End state: Advance on the western front to cut German railway lines in Sedan and past 3 rd German line of defense. Conditions: Pershing had a full delegation of command and emplaced measures to ensure coordination with both the French Army and Wilson was established. COG: The German LOCs on rail-lines (Sedan VIC) OP Approach: Direct, offensive Attack the element of surprise, while allied attacks to FIX German reserves. Decisive Points: Mobilization planning, quick maneuver through restricted terrain, mutual support of 3 U.S. corps and the French 4 th Army. Basing: ??? LOO: Make 2 deep penetrations through German lines around Montfaucon and then, press to the Hindenburg Line/3 rd line, including its eastern section. OP Reach: Traffic jams & communications issues mar the attacks. Tempo: Initial objectives achieved surprise with quick tempo, then continue at a deliberate rate fast enough to prevent German reinforcement. Simultaneity/Depth: Continued combined attacks throughout October, 1918 allowed the Allied forces to advance as weakened German forces fought on multiple fronts and fixed German reserves. Phasing/Transitions: Mobilization, penetration of frontier, large scale battle, movement of artillery forward, sustainment push will limit movement. Culmination: Allies penetrate well-defended German lines (Hindenburg) and create a salient that can be cut off by German troops. Risk: Narrow front with difficult terrain; -Germans had time to reinforce; -U.S. divisions lack combat experience & training. 3 September 1918: Final plans agreed by Allies. 26 September 1918: Initial attack. I and III Corps achieve objectives. 27 September 1918: V Corps achieves Montfaucon but second and third line of German defenses holds. 12 October 1918: Pershing & Liggett reorganize into a Second Army. 13 October 1918: Reorganized Armies press to central Argonne October 1918: Local attacks straighten Allied lines. 21 October 1918: 3 rd German defensive line broken October 1918: First Army prepares to advance across a wide front. 1 November 1918: US reaches hills overlooking Sedan. 11 November 1918: Armistice declared. EOA 8: Meuse-Argonne 1918 General Pershing’s Elements of Operational Art Timeline:

End state: Advance on the western front to cut German railway lines from Metz to Sedan and past 3 rd German line of defense. HOW DO I: attack to penetrate German Defensive lines to sever LOCs at Sedan IOT: Protect French Right Flank and enable the seizure of Sedan & its rail network.(Isolate the NW fronts of German Army) Given: I, III, V US Corps and 1 French Corps (5- 600K troops 2K guns, 900K tons of supply/ammo) Against: 2 German armies (III & V) in three defensive lines prepared along a 90K front (200K) Duration: SEP 1918 to Spring 1919 – 11 NOV peace, or before winter months - discussion In consideration to: Terrain – restricted (forests, limited trafficability), Roads - (Three in AO but poorly built largely damaged by ARTY, have to rebuild with sandbags), Sustainment – (prioritizing the flow of reinforcement and logistics to forward unit) Biggest problem is the sustainment of the forward forces to allow for the continued forward movement of forces. DO: V Corps penetrating German lines SO: I Corps protect the Left flank of V Corps III Corps secure Montfaucon to protect R flank SU: - sustain forward momentum/movement by resupplying quickly on limited LOCs. Rotation: Rotating units – divisions and regiments Square DIV (2 fight, 2 rest and switch) Theorist Synthesis: Moltke, Conduct a Direct Attack in 4 phases with 3 US corps and 1 FR corps IO secure Sedan. P1 – prepare a surprise attack quickly along a 90 KM front against 2 GER Armies P2 - conduct a Frontal Attack with all 4 corps to penetrate the Hindenburg line. P3 – penetrate with V corps US to (Barricourt Heights) IVO Sedan either to allow FR to take it, or secure it themselves. P4 – Re-org and repeat as necessary to keep imitative and tempo and/or capture Sedan. IOT Secure the German rail-network hub at Sedan and deny its use as a regional sustainment base. This is 4 phase operation with a direct approach against 2 German Armies with a Decisive-Shaping-Sustaining framework. The Army will advance along 3 lines of Operation (Argonne, Montfaucon, Meuse) and be resupplied by regiment Until each division has culminated through either exhaustion or enemy resistance. At that time, new divisions will continue the fight and the old divisions will rest. the overall OBJ is the rail-network near Sedan. 30 brief on the campaign in the Muese Argonne EOA 8: Meuse-Argonne 1918 General Pershing’s Elements of Operational Art