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Second Battle of the Marne

Second Battle of the Marne

8.1
A major 1918 battle in northwest France where the Allies stopped a large German attack
  • noun
translation icon : Segunda Batalla del Marne
  • The Second Battle of the Marne marked a turning point in World War I in favor of the Allies.

Examples

  • The Second Battle of the Marne was a turning point in World War I.

  • Did the Second Battle of the Marne change the course of the war?

  • Historians often cite the Second Battle of the Marne as beginning the final phase of the conflict.

  • Many soldiers lost their lives during the fierce fighting at the Second Battle of the Marne.

  • The Second Battle of the Marne was a turning point in World War I, where the Allies successfully repelled a major German assault.

  • In July 1918, the Allies launched a counteroffensive during the Second Battle of the Marne, ultimately leading to their victory in the war.

  • Historically, the Second Battle of the Marne is remembered for halting the German advance and reshaping the course of the conflict.

Synonyms

Battle of the Marne
vsSecond Battle of the Marne
1 7.4

Major World War I battle in northwest France where Allied forces defeat the German army in 1918

is a decisive action that halted a major German offensive

Surface Forms

Morphology

2nd + battle + of + the + Marne

The phrase is compositional: 'Second' (an ordinal) + 'Battle' (a military engagement) + 'of the Marne' (location) yields the straightforward meaning 'the second military engagement at the Marne.' A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can derive this referential meaning even if they lack the detailed historical significance; the naming pattern for battles is cross-linguistically common.

Etymology

Second Battle of the Marne comes from the Marne River and the fact it was the second big battle fought there. In July–August 1918 armies fought along the Marne and the Allies stopped a large German attack, so the name now refers to that very important 'World War I' battle.