The Frustrating Struggle for Hill 204 Above Château-Thierry

Hill 204 with the Huge American Monument Looming Over Château-Thierry

What is referred to in some sources as the “Battle of Château-Thierry” actually entailed four major operations by the forces General Pershing sent to fight under French command and in cooperation with French units:

1. The Defense Along the Marne River at ChâteauThierry (3rd U.S. Division)

2. The Ongoing Struggle for Hill 204 (two French divisions; elements 3rd and 28th U.S. Divisions)

3. The Battle for Belleau Wood (4th Marine Brigade and 2nd Engineers, 2nd U.S. Division; elements 3rd U.S. Division)

4. The Capture of Vaux (3rd Brigade, 2nd U.S. Division)

This article will focus on action #2, The Struggle for Hill 204

While the world's attention focused on the main defensive action of the Allies along the Marne River in late May and early June (action #2), German forces captured and strengthened a site that would allow them to physically dominate the entire Château-Thierry sector for the next seven weeks, holding it against fierce French and American onslaughts. Shown on battle maps as Hill 204 (meters), today it is the site of a magnificent U.S. monument to the fighting in the area. Hovering just to the west over Château-Thierry, the hill is the highest point in the region, allowing commanding views of the Marne valley, the Paris-Metz highway which runs across its base, and Bouresches village and Bois de Belleau to the north.

Hill 204 was taken on 31 May–1 June by advancing German forces, and its defense was assigned to the 401st Infantry Regiment. Much of the crest of the hill is filled by dense Courteau Wood, which was quickly turned into a machine gun-filled redoubt like Belleau Wood, except for providing better views of the approaching enemy forces. Its strategic position was also enhanced by the odd array of the Allied forces initially deployed almost randomly around its base. 

The two American divisions sent as reinforcements were both in the area but were not contiguous in the line. Just southeast of the hill along the river was the U.S. 3rd Division, while a mile to the west was the southernmost position of the U.S. 2nd Division. Immediately on the slopes of Hill 204, filling the gap between the two Americans formations, was initially the under-strength French 10th Colonial Division and later the 39th Division (after 26 June). This meant that the Allied forces facing the most important position on the evolving battlefield suffered from divided command and the smaller French divisions in the center would require reinforcements to assault the hill.

German Shelters Atop Hill 204
by Official War Artist J. Andre Smith

Nevertheless, numerous efforts were made throughout June to capture the hill, usually with elements of the U.S. 3rd Division supplementing a main French effort. On 6 June Courteau Wood was almost captured, but the Germans managed to regain it and drive the Allies back down the slopes. Doughboys of the 30th Infantry, 3rd Division, did manage to capture the village of Monneaux on the hill's westerly base during the operation. On 13 June two battalions of the 3rd Division provided the main manpower for another attack, one of which suffered 50 casualties in a failed effort. 

The most promising effort to drive the German defenders from Hill 204 came in early July in conjunction with the U.S. 2nd Division's effort to capture Vaux village on the northwestern side of the hill [Action #4]. At this time the U.S. 3rd Division's sector had been concentrated to the east of Château-Thierry and the French 39th Division had been placed directly in front of Hill 204, replacing the 10th Colonial Division. To augment the French portion of the attack—on Hill 204 proper—detachments of the 56th Brigade of the U.S. 28th Division were provided. The 153rd Infantry of the French 39th Division, supplemented by two companies of Americans, met stubborn resistance and was effectively smashed. 

A Yank deployed at Hill 204 describe the fighting in his diary:

Thursday, July 4th Sounded call to arms at 1:00 A.M. Rolled packs. Hiked 9 kilos to the Grand Forest near La Chapell. Selected to go on a raiding party at 204 Hill. Jocko, E. Watt, Auchuto, Tate and myself selected from Co I. Our barrage started at 10:20 A.M. Ceased at 12:20 P.M. Went over the top at 12:21. Absolutely no resistance until we entered a woods. Ran into several Machine Gun Nests in the wood. Frank Achuto had arm blown off. Earnest Watt killed by German sniper from a treetop. Got my first shot at a Hun who proved to be chained to his gun and to the tree. Advanced 1300 yards and took and held against big odds 204 Hill. Relieved by a French Regiment at 4:35 P.M. Just realized what I had been through. Saw legs, arms and men torn to bits by huge shells. The ground smelled of the dead bodies who had be [been] laying around for quite a while. Artillery doing good work.

Diary, Bugler Wayne W. DeSilvey, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division 

From the American Monument, the Commanding View Held by the German Army Throughout the Fighting at Château-Thierry Can Be Appreciated

By 6 July a mixed force composed of French units, the trench mortar platoons of the Pennsylvania 111th and 112th Infantry Regiments, and two rifle sections of the 112th Infantry succeeded in capturing much of Bois de Courteau. It was the most successful operation against Hill 204 to date. During the night of 8–9 July, however, the Germans recaptured the woods from the French units occupying the positions. 

Nothing the Allies did locally managed to push the enemy off the hill. Larger events were required to bring this about. On 15 July, the Germans launched their fifth major offensive of the year between Château-Thierry and Reims. For the first time in 1918, the Allies were ready. They not only halted the attack in a single day but also mounted a counteroffensive three days later. Suddenly, all the German Army's forces deployed in the enormous salient between the Aisne and Marne Rivers were in jeopardy. On 21 July, a full withdrawal from the salient was under way, and Hill 204 was finally abandoned by its defenders that day, out of strategic necessity, not compelled by force of arms. 

Source: Over the Top, June 2018