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World War I -- American Expeditionary Force building an American army
World War I: Building an American Army
Figure 1.--Declaring war was one thing. Building an army to fight was a very diffrent matter. The outcome of the War would hinge on whether the Germans could shift forces west from Russia for a final massive offensive faster than the Americans could form and transport an army to France. The Kreigsmarine had assured the Reichstag that American troopshops could never get through the U-boat screen. General Pershing and a small staff were dispatched to France, but it would be many months before an American Army of any size could be trained and transported to France. The European countries that went to War (except Britain) had large well-armed, conscript forces that could be committed to battle in a short period of time. The United States did not. Camps were opened and baracks went up all over the country. In some camps tents had to be used because there were no barrcks. This is a scene from Camp Logan (December 1917). Camp Logan was located in Houston, Texas which is why it does not look that cold in Decembdr. Apparently security at these camps was not all that tight. The Camp was he location of an infamous racial riot.
The war exhausted Allies were elated with the American declaration of war. Few Europeans who maintained large standing armies understood that America did not have an army in being to commit to battle. Declaring war was one thing, creating an army was a very different matter that would take time, time that the hard pressed Allies could scarsely afford. The outcome of the War would hinge on whether the Germans could shift forces west from Russia for a final massive offensive faster than the Americans could form and transport an army to France. The Kreigsmarine had assured the Reichstag that American troopshops could never get through the U-boat screen. General Pershing and a small staff were dispatched to France, but it would be many months before an American Army of any size could be trained and transported to France. The European countries that went to War (except Britain) had large well-armed, conscript forces that could be committed to battle in a short period of time. The United States did not. Camps were opened all over the country. The South was a preferred location because of the warmer weather. Training was compllcated in a snow storm. Given the size of the army American was to build. Many new camps wwre set up and opened. Baracks began going up, but this took time. In many camps tents had to be used because there were no barrcks. Some men were shipped to France without training, to be trained by Pershing in France. Men volunteered for service. This included men of all social classes, including young men from the elite. Some 11,000 men from virtually every Harvard class (1887-1921), for example, served in the War, many as volunteers. The motivation was patriotism. [Nelson] It soon became evident, however, that a draft would be needed to build the massive army that would be needed to to have an impact on the Western Front. Fighting the Germans was not like the war with Spain. A massive well-equipped and trained army would be needed. Congress enacted only the second draft in American history. The lack of a conscription law had been one of the attractions that brought immigrants to America. The Germans had, however, managed to significantly shift American public opinion. Against all odds, the Germans had managed to turn a country desiring to stay out of the War and with immigrant groups even more strongly opposed to war into an enraged enemy that would turn the tide on the Westen Front. Amazingly even conscription did not prove an impediment because of incredibly obtuse German actions. German mishandling of its relationship with America was even more starteling because America had a huge German mimority opposed to war, as well as a large Irish minority hostile to the British. Unlike the British, hoever, the Germans just could not envision America as a potentially important player im the War.
European Policies Toward America
Against all odds, the Germans managed to turn a country desiring to stay out of the War and with immigrant groups even more strongly opposed to war into an enraged enemy that would turn the tide on the Westen Front. Amazingly even conscription did not prove an impediment because of incredibly obtuse German actions. German mishandling of its relationship with America was even more starteling because America had a huge German mimority opposed to war, as well as a large Irish minority hostile to the British. Unlike the British, hoever, the Germans just could not envision America as a potentially important player im the War. This was precisely the opposite of British policy. From the very beginning of the War, the British adopted policies to draw America into the War. Winston Churchill who played an importabt role in Briutishg war policies was especially adament on this.
European Expectation
The war exhausted Allies were elated with the American declaration of war. Few Europeans who maintained large standing armies understood that America did not have an army in being to commit to battle. Even small European countries has substabtiual armies. Actually the Germans understood this which is one reason they were willing to risk war with America. They calculated taat they could win the War before America could create an army, basically from scratch.
Desperate Need
Declaring war was one thing, creating an army was a very different matter that would take time, time that the hard pressed Allies could scarsely afford. The Russian Revolution began (Febvruary 1917) and the Russuian CArnmy bergan to desintegrate. The Providional Government decided to stay in the War, which proved to be a a factior in the ensuing Bolshevik Revokittiuin (Ovriber 1917). The outcome of the War would hinge on whether the Germans could shift forces west from Russia for a final massive offensive faster than the Americans could form and transport an army to France. The Kreigsmarine had assured the Reichstag that American troopshops could never get through the U-boat screen.
Establishing the AEF
General Pershing and a small staff were dispatched to France, but it would be many months before an American Army of any size could be trained and transported to France. The European countries that went to War (except Britain) had large well-armed, conscript forces that could be committed to battle in a short period of time. The United States did not.
Men volunteered for service. This included men of all social classes, including young men from the elite. Some 11,000 men from virtually every Harvard class (1887-1921), for example, served in the War, many as volunteers. The motivation was patriotism. [Nelson] It soon became evident, however, that a draft (conscruption) would be needed to build the massive army that would be needed to to have an impact on the Western Front. Fighting the Germans was not like the war with Spain. A massive well-equipped and trained army would be needed. Congress enacted only the second draft in American history. The lack of a conscription law had been one of the attractions that brought immigrants to America. The Germans had, however, managed to significantly shift American public opinion. Germfabs at the time were the lkargest non-British immigrant group in America. German immigrants had been especially against entering the War, but Imperial German policies even changed the attitudes of many Gerrman immigrants.
Building Bases in America
At the time the United States declared war (April 1917), the U.S. Army was a constabulary force wiyth a little more than 0.1 million men. The National Guard had about 0.2 ,illion me, but thery were part-time soldiers. The U.S. Army bases and facilities relelect that needed for these small forces. The U.S. Army had not prepared for war and had no process in place to build a mass conscript army at European levels. There was no existing system to upply it, transport it, and fight it. Europe was very different. Continental European countries (but not Britain) had a long tradition universal military service program and when war broke out, trained reservists were called up, reported to mobilization points and joined their units. None of this existed in America. The Germans knew this which is ine reason they risked war with America. Building an army needed, bases with needed barracks amd training areas. Given the size of the army American was to build, many new camps wwre set up and openedA massive construction effort was launched overnight. Barracks and other facilities began going up mall over the country, but especially in the South where training could be conducted all year round because of the warmer weather. Training was complicated in a snow storm. Many of the major Army bases operatng today were established in 1917, including Camp Jackson, South Carolina; Camp Meade, Maryland; Camp Lee, Virginia; Camp Lewis, Washington and Camp Gordon, Georgia were among the 30 camps and cantonments the Army opened--now called forts. The camps needed roads, railroad spurs, sewage, barracks, mess halls, headquarters buildings, hospitals, etc And they needed them at once. It was a massive construction effort. Training had to begin before all of this could be completed. Baracks began going up, but this took time. In many camps tents had to be used because there were no barrcks. Some men were shipped to France without training, to be trained by Pershing in France.
Training
Weaponry
Sources
Nelson, James Carl. Five Lieutenants: The Hertbreaking Story of Five Harvard Men Who led America to Victoryin WWI (2012), 384p. Nelson delves into the motivations of five young officers as wll as their experiences and fates.
