What do you think?
Rate this book
Rock of the Marne: The American Soldiers Who Turned the Tide Against the Kaiser in World War I
The stirring account of the Third U.S. Infantry Division in the Second Battle of the Marne—where the tide of World War I was finally turned…
The soldiers of the Third U.S. Infantry Division in World War I were outnumbered and inexperienced young men facing hardened veterans, but their actions proved to be a turning point during the last German offensive of World War I.
In stopping three German divisions from crossing the Marne River, these heroic American soldiers blocked the road to Paris east of Château-Thierry, helped save the French capital and, in doing so, played a key role in turning the tide of the war. The Allies then began a counteroffensive that drove the enemy back to the Hindenburg Line, and four months later the war was over.
Rock of the Marne follows the Third Division’s Sixth Brigade, which took the brunt of the German attack. The officers, many of them West Pointers and elite Ivy Leaguers, fighting side-by-side with enlisted men—city dwellers and country boys, cowboys and coal miners who came from every corner of America along with newly planted immigrants from Europe—answered their country’s call to duty.
This is the gripping true account of one of the most important—yet least explored—battles of World War I.
INCLUDES PHOTOS
The soldiers of the Third U.S. Infantry Division in World War I were outnumbered and inexperienced young men facing hardened veterans, but their actions proved to be a turning point during the last German offensive of World War I.
In stopping three German divisions from crossing the Marne River, these heroic American soldiers blocked the road to Paris east of Château-Thierry, helped save the French capital and, in doing so, played a key role in turning the tide of the war. The Allies then began a counteroffensive that drove the enemy back to the Hindenburg Line, and four months later the war was over.
Rock of the Marne follows the Third Division’s Sixth Brigade, which took the brunt of the German attack. The officers, many of them West Pointers and elite Ivy Leaguers, fighting side-by-side with enlisted men—city dwellers and country boys, cowboys and coal miners who came from every corner of America along with newly planted immigrants from Europe—answered their country’s call to duty.
This is the gripping true account of one of the most important—yet least explored—battles of World War I.
INCLUDES PHOTOS
350 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
13 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Stephen L. Harris
5 booksLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 11, 2022
they may kill us but they cannot whip us that's right! 😌 the 38th infantry truly went Through It.... i'm grateful to harris for putting this book into the world, there isn't nearly enough scholarship or any kind of writing on the second battle of the marne.
also: i was super impressed by his decision to include german voices in the narrative! it really rounded out the account. definitely a leap from the last book of his that i read.
also: i was super impressed by his decision to include german voices in the narrative! it really rounded out the account. definitely a leap from the last book of his that i read.
September 23, 2022
Mr. Harris is an expert regarding the First World War. He has written numerous books on the subject. This account regards the second battle of The Marne between the Germans and the Allies. The Germans just only failed in the first attempt to invade Paris. Now it is July 1918, and the Americans have now entered said war. Europe has been at war since August 1914.
And, in fact, the Allies are losing said war. The Germans have been successful thus far, but Paris has eluded them. Now enter American General John Pershing. He turns the war around in favor of the Americans and French and the other Allies
Mr. Harris writes in accurate detail of the battle at The Marne, the river leading into Paris. He includes various maps of the locations, surrounding towns and the soldiers from Germany, France, England and the USA. It certainly aids the reader in understanding this book.
And, in fact, the Allies are losing said war. The Germans have been successful thus far, but Paris has eluded them. Now enter American General John Pershing. He turns the war around in favor of the Americans and French and the other Allies
Mr. Harris writes in accurate detail of the battle at The Marne, the river leading into Paris. He includes various maps of the locations, surrounding towns and the soldiers from Germany, France, England and the USA. It certainly aids the reader in understanding this book.
June 28, 2017
This book largely focuses on the 3rd US Inf. Div. in the defense against the final German offensive, called "Friedensturm."
For me, the audiobook varied from something that merited a close listen, to a page turner, to too much going on. The parts about Col. Ulysses Grant McAlexander of the 38 Reg. were particularly compelling. He was quite a standout figure. At some points, things just got to be too much. This could be because I did this via audiobook, and that format can sometimes lead to distracted listening. Had I better maps to look at while listening (see below), my concentration my have been better. Overall, this is a book I really enjoyed. I finished it in two days, and I would reread it.
