TheCodeBreakers
Ludendorff's urgent demand for ammunition became clear. But this time,
for the first time since Ludendorff began his stupendous series of
triumphs, there was no surprise. Painvin's manna had saved the French.
A little before dawn 15 German divisions charged forward. The French
were ready. For five days, fighting seesawed back and forth. Initially the
Germans took the little villages of Mery and Courcelles, but on June 11,
General Charles Mangin counterattacked with five divisions and all the
elan the French could muster. He stopped the German advance cold and
then swept the gray tide out of the two villages. Again the Germans
heaved forward in a great effort. They failed with heavy losses. For the
first time that spring, Ludendorff suspended an operation before it had
achieved its goal. Mangin, wearing his gold-brocaded kepi, laughed
beneath the guns of victory. Foch, who realized that other German
annaabi.ee 
