The Taxis of the Marne assembled at the Invalides, Paris in readiness for their departure...

General Gallieni, military governor of Paris, requisitioned some 600 Parisian taxis in 1914 to ferry 6,000 French soldiers to assist the Sixth Army who were trying to prevent the German army from occupying Paris; the "Taxis de la Marne" became a symbol of French unity and initiative during the First World War; the battle of the Marne (Première Bataille de la Marne), fought between 5 and 12 September, resulted in an allied victory and is also called the 'Miracle of the Marne' as it forced the Germans to abandon their attack on Paris and retreat to the North east of France;