Before the full rate of American aide could be felt, the Germans launch an offensive, designed to end the war. Everything appeared to be a mere favor.
In October, 1917, the Italian army cracked up and the Austrians poured out on into the plains of Northern Italy. In November and December, Russian resistance collapsed. And, the Russia torn by revolution, ask for peace.
Rumania had been knocked out of the war. The British offensive in the near eastern failed. Perhaps most dangerous of all, the submarine warfare seemed to be winning and England was in danger of starvation.
In the springs of 1917, the German armies launch what they hope would be the decisive offensive against the allies in Northern France.
In March, 1918, they struck it on the end. In April at weeks, in May, June and July, they came with artillery range of Paris itself, but the allied line held. And, American troops saw their first large scale fighting.
The first division at Cantigny, the second the Château Thierry, the third at Devil Wood, the 42nd, the 28th, the 32nd and others fighting at tiny French villages, and along streams was names of the soldiers that could hardly pronounce.
By July 17, 1918, unable to maintain the offensive against fresh and hope for allied troops, the last German advance came to the halt. Meanwhile, the allied build up was underway with Americans under the allied commander Marshall Fuchs of France.
(Music Playing)
Fuchs planned to give the exhausted Germans no rest. In July 18, the counter attack begun, preceded by the usual artillery barrage.
Americans fought under allied commanders with seasoned allied troops to reduce the German force in the Air-Marine sector. American equipment and material were in used through out the troop.
American soldiers and equipment were now pouring into France. In August, 1918, Marshall Foch granted Pershing demand for an independent American army in the field, and the American first army was born.
Its objectives to reduce the enemy sector at San Mihiel then move north to join other allied forces in the reduction of the Meuse-Argonne.
The American troops gained their objectives. They were well supplied, well commanded, and above all, they fresh and eager.
With the flow of American supplies, the balance was now cheap in favor of the allies. Germany decided to give up before its army was entirely destroyed.
Their allies, Bulgaria, Turkey and Austria-Hungary had already surrendered. The Kaiser abdicate. And, Germany asked for an amnesty.
On November 11, 1918 at 11:00 in the morning, the war ended, not only for those who lived under the stars and strikes, but for all the warring nations throughout the world.
Men on both sides had given their lives for causes they believed in. The dead, more than eight Million soldiers, 126,000 were Americans.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services