<P> The German Army came within 70 km ( 43 mi ) of Paris but at the First Battle of the Marne ( 6 -- 12 September ) , French and British troops were able to force a German retreat by exploiting a gap which appeared between the 1st and 2nd Armies , ending the German advance into France . The German Army retreated north of the Aisne River and dug in there , establishing the beginnings of a static western front that was to last for the next three years . Following this German retirement , the opposing forces made reciprocal outflanking manoeuvres , known as the Race for the Sea and quickly extended their trench systems from the Swiss frontier to the North Sea . The territory occupied by Germany held 64 percent of French pig - iron production , 24 percent of its steel manufacturing and 40 percent of the coal industry -- dealing a serious blow to French industry . </P>
<P> The German Army came within 70 km ( 43 mi ) of Paris but at the First Battle of the Marne ( 6 -- 12 September ) , French and British troops were able to force a German retreat by exploiting a gap which appeared between the 1st and 2nd Armies , ending the German advance into France . The German Army retreated north of the Aisne River and dug in there , establishing the beginnings of a static western front that was to last for the next three years . Following this German retirement , the opposing forces made reciprocal outflanking manoeuvres , known as the Race for the Sea and quickly extended their trench systems from the Swiss frontier to the North Sea . The territory occupied by Germany held 64 percent of French pig - iron production , 24 percent of its steel manufacturing and 40 percent of the coal industry -- dealing a serious blow to French industry . </P>
where was the initial german offensive on world war i western front stopped in september 1914
where was the initial german offensive on world war i western front stopped in september 1914
First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne