America Wins the War

America Mobilizes The US not prepared for war, only 200,000 were in armed services when war declared Congress passed Selective Service Act – required men to register with government in order to be randomly selected for military service –24 million men registered and 3 million men were drafted –Most draftees did not attend HS and 1/5 were foreign born –13,000 women served in non-combat positions – nurses, secretaries and telephone operators

Mass Production of Ships

Priority of the US to enlarge the Navy to defeat the German U-Boats and protect the US shipping fleet Government exempted many skilled workers from the draft – including ship builders Along with mass production, the ship building industry used prefabricated sections increasing production speed The government took over commercial and private ships and converted them to transatlantic war use

Convoy System Convoy System – a heavy guard of destroyers escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic in Groups Used to protect American Ships and Economy (Trade)

Americans in Europe American Expeditionary Force (AEF)- US forces who fought with the Allies in Europe during World War I Lead by General John J. Pershing After 2 ½ years of fighting European forces were exhausted and demoralized – US troops brought freshens and enthusiasm Troops not prepared for Trench Warfare and the horrors new technology brought

New War Technology

WWI was the first modern war – used new technology on the battlefield that would become standard in modern warfare – including biological weapons Two most innovated weapons of WWI were the Tank and the Airplane –Tank – First used by the British, purpose was to clear barbed wire and make path for infantry (foot soldiers) –Planes – at beginning of war very flimsy and only used for scouting – early dog fights consisted of pistols and rocks – by end of war technology improved and machine guns used

Hazards of War New weapons and tactics lead to horrific injuries and hazards Conditions in trenches were unsanitary – polluted water, lice, rats, and filth Trench Foot – rotting of the foot due to constant contact with water – resulted in amputation Trench Mouth – painful infection of the gums and throat Lack of sleep and constant bombardments lead to “shell shock”

Collapse of Germany

On November 3, 1918 Austria-Hungary surrendered to the Allies Same day German sailors mutinied against government authority – mutiny spread quickly around Germany, soldiers and workers joined November 9 th, 1918 socialist leaders established a new republic and the Kaiser gave up the Throne Germans too hungry and exhausted to continue war, led to revolts The Eleventh Hour of 11/11/1918 – Armistice (truce) went into effect and the war was ended

The Final Toll

WWI was bloodiest war in history up to that time 22 million killed, more then half civilian 20 million were wounded 10 million became refugees War cost $338 billion US lost 110,000 soldiers