American Power Tips the Balance

Eddie Rickenbacker Famous WWI fighter pilot Racecar driver before war Learned to fly on his own time Fought the German “Flying Circus” led by the “Red Baron” Manfred von Richthofen Engaged in 134 air battles and downed 26 enemy aircrafts

America Mobilizes U.S. was not prepared for war – Few men in service – Inexperienced officers Gov’t passes the Selective Service Act – Men must register for draft – Most people drafted had not attended high school – 400k African Americans (segregated units) Not allowed in Navy or Marines Mostly assigned to non-combat units Weapons in short supply – Soldiers trained with fake guns and rocks Women allowed to be nurses, secretaries, and telephone operators but not in combat

Mass Production Had to find a way to transport men across the ocean – Difficult because of German U-Boats Had to expand fleet: – Gov’t exempted many shipyard workers from the draft – U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined in a public relations campaign to emphasize the importance of shipyard work – Shipyards used fabrication techniques Parts built elsewhere and assembled in shipyard – Government took over commercial and private ships and converted them for war use -

America Turns the Tide Began to use the convoy system – Destroyers escorted merchant ships – U.S. Navy placed underwater mines in North Sea Allies add freshness and enthusiasm to the war as well as numbers of people

Fighting in Europe American Expeditionary Force (AEF) – Led by John J Pershing – Included men from widely separated parts of the country New Weapons introduced – Machine Gun – Tank and Airplane (How were they used?) Mechanized warfare Pilots shot at each other with pistols – Eventually mounted machine guns

New Hazards Along with weapons – Lice, rats, filth, polluted water – Inhaled poisonous gases – Shellshock (post-war) – Trench foot (rotting feet) – Trench mouth

American Troops Go on the Offensive Russia pulls out of war in 1917 – Germany shifts their armies from eastern to western front in France U.S. arrives just in time to help stop Germany from entering Paris (50 miles away) Alvin York -> War Hero – Was a Conscientious Objector (war objector) – Killed 25 Germans and captured 132 prisoners

Collapse of Germany November 3, > Austria – Hungary surrenders to the Allies Germany soldiers began to mutiny against gov’t authority – Caused German Kaiser to give up throne Germans become exhausted November 11, 1918 Germany agrees to armistice

Final Toll Bloodiest war in history to its time 22 million deaths (half civilians) 20 million wounded 10 million people become refugees U.S. losses: – 48K deaths in battle – 62K deaths from disease – 200K people were wounded