The Americans in Europe World War I The Americans in Europe

Trench Warfare Both the French and the German troops become bogged down in the trenches craved into the landscape Both sides will be kept in almost the same position for four years Technology superior to tactics Machine gun versus a human charge through "No man's land" New technology = poison gas, airplanes Very high death rates Battle of the Somme = 600,000 allied and 500,000 German dead for 125 miles of land Battle of Verdun = 700,000 killed on both sides with no gain in territory

Schematic Illustration of trenches from a French magazine.

German trenches

US 18th Infantry, 1st Division troops in front line trench, 20 Jan 1918

“Hand-grenade Combat”

Poison Gas Chlorine – greenish-yellow gas (heavier than air). Gas reacted in the presence of water to cause a chemical burning effect on organic matter. Human body was susceptible because it is organic and is always covered with a film of water. Symptoms: vomiting, difficulty breathing, burning sensation in the lungs, eyes, nasal/mouth passages, and watery eyes. Severe cases included cell damage in lung leading to fluid buildup, loss of consciousness through suffocation, and death Phosgene – colorless, odorless, gas (heavier than air). It is highly poisonous because it will replace the oxygen in cells and quickly cause an oxygen debt within the body, leading to unconsciousness and death Mustard Gas – Caustic gas with a distinctive mustard smell. It causes blistering and huge sores on any exposed tissue, internal, or external. This was the most commonly used gas, along with phosgene, during WWI.

Estimated Gas Causalities Nation Fatal Non-Fatal Russia 56,000 419,340 Germany 9,000 200,000 France 8,000 190,000 British Empire 8,109 188,706 Austria-Hungary 3,000 100,000 USA 1,462 72,807 Italy 4,627 60,000 Total 88,498 1,240,853

Poison Gas Attacks

American soldier wearing his gas mask

Gas attack seen from an airplane

Gas masks for man and horse demonstrated by American soldier

Effects of Mustard Gas

Weapons of the War

Machine Guns

Barbed Wire

Flamethrowers

Periscope Rifle

Phosphorus Grenade

US Renault tank of C Company, 327th Tank Battalion

Tactics of Trench Warfare Trench warfare confused military leaders who were trained to fight wars of movement and maneuvering Officers would sometimes order an artillery attack to flatten the enemy’s barbed wire and leave the enemy in a state of shock After “softening up” the enemy, many soldiers would climb out of the trench with fixed bayonets hoping to work their way to the enemy Attacks rarely worked because men would have to advance through unprotected, open fields The French lost 700,000 men at Verdun in only a few miles of land War of attrition  war based on wearing the other side down by constant attacks and heavy losses

Winning the War at Sea No American troopships were sunk on the way to Europe because of the efforts of Admiral William S. Sims Organized merchant ships and troop transports into groups known as convoys If a ship was sunk, the survivors could be quickly rescued by other members of the convoy

Russia Leaves the War March, 1917  Riots broke out in Russia over the government’s handling of the war Forced the abdication of Czar Nicholas II Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew provisional government and established a communist government in Russia Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to exit the war with Germany

Americans Enter the War General John J. Pershing commanded the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Arrived in Paris on July 4, 1917 British and French troops wanted to integrate Americans into armies headed by British/French leaders Pershing refused Only the 93rd Infantry Division were given to the French

Germany’s Last Offensive March 12, 1918  Germans launched massive attack on the Western Front Late May  Americans launched a counter-attack, capturing the village of Cantigny June 1  American and French troops blocked German advance July 15  Germans launched one last attempt on Paris, but the Americans and French pushed them back

The Battle of Argonne Forest French Marshal Ferdinand Foch ordered a massive counterattack Mid-September  American troops drove back German forces at the battle of Saint-Mihiel General Pershing created a major offensive in the region of the Argonne Forest Attack began on September 26, 1918 By November, Americans had destroyed the German defenses, forcing a German retreat

American Heroes Alvin York Eddie Rickenbacker Opposed to war, he initially tried to avoid the draft as a conscientious objector (someone who refuses to obey the law because of his moral or religious beliefs) October 8, 1918  German machine guns killed nine men in the same platoon as York York killed between 9-25 Germans, captured the machine guns, and took 132 prisoners Received the Medal of Honor and the French Croix de Guerre for his actions Eddie Rickenbacker Famous car driver before the war Became commander of the 94th Aero Squadron Fought in 134 air battles and shot down 26 enemy aircrafts In one battle, he single-handedly fought seven German aircrafts He received the Congressional Medal of Honor

The War Ends October 1918  Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia declared independence Early November  Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires surrendered to the Allies November 3  Sailors in Kiel mutinied, leading to a nation-wide rebellion November 9  Germany became a republic November 11  Germany signed an armistice (a truce, or agreement to stop fighting)

A Flawed Peace January 1919, delegates from over 27 nations attended a peace conference in Paris Allies and the Germans sign the Treaty of Versailles to end the war Big Four Powers  Wilson (US), Lloyd George (UK), Clemenceau (France), and Orlando (Italy)

The Fourteen Points President Wilson's plan for peace Believed that his fourteen points would establish a lasting peace for Europe Based on “the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities” First five points  Proposed to eliminate the causes of the war through free trade, freedom of seas, disarmament, an impartial adjustment of colonial claims, and open diplomacy instead of secret agreements Next eight points  addressed the right of national self-determination (the borders of countries should be based on ethnicity and national identity) No nation should be to take territory from another nation Fourteenth point  creation of the League of Nations “a general association of nations” to help preserve peace by pledging to respect and protect each other’s territory and political independence

Treaty of Versailles Lloyd George and Clemenceau wanted to punish the Germans for the suffering endured during the war Britain refused to give up sizable naval advantage and France wanted to end German threat forever Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 Designed to punish and weaken Germany Germany was not allowed to put troops on the Rhine River German must take the blame for the war Germany must pay reparations (monetary compensation for all damages of war) Germany must give up some eastern land to Poland

US Senate Rejects the Treaty The largely Republican senate refused to ratify the treaty mostly based on the League of Nations Opponents pointed out the Congress was the only body of government to be able to declare war, but the League of Nations could require a member country to go to war After multiple failed attempts to ratify the treaty, the United States eventually negotiated separate treaties with the Central Powers