4th Armies unexpectantly met the German 4th and 5th Armies in the Ardennes Forrest in the frontiers of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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BACKGROUND
With the Schlieffen Plan, the German Army planned an invasion of France and Belgium while the French Plan XVII called for the invasion of Germany and Belgium. These opposing plans led to the inevitable clash of both sides in the opening of WWI as French forces unexpectantly met German forces in the forests of the Ardennes.
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LOCATION
Ardennes region, Belgian–French frontier
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FRENCH ARMY
IIIE ARMÉE
IVE ARMÉE
Led by
General Pierre Ruffey
General Fernand de Langle de Cary
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IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY
ARMEEOBERKOMMANDO 4
ARMEEOBERKOMMANDO 5
Led by
Crown Prinz Wilhelm
Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
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RESULT
A German victory
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CONSEQUENCE
French forces suffered 42,557 casualties while German losses were 14,940. The French Army still fought with Napoleonic tactics and wore brightly colored uniforms that provided no camouflage. This made then easy targets for the Germans. August 22 resulted in 27,000 French soldiers killed in action and remains the bloodiest single day in French Army history.
