World War One
Situation on the Eve of hostilities
• British being starved by German U-Boats
• Feared they would be out of war by Oct
1917.
American Navy
• American navy was in a position to help Allies
• Admiral William Sims convinced British to try
new system—Convoy system
– Destroyers and other small anti-submarine vessels
escorted merchant ships across the Atlantic
• Not a perfect system but reduced the crisis
• Second ½ of 1917—great reduction in ship
losses.
• The US also embarked on a massive
shipbuilding program.
– Build ships faster than Germans could sink them.
Army
• Less prepared to make an immediate
contribution.
• Force of 210,000 men with 97,000 National
Guardsmen in federal service.
• Little or no equipment.
• Want to make symbolic gesture of support to
Allies-send a Division over immediately
– Scrap together forces to create-1st Infantry Division
– Would take months in Europe to prepare them for
combat
John Pershing
• Wilson selects Pershing to lead American
forces in Europe
– Combat experience in Mexico
– Controversial choice
• Junior to 5 other officers
• Sent immediately to Europe to assess the
situation and set up headquarters.
How big a force?
• Initial estimates 1 million man force
– 1 full field army—20 divisions strong with support
personal
• Pershing would consistently increase these
figures until they reached 100 divisions strong.
• A force of this size over 3 million men would
have greatly taxed the American economy.
• Eventually 62 divisions would be formed with 43
going overseas.
American Divisions
• American army had oversized divisionsalmost 28,000 men
– Double the size of Allied or German divisions
– Pershing wanted a forced large enough to
have striking AND staying power on the
attack.
– Ability to overwhelm enemy
Mobilization of Industry
• To meet the needs of forces, military needed to
coordinate activities with civilian industry
• Massive contracts to supply all needs of modern
military force operating overseas.
• American industry unable to meet many of the
needs in a prompt way
• Army forced to use materials supplied by Allies
• Not until the end of the war did American
industry start to meet quotas.
Officers Corps
• Military decided to go in a new direction
– In past officers selected based on status and
political connections
• Test all inductees for mental aptitude
– Culturally biased
– Drew conclusion that most troops were idiots
• Officer Training Schools
Americans in Combat
• 1st Division put into action in October
1917
• Did a rotation with French units before
committed to a “Quiet Section” of the front
Pressure from Allies
• Quickly realized that it would take a long
time before American forces would be
ready to assume unit role.
• Wanted Americans fed into British and
French units as replacements.
– Believed request was logical
– Possessed leadership, artillery, tanks and
aviation but lacked manpower
• Americans insisted on a separate force
German Offensive
• Germans moved large numbers of troops from
Russian front to Europe.
• Launch 5 major massive offensives against
British forces
– Advanced over 40 miles
– Take 70,000 prisoners, 200,000 casualties
• Bogs down
– Loot British trenches for food—slows advance
– Fails to destroy British Army, loss of elite troops
American forces grow
• By July 4, 1918, one million American
have arrived in France
• 250,000 troops arriving in Europe each
month.
• Begin to tip the scale
• Ready to launch offensive.
St. Mihiel
• September 1918
• 1st major offensive--good test
– Europeans had doubts—inexperienced
officers
• American able to seize territories quickly
with few casualties
• Important for morale
– Could run an independent operation
– Staff planning, skilled officers, good troops
Air War
• War creates major building program
– Produces 1,200 aircraft
– Most use French-made planes
• William Mitchell—Head of Air Corps
• 94th Squadron-1st unit in action
– Eddie Rickenbacher—26 kills
– Used in Meuse-Argonne offensive
• Ground support
• Bombing raids
• Mitchell envisioned a very different future