S The Americans Arrive 16-3
Dec 17, 2015
S
The Americans Arrive
16-3
The Americans Arrive
“Doughboys”—Am soldiers Fresh, eager to fight Boosted morale of Allies Demoralized Germans
Winning the War at Sea
Admiral William S. Sims—no Am troopships sunk on journey to Euro
Sims proposed merchant ships travel in convoys protected by destroyers
If one ship sunk others could rescue survivors
Russia Leaves the War
March 1917—riots in Russia over the gov’t handling the war and food/fuel shortage
Czar Nicholas II abdicates
Russian Revolution Provisional gov’t set up didn’t deal with problems Bolshevik Party
Vladimir Lenin Overthrew provisional gov’t Communist gov’t (Nov 1917)
Russia Leaves the War (con’t)
Communist gov’t pulls out of war Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 3, 1918)
Russia lost Ukraine, Polish/Baltic territories, and Finland
Americans Enter Combat
Owe France a debt (Rev War)
Gen. John J. Pershing Commander of Am Expeditionary Force Paris: July 4, 1917
Visited grave of Marquis de Lafayette Brits/French wanted Am troops to come under their
command, but Pershing said that Am fight under Am EXCEPTION: 93rd Infantry under French command
First Am to enter combat
Germany’s Last Offensive
March 21, 1918—Massive German attack on Western front Gas Artillery bombardment Strengthened w/ reinforcements from Russian front June 1918 40m from Paris
Germany’s Last Offensive (con’t)
Am troops launched first major attack
Am/ French troops blocked German drive to Paris
July 15 last massive attack by Germans stopped by Am/French
The Battle of the Argonne Forest
French Marshal Ferdinand Foch supreme commander of Allied forced
Pershing 600,000 Am troops 40,000 tons supplies 4,000 artillery Most massive attack in Am history
Start: Sept 26, 1918
Nov Am shattered German defenses and opened a hole on the eastern front of German lines. Germans began to retreat
American Heroes
Alvin York
Tried to avoid draft as conscientious objector, but eventually decided it was just cause
Oct 8, 1918 Battle of Argonne Forest
9-25 Germans killed, captured machine guns, 132 prisoners
Medal of Honor
French Croix de Guerre
Alvin York Institute—school for poor in TN
American Heroes
Edie Rickenbacker
Race car driver
Commander of 94th Aero Squadron 1st all-Am to combat
134 air battles
Shot down 26 aircraft
Top Am combat pilot
1 to 7 against Germans, once
Medal of Honor
The War Ends
Revolution in Austria-Hungary
Oct 1918—Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia declared independence
Nov—Austro-Hungarian Empire and Ottoman Empire surrendered
The War Ends (con’t)
Nov 3—Sailors mutiny in Kiel (German fleet) Workers and soldiers seized power in German towns German emperor steps down
Nov 9—Germany becomes a republic
Nov 11—Armistice 11th hour on 11th day of 11th month 1918 fighting
ends