- The Battle of the Marne (Battle of the Ourcq) in early September 1914 was the first major battle of World War I, and was the first of a series of crucial engagements on the Western Front.
- The German forces had advanced within forty miles (64 km) of Paris before being stopped by French and British armies in the First Battle of the Marne (5–12 September).
- This German defeat and the subsequent Allied counter-offensive marked the end of the German Schlieffen Plan for a quick victory over France.
Significance
- Although the battle did not end the war, it did signal the failure of the German plan for a quick victory and prevented them from capturing Paris.
- The battle led to four years of trench warfare on the Western Front.
- The battle is widely considered to be one of the most significant battles in history, as it marked the beginning of the end of Germany's hopes for a decisive victory in World War I.