A City on the Brink
On the night of September 6, 1914, as German forces pushed toward Paris, an extraordinary convoy rolled out of the French capital. Hundreds of taxis, mostly Renault AG1 Landaulets, were commandeered to transport troops to the front near the Marne River.
The drivers were far from eager, many pulled off the streets mid-shift and directed to the Military College. Some passengers were ejected mid-ride. With Paris under imminent threat and the government evacuated to Bordeaux, this unorthodox mobilization was seen as a desperate effort to reinforce a faltering line.
Gallieni’s Plan in Motion
General Joseph Gallieni, tasked with defending the capital, initiated the taxi mobilization. Though trains and trucks had already been dispatched, the taxis added speed and flexibility. Most of Paris’s 10,000 taxis were unavailable—many drivers were serving in the military—but several hundred responded.
The first convoy left from Place des Invalides and drove through the night along National Road 2. They transported about 5,000 soldiers, roughly a brigade, to areas near the front by the morning of September 8.
The Real Battle at the Marne
While the taxis delivered reinforcements, the tide of battle shifted due to other critical decisions. German General Alexander von Kluck altered his planned route to pursue retreating French forces, opening a dangerous gap. French Commander-in-Chief Joseph Joffre exploited the weakness, launching a counterattack.
The British Expeditionary Force joined the assault, turning what seemed like certain defeat into a major reversal. By September 12, the German armies were retreating. The Battle of the Marne cost over 250,000 lives on each side.
A Moment Remembered
Though the taxi operation had minimal strategic impact, its visibility and timing gave it lasting resonance. Soldiers reportedly welcomed the ride to the front, many experiencing motorized travel for the first time. Upon return, the taxis’ meters were read, and the army was billed. One taxi from the convoy is preserved at the Musée de la Grande Guerre near Meaux.
The episode became a morale booster during a grim moment for France and remains widely taught. In 1957, Jean Dutourd’s bestselling book The Taxis of the Marne revived the story, reinforcing its place in public memory. Today, the event is displayed at the museum with maps and surviving vehicles—acknowledged as a remarkable moment during the earliest weeks of World War I.
On the night of September 6, 1914, as German forces neared Paris, hundreds of taxis rolled from the city toward the front.
Their mission was urgent but unclear.
What followed became one of the most remembered episodes of World War I—even if its impact was small…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/AnlUtgtUkH
— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) July 31, 2025