The American Effort in World War I, Essay Example

The America effort during World War I was both effective and surprising.  The American forces were incredibly robust, despite the fact that almost one of the equipment used by American troops was not American made. In less than year, America’s army went from a group of inexperienced and largely untrained men to skilled fighters, able to win their first battle and several following encounters. The Americans entered the war after Britain’s Somme offensive had failed and left over 600,000 men dead. The French, too, had failed in their last offensive and French troops had mutinied (Lacey and Clark). But America soon bolstered the allied forces by secretly shipping an estimated 1,500,000 American troops to France where they were met with a standing ovation.

The American entrance into the war was delayed by a clash of egos as American General John Pershing argued with French and British commanders over whether the Americans ought to fight as fillers for British and French troops as their own Army. But after the British faced a crushing defeat, Pershing compromised and allowed his troops to serve along with the British and French troops (Lacey and Clark). The Americans helped the allied forces win victory in the battles of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood and were finally allowed to form their own army afterward at Pershing’s instance. It was then that America’s army showed its greatest strength, helping the allied forces to win victory at St. Mihiel (with forces both on land and in the air). The Americans caught the Germans by surprise and in two days managed to captures 13,000 prisoners and to kill 5,000 men (Richard).

The Americans were similarly successful in the battle of Meuse-Argonne, where the American Army slogged through mountains and woods and heavily fortified areas to win a victory over German soldiers, cut off their communications and allow an easier allied victory.  Much of America’s success in World War I is due to the navy’s ability to transport massive numbers of American troops so stealthily to the battlefront (Lacey and Clark). Although the navy was magnificently unprepared for submarine battles, American anti-submarine efforts were largely successful.

Pershing’s use of surprise along with his ability to form an army from the ground up deserve much of the credit for America’s success. The navy’s ability to use weather conditions and the position of the sun against their enemies were also impressive and successful (Abatiello).

Works Cited

Abatiello, John. Anti-Submarine Warfare in World War I: British Naval Aviation and the Defeat of the U-Boats . Milton Park: Routledge, 2006.

Lacey, Jim and Wesley K Clark. Pershing (Great Generals). New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Richard, J. “Battle of Saint Mihiel.” 10 August 2007. History of War. 26 October 2010 <http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_st_mihiel.html>.