Private Tour / 2 days WW1 2 DAYS TRIP From Paris to visit WW1 U.S Battlefields 1918 in Meuse-Argonne and Aisne-Marne regions in France

The Driver/guide “Régis” will pick you up directly at your hotel location in Paris (around 06:10 am) . This tour will be the opportunity to see by yourself the scars of the war left on the lanscape in the areas of the Meuse-Argonne region from September 1914 till Armistice of the war in November 1918.

The Meuse–Argonne offensive was a major part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire Western Front. It was fought from September 26, 1918, until the Armistice of November 11, 1918, a total of 47 days. The Meuse–Argonne offensive was the largest in United States military history, involving 1.2 million American soldiers. It is the second deadliest battle in American history, resulting in over 350,000 casualties including 28,000 German lives, 26,277 American lives and an unknown number of French lives.

The attack at the Saint-Mihiel salient (fought from 12–15 September 1918) ,was part of a plan by Pershing in which he hoped that the Americans would break through the German lines and capture the fortified city of Metz. It was the first large offensive launched mainly by the United States Army in World War I, and the attack caught the Germans in the process of retreating.This battle marked the first use of the terms "D-Day" and "H-Hour" by the Americans.

With your driver-guide you will travel to Meuse-Argonne Region in an air-conditioned minivan. Once you arrive in the Saint Mihel salient, you will stop at the « Montsec American Monument" which is located on the isolated hill of Montsec (Thiaucourt), France.

This majestic monument, commemorating the achievements of the American soldiers who fought in this region in 1917 and 1918, dominates the landscape for miles around. It commemorates reduction of the St. Mihiel Salient by the U.S. First Army, September 12-16, 1918, and operations of the U.S. Second Army, November 9-11.

It consists of a classic circular colonnade with a broad approach stairway. Within its center is a bronze relief map of the St. Mihiel salient, illustrating the military operations that took place there. The monument was slightly damaged during World War II, but has been repaired. From this vantage point the trenches used during the fighting can be seen.

Dedicated by U.S General John J.Pershing in 1937, it consists of a massive granite doric column, surmounted by a statue symbolic of liberty, which towers more than 200-feet above the war ruins of the former village. It commemorates the American victory during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive during the period September 26, 1918 to November 11, 1918, when the American First Army forced the enemy to conduct a general retreat on this front.

On the walls of the foyer are an engraved map of the operations with a narrative and a special tribute to the American troops who served here. The observation platform on top of the memorial is reached by 234 steps and affords magnificent views of this battlefield.

It stands opposite the front line occupied by the First American Army on the morning of 26 September 1918 when the attack was launched.Visitors can climb up to the observation platform (opening times are displayed outside) from which there is a magnificent view of almost all the ground captured during the offensive, the largest battle in American history at that time.

Arriving in « Romagne » After a light lunch you will visit the private war museum and amazing huge collection or war objects (rusty helmets, weapons, glass bottles, soldiers personnal effects, trench tools) found by « Jean Paul » in the fields surrounding his farm in Romagne.

Within the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France, which covers 130.5 acres, rest the largest number of our military dead in Europe, a total of 14,246. Most of those buried here lost their lives during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive of World War I.

The immense array of headstones rises in long regular rows upward beyond a wide central pool to the chapel that crowns the ridge. While walking along row upon row of white grave headstones, your historian guide will share with you stories of soldiers who fought in the vicinities and then were awarded for gallantry the highest miltary decorations.

The Chapel A beautiful bronze screen separates the chapel foyer from the interior, which is decorated with stained-glass windows portraying American unit insignia; behind the altar are flags of the principal Allied nations. On either side of the chapel are memorial loggias. One panel of the west loggia contains a map of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Inscribed on the remaining panels of both loggias are Tablets of the Missing with 954 names, including those from the U.S. expedition to northern Russia in 1918-1919. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

Visitor Centre A renovated, 1,600-square-foot center visitor center reopened in November 2016. Through interpretive exhibits that incorporate personal stories, photographs, films, and interactive displays, visitors will gain a better understanding of the critical importance of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive as it fits into the Great War.

The driver/guide will take you to your hotel accomodation. After been settled comfortably at your hotel then the guide will recommend you some nearby good restaurants for the diner.

During your second day of your trip you will be driven 190 miles away north from the Argonne-Forest towards another WW1 U.S battlefields aera in the Aisne-Marne' region, France, which took place between June till August 1918.

