St Mihiel salient

In World War I, triangular protrusion of the German front line, with its tip at St Mihiel on the River Meuse and its base stretching 48 km/30 mi from Fresnes to Pont-à-Mousson. French attempts to drive the Germans back from 1915 onward met with heavy losses and little success until it was finally taken with the help of US troops September 1918.

On 11 September seven US divisions lay on the north side and two US divisions plus the 15th French Colonial Corps lay on the south, while the 2nd French Colonial Corps fronted the tip and two US divisions lay in support. The plan was a simultaneous attack on both sides of the base to cut off the salient while the French launched a frontal holding attack. Assisted by tanks and ground attack aircraft, the US assault went forward on schedule, leading to hard fighting. On the morning of 13 September the 1st and 26th Divisions (coming from the south and north respectively) met at Vigneulles, neatly cutting off the bulk of the German forces. Pershing's troops took over 13,000 prisoners and 200 guns, the salient was flattened out, and the US forces went on to drive the Germans from the heights of the Meuse.