World War I American Participation Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 889 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 3

It was then that the newly arrived American Expeditionary Force (AEF) "met and turned back the German tide at Chateau-Thierry, Soissons, and Belleau Wood." (Henry 4) by the end of summer 1918, the American forces in France were sufficient to form the U.S. First Army which consisted of nearly 20 full infantry divisions. This American force played a significant role in the Allied counter-offensive in the Fall of 1918, winning important victories such as in the St. Mihiel salient. But it was in the Meuse-Argonne region that the Americans played their most important role in the Allied victory. After losing 130,000 casualties to the American attack in the Argonne, German Field Marshal von Hindenburg later commented that "The American attack decided war." (quoted in Selles 37)

At a time when both the Allies and the Germans were extremely war-weary, the Allies suddenly received a new ally with huge amounts of fresh troops and war materiel in the form of the Americans. While the German offensive in early 1918 failed to provide the breakthrough necessary to win the war, the German army was far from defeated. As late as October 3, 1918, Field Marshall von Hindenburg believed that his armies would "be able to protect German soil until next spring.

Stuck Writing Your "World War I American Participation" Essay?

View All Our Example World War I American Participation Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

I do not believe there will be any general collapse." (Lyman 440) but with the continued onslaught of the Americans, it was not long before Hindenburg had succumbed to the inevitable and sent a message to the German High Command insisting "that a peace offer to our enemies be issued at once." (Lyman 440)

Had the Americans not intervened in the war, it is likely that the Allies would not have had sufficient strength to win the war. When the Americans declared war in 1917, the Allies were in a poor state of affairs, and even with the failure of the last major German offensive in 1918, the Allies still did not have enough military force to defeat Germany. But with the arrival of the Americans, the Allies suddenly had enough military strength to completely defeat Germany and dictate the terms of peace; which is exactly what they did. Without the Americans, the allies would have had to negotiate with the Germans for peace, with the Americans, the Allies were able to win the war and dictate the terms.

Works.....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"World War I American Participation" (2012, March 02) Retrieved June 30, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/world-war-american-participation-54717

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"World War I American Participation" 02 March 2012. Web.30 June. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/world-war-american-participation-54717>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"World War I American Participation", 02 March 2012, Accessed.30 June. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/world-war-american-participation-54717
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example