28th Division…Map No. 2

The defense of Chateau-Thierry by the 28th U.S. Infantry Division.

This detailed contour map covers an area in northeastern France that was the scene of heavy fighting during the First World War. It was modified by the Army Map Service in 1938 on behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission to commemorate the actions of the 28th Infantry Division in the Chateau-Thierry Sector between June 28 and July 27, 1918.

Transportation routes and local features are outlined in the key in the lower right. An inset map in the upper right aids the audience in understanding the broader picture across the Western Front, while bold red lines highlight dated unit movements across the sector.

The image reflects the critical defense of Paris along the River Marne, repelling the last great German offensive of the war in mid-July before opening the Aisne-Marne Counter Offensive later that month. The advance would continue into the first week of August, by which point the division had sustained nearly 2,000 casualties in the 19 days of fighting.

Source: Pennsylvania Heritage;