Battle of Cantigny

Battle of Cantigny
Part of the Western Front of World War I

Battle of Cantigny
Date28 May 1918
Location
Cantigny
49°39′50″N 2°29′28″E / 49.664°N 2.491°E / 49.664; 2.491
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United States
 France
 German Empire
Commanders and leaders
United States Robert Lee Bullard German Empire Oskar von Hutier
Strength
~4,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
United States 1,603 casualties (318 killed[1]) 1,400 killed and wounded [2]
250 captured[3]

The Battle of Cantigny, fought May 28, 1918,[4] was the first major American battle and offensive of World War I.[5] The U.S. 1st Division, the most experienced of the five American divisions then in France and in reserve for the French Army near the village of Cantigny, was selected for the attack. The objective of the attack was both to reduce a small salient made by the German Army in the front lines but also to instill confidence among the French.