First Battle of the Marne

World War I battle of 5-12 September 1914 that halted Germany's invasion of France, known in France as the 'miracle on the Marne'. After pursuing retreating French and British forces more than 250 km south, the Germans advanced to within 40 km of Paris; the Franco-British counter-offensive ordered by Joseph Joffre left the German 1st and 2nd Armies at risk of encirclement, forcing a retreat to the Aisne. The German defeat ended the bid for a quick victory and led to the four-year trench stalemate of the Western Front.