Figure 1.-- |
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Some 4.7 milliom Americans were mobilized for World War I. And this was only a part of the potential draft pool. Only half of the expected AEF reached France before the Armistice. the rest were still training in America. It is notable that the German Army cracked with only aartial deploymentbof the AEF and before American industry geared up for armaments priduction. The AEF units in France and Flanders at the time of the Armistice were deployed along 83 miles of the 392 mile long Western Front. There were Doughboys stationed all over France. The combat force was in northern France, but training and support groups were located all over the country. Before the Armistic they had some free time. After the armistice most of them had very lottle to do. The Armistice was not a formal peace treaty, just a cease fore. As a result, military units at first continued a high degree of readyness. The AEF could not begin to return to America until the Allied Command were sure that the Germans were adhering to the terms of the Armistice.They continued to train, although leaves were permitted. As it became clear that the Germans were not goig to resume the war, the AEF gradually relaxed military duscipline. Leaves became relatively easy to get. This meant that there was considerable time for Americans to get to know France. At the time, while large numbers of Europeans had emigrated to Europe, few Americans except for the well-to-do, had traveled abroad. So whilr transport was being organized, many Americans had a chabce to get to know France. American divisions began to get orders to return to America (January 1919). As this would take some time, efforts were launched to occupy hem before they could be transported hime. Men with good conduct records were granted 10-day leaves to sight-see around France. Some evn went to London. For men in unit encampments, post schools were also established to provide educational opportunities for the men. This included classes in reading, writing, mathematics and history. Selected officers and men possessing at least a high-school education might attend classes at the AEF University in Beaune. One development during this period was the foundation of the American Legion. AEF veterans organized the Legion in Paris (1919) and became a valuable support pillar for returning veterans.
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