Final answer:
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a crucial World War I engagement where American and French forces successfully pushed back German troops from the Saint-Mihiel salient in September 1918, capturing significant prisoners and influencing subsequent military strategies and the war's outcome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel in September 1918 was a significant engagement during World War I. This battle was part of a series of offensives by the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) alongside French troops against the German forces. Led by General John J. Pershing, the offensive aimed at recapturing the Saint-Mihiel salient, a strategically vital region held by the Germans since 1914.
The AEF achieved success, capturing over 15,000 German prisoners and allowing the allies to push towards the Hindenburg Line. The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of the newly arrived American forces and boosted the allied morale. It also had a profound impact on military strategies, as it was one of the first times American forces had fought independently in the theater of a world war.
The battle's success also had significant implications for the overall war effort, playing a role in weakening German resolve and contributing to the chain of events that would lead to the armistice just two months later in November 1918.