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...Marines' 1st Division took western and eastern routes, respectively, from Kuwait, converging on the city in early April. While the Republican Guard and Fedayeen did fight back against GIs entering the city, firefights were isolated and Iraqi defenses ineffective.
The long road to Baghdad had come to an end, and the city fell in just matter of days.
'Marne' Division in Action
The first American troops to reach Baghdad were members of the 3rd Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Marne" Division in WWI. The division is one of heavy armor and firepower, requiring a huge logistical train to maintain it. It set a western course for Baghdad, moving rapidly through the desert to avoid populated areas.
The 300-mile trip took the division 17 days, though its speed pushed troops and equipment to the limit, according to the New York Times, stretching supply lines dangerously thin. Its avoidance of cities also opened it up in the rear to harassment from Iraqi paramilitary...
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