The original plan of St. Mihiel, was to break through the fortified German line and eventually capture the German controlled city of Metz. The Americans, who launched the offensive with around 100,000 French troops, caught the Germans in the process of retreat, hence their artillery was out of place. At St. Mihiel, the American Air Force actually proved quite useful. In total, there were 1,481 aircraft used to provide air superiority and close air support. Tasked with defending the salient was the German Army detatchment “C.” The Germans, now desperately short of manpower, had begun a step-by-step withdrawal from the salient only the day before the offensive began. Pershing was so pleased with the first day of the offensive that he ordered it to be sped up. By the Morning of the 13th, the 1st Divison that came from the East linked up with the 26th who came from the west, and before evening all objectives in the Salient were captured. At this point, Pershing halted further advances so that American units could be withdrawn for the coming Meuse-Argonne Offensive. St. Mihiel was seen as a success to the allies, and it established the U.S. Army as an effective fighting force in the eyes of the French and British. Casualties for the allies mounted at 4500, compared to the 22,500 the Germans suffered.
Above we have an interesting picture of American medics treating German POW’s during the battle, note the young German with the camoflauged Stahlhelm.
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