The St. Mihiel Salient was created in September 1914 when the Germans, pushing into France, managed to cross the River Meuse at St. Mihiel. In doing so they cut the important road and rail connections from that town to Verdun.
The scene of vicious fighting in the first two years of the war, the area later became quiet. It has changed little since the end of the war, so you will see the battlefield as the troops saw it.
The St. Mihiel Salient was the first place where the American Expeditionary Force fought as an independent American army. Many famous Americans were here in September 1918, including Colonels George Patton, Douglas McArthur, George Marshall and Brigadier-General Billy Mitchell.
With a one-day tour we could show you the principal sites in the Salient, such as Les Eparges hill and its preserved mine craters, the "Trench of Thirst", Bois Brulé with the French and German trenches 20 yards apart, and the American memorial and cemetery.
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French front line in Bois Brulé |
German front line in Bois Brulé |
St. Mihiel American cemetery |
With a tour of two days or more, we can show you some of the lesser-known sites in this area or follow the actions of particular regiments or men.
- Priests Wood with its concrete dugouts and original barbed wire.
- Apremont Wood and the German machine gun post,
- The grave site of French novelist Alain-Fournier and his companions.
- A French memorial church.
- Many original German monuments
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German machine gun post |
Window in French memorial church |
Do you have a special family or regimental interest in this area?
Contact us to discuss your requirements - we'll build a tour to suit you.