Once you will arrive over there, you will stop at “Belleau Wood” in which fierces fighting took place in June 1918 involving units of the U.S Marines Corps (U.S 2nd Infantry Division) against elements of German 237th, 197th, 87th and 28th Divisions)

With your guide you will walk in the wood and you see the traces of the fighting (trenches, fox holes, bomb craters) wich are still visibles today. Belleau Wood is located on the high ground to the rear of Aisne-Marne American Cemetery south of the village of Belleau (Aisne), France. In the center of the road leading through the woods is a flagpole and a monument commemorating the valor of the U.S. Marines who captured this area in 1918. It commemorates the actions of the 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Division.

The 2nd Division attacked German positions beginning on June 6, 1918. The 4th Marine Brigade liberated Bouresches that day. Its 5th and 6th Marine Regiments fought in Belleau Wood through most of June 1918. Their gallant actions resulted in the Battle of Belleau Wood ending on June 26. On June 30, 1918, the Commanding General, French 6th Army, officially renamed Belleau Wood as “Wood of the Marine Brigade.” The 2nd Division sustained casualties of 8,100 officers and men during the intense fighting in this vicinity during June 1918.

Vestiges of trenches, shell holes, and relics of the war to include weapons found in the vicinity, may be seen near the Marine monument, which was erected by the U.S. Marine Corps.

With headstones lying in a sweeping curve, the 42.5-acre Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France, sits at the foot of Belleau Wood. The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 war dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918.

The memorial chapel sits on a hillside, decorated with sculptured and stained-glass details of wartime personnel, equipment and insignia. Inscribed on its interior wall are 1,060 names of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. In 1940 during World War II the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery chapel was damaged due to heavy fighting in the vicinity. All damage was repaired except for one shell hole in the chapel, left as a reminder of what took place.

Today, every veteran or marine, during his visit to France, must go to the site of Belleau. After wandering the remnants of the battlefield and going to the chapel, he had only one desire: to go to the «Bulldog Fountain» This fountain in the form of a bulldog head throne, in the courtyard of the former stables of the castle of Belleau completely destroyed during the First World War.

Soldiers buried in this German cemetery in Belleau were mainly killed during the Belleau Wood Fighting, between June 25 and July 18, 1918, against the 4th US Marine Brigade. This necropolis was built by France in March 1922, which gathered here graves from 123 different places located between the Chemin des Dames and the Marne. It contains 8.630 bodies. Of the 4,308 bodies resting in individual graves, 22 could not be identified. While 4.322 bodies buried in both ossuaries, only 487 could be identified.

See the US 2^nd Division boulder monument and the location site of the first american battelfield cemetery.

The underground spring at Lucy le Bocage was the only place American soldiers had access to drinking water in the area.

The World War I Chateau-Thierry American Monument, designed by Paul Cret, is located on a hill two miles west of Chateau-Thierry, France, and commands a wide view of the valley of the Marne River. It commemorates the sacrifices and achievements of the Americans and French before and during the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne offensives.

The monument, also known as the American Aisne-Marne Memorial or Le Monument américain à cote 204, consists of an impressive double colonnade rising above a long terrace. On its west facade are heroic sculptured figures representing the United States and France. On its east facade is a map showing American military operations in this region and an orientation table pointing out the significant battle sites.

German advances in late May 1918 led to the 3rd Division joining the fight. Its units assisted French troops in preventing the Germans from crossing the Marne River. The 3rd Division held the south bank of the Marne until the French American counteroffensive forced German withdrawal. It earned the nickname “Rock of the Marne.” At the nearby cemeteries rest those Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country.

A 2,000 square-foot visitor center opened at Chateau-Thierry American Monument in May 2018 to celebrate the centenary of the battle of Belleau Wood

In this charming litlle town of Château-Thierry we will decide to take a break for lunch in a local restaurant or you will just decides by yourself of your own choices of meals (own expense).

To end that very moving day, you will visit the «Museum of the Great War » in Meaux. That museum display a huge collection of artefacts (up to 50000) and is also the largest museum in europe who focus into the world war one conflict. Overthere you will learn more about the politicals reasons who led to the war, and discover a lot of materials, vehicles, uniforms and weapons designed and used by the soldiers during the conflict.

At the beginning of the museum, there was a man, Jean-Pierre Verney, a passionate historian, who, over a period of 50 years, collected objects and documents to tell the story of the First World War. In 2005, the town of Meaux bought the exceptional collection which consists of over 50 000 items and decided to build a museum in order to value their history !

Today, more than 65 000 items make up this collection !

The Great War museum holds a rich and diverse collection which tackles the conflict as well as the technical and military plans from a human and societal point of view. Discover full uniforms from the majority of the warring countries, weaponry and artillery, heavy machinery, objects from daily life on the front line and back home as well as many documents and a great range of artwork.

During the return drive to Paris you will have time to relax aboard the minivan before to be dropped off at your hotel location in the evening (between 08:00 pm till 09:00 pm).