To help, I also checked out the dead tree version from the library to help my understanding. As with all WWI books that I have come across so far, this one suffers from a lack of effective maps. Two of the maps were good. One was a reprint that probably came from the "War Memorial" report (a lot of books republish those maps. However, I think it would have been more effective with a couple of closer in maps, and a map of the counteroffensive. The photos in the book were very useful.
For me, the audiobook varied from something that merited a close listen, to a page turner, to too much going on. The parts about Col. Ulysses Grant McAlexander of the 38 Reg. were particularly compelling. He was quite a standout figure. At some points, things just got to be too much. This could be because I did this via audiobook, and that format can sometimes lead to distracted listening. Had I better maps to look at while listening (see below), my concentration my have been better. Overall, this is a book I really enjoyed. I finished it in two days, and I would reread it.
To help, I also checked out the dead tree version from the library to help my understanding. As with all WWI books that I have come across so far, this one suffers from a lack of effective maps. Two of the maps were good. One was a reprint that probably came from the "War Memorial" report (a lot of books republish those maps. However, I think it would have been more effective with a couple of closer in maps, and a map of the counteroffensive. The photos in the book were very useful.
June 13, 2018
Audiobook version
I enjoyed it. It mainly covers the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments of the 3rd Division in the 2nd Battle of the Marne. But, the author does draw in the story of the men of the 110th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, that were on the flanks of the 30th and 38th. Plus he does bring in personal accounts from the German forces that saw action against the 30th and 38th.
Since I listen to the audiobook version, like lacked maps to visually see the relationship of the locations mentioned in the book. That was a bit of a problem. Hopefully there are maps in the book, because I think will be needed at times.
I enjoyed it. It mainly covers the 30th and 38th Infantry Regiments of the 3rd Division in the 2nd Battle of the Marne. But, the author does draw in the story of the men of the 110th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard, that were on the flanks of the 30th and 38th. Plus he does bring in personal accounts from the German forces that saw action against the 30th and 38th.
Since I listen to the audiobook version, like lacked maps to visually see the relationship of the locations mentioned in the book. That was a bit of a problem. Hopefully there are maps in the book, because I think will be needed at times.
December 18, 2023
This is a perfectly fine audiobook, but I should have read the print version. It's a interesting account of a vital battle that saved Paris during WWI. I sought it out when I watched the 2023 Army v. Navy college football game. The Army Black Knights all had ROTM on their pants and Rock of the Marne on the back of their helmets. I'd never heard of this, so I had to investigate. That led me to this book.
I say I should have read the print edition as there are so many location references that would be helped by a simple map. I'm sure the print book has at least one map to clarify things in it. Still, I'm glad I listened to it.
I say I should have read the print edition as there are so many location references that would be helped by a simple map. I'm sure the print book has at least one map to clarify things in it. Still, I'm glad I listened to it.
June 11, 2019
Fantastic book. Little attention gets paid to the battles of the Marne in WW1 histories (to be fair, WW1 is quite the large topic). The book does a fantastic job at illustrating the tension before a battle, the complexities of WW1 battle operations, and the soul crushing stories of those involved.
The books swings from informative, to gut-wrenching, to awe-inspiring. If you want to learn a bit about the American roll in WW1, and specifically about the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, this is the book for you.
The books swings from informative, to gut-wrenching, to awe-inspiring. If you want to learn a bit about the American roll in WW1, and specifically about the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division, this is the book for you.
August 7, 2024
Decently written and researched account of the 3rd Infantry Division during the actions of WWI which gave rise to the Division's motto, the "Rock of the Marne." Worthwhile read if wanting to learn more about the American Expeditionary Force's combat during WWI or especially if wanting to learn more about 3ID. As you'd expect from the heavily decorated Division, plenty of stories of heroism and determination against great odds.
January 26, 2022
Great great telling of the second battle of the Marne and the US Army’s platoons and companies showing the steel in their courage, that the French did not have.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews