Figure 1.--Wealthy Americans during the 19th century often traveled to Europe. World War I was the first time in history that large numbers of average Americans traveled to Europe. The results were eye-opening, both for the Americans and for the French. Here some AEF soldiers are having fun with French children. The children are all wearing smocks The pgotograph is undated.

Many American Doughboys and airmen spent considerable tome in France, unlike World War II when GIs spent considerable time training in Britain, the AEF was primarily deployed to France. And the War, at least for America was much shorter thn World War II. In World War II, the Americans were only in France for a ciuple moyh, althuh the Americans on the right flank where the Rhine sepoarares France and Germny spent more time. Interestingly, France was one of the few countries from which peope did not emigrate to America in large numbers. Many AEF Doughboys were shipped to France before receiving extensive training. They trained in camps scatteed throughout the country during 1917 and early 1918. They were first deployed in strength during the German Spring 1918 Offensuve (April 1918) and the War ended about 7 months later (November 1918). Some men stayed in France untill the final War settlement. Most of the AEF was slated for transport home, but it took some time to find the shipping to get a million men back home. As a result, there was considerable time for AEF soldiers to meet the French. Actually most AEF soldiers spent more time training before commited to conbat and then after the Armistice awaiting transport home. The AEF was only involved heavily involved in combat for 7 months. The World Wwar II experience would be different. For most merican World War I doughboys it was the first time away from home. Most of the soldiers had not even traveled widely in the United States, let alone Europe. We do not yet have much information about French experiences with the Americans or the Americans with the French. One widely reported experience was how more open or liberal the French were about cultural matters, incliding dress, drinking, race, sex and other matters. The French after 3 yesrs of war with predented casualties impressed with the optimistic, fin-loving Americans, although suprised tht America dod not have an army ready to fight. It was an eye-opening experience for many Americans. There seem to have been relaively few French war brides. I'm not precisely sure why that was. Because of the timing of the Armitics, most Doughboys spent Chritmas 1918 with the French.

Time

Many American Doughboys and airmen spent considerable tome in France, unlike World War II when GIs spent considerable time training in Britain, And the War, at least for America was much shorter thn World War II. In World War II, the Americans were only in France for a ciuple moyh, althuh the Americans on the right flank where the Rhine sepparares France and Germny spent more time.

Few French Americans

Interestingly, France was one of the few countries from which peope did not emigrate to America in large numbers. America at the time was a compicated mix of ethnic Americans. One of the few European countries that where few people emigrated to America was France. We are not endurely why, but the French contribution to America is very limited. And much of it is French people who emigrated before the Revolution.

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 (bnit not BritainO) 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. A massive construction effort was launched overnight. Barracks and othr facilities began going up mall over the country, but especially in the South where training could be conducted all year round. 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.

Training

Most AEF Doughboys were shipped to France before receiving extensive training. America entered the War essentially without an army. And he AEF arriving in France was an untrained army. And even thge small numbers of regulars had any experince or training for the war that was being fought on the Western Front. The American trained in camps scatteed throughout the country during 1917 and early 1918. The British and French provided instructors, especially the French. Some oughboys spent a year training in France. Most especially the more recent arrivals less. Although most Doughboys would have probably tell you it was the Germans who taught them how to fight once the the AEF ws committed to battle. This all meant that the SAmericans had considrable time to get to know the French, although most of their time was devoted to training. The French after 3 yesrs of war with predented casualties impressed with the optimistic, fun-loving Americans, although suprised tht America dod not have an army ready to fight.

Billeting

Building Army bases for World War I soldiers was a major constryction effort in the United States given the numberr of men drafted and the urgency of the situation. This was possible because of the huge American economy, still largely nsffected by the War. This level of construction was not possible in World War I France. France was not entirely overun by the Germans in World War I. Thus the AEF landed in France not Britain as in in World War II. Very few Doughboys went to Britain. Billeting for the AEF was very different than would be the case for the U.S. Army in Britain during World War II. The Americans in Britains were billeted and trained in bases and did not integrated with the civilian population. Barracks were built and there was very little day to day contact with the British people. Soldiers could not leave these base without permission. The situation was very different for the AEF in France. There were American bases, but many American soldiers were billited in French villages and lived with the French population. The World War I Doughboys had a level of intimacy with the local population, unlike World War II GIs. There are countless descriptions in the letters home. A good example is, "Many many customs differ from those in the States but we are all trying to adjust ourselves to circumstances and at the same time pick up a little French. In fact I get right out among the French for I find that is the best way to learn the language a wee bit. At present I know two of the nicest kiddies across the river, a little lad of thirteen, but small for his age, and a demoiselle of eleven years. I had them out to a movie show one night and they enjoyed themselves immensely. There I carry them little dainties such as candy, gum, chocolate bars etc., such as can not be obtained by the French people in France. Another comerade and I almost consider them our proteges. There are any numbers of little French children here who have been adopted by different companies who pay so much a month for their care. It is a very common sight to see some little fellow about 7 or 8 years dressed in a wee U.S. army outfit complete even to leggings." [Wagner]

Combat

The AEF was first deployed in strength during the German Spring 1918 Offensive (April 1918) and the War ended about 7 months later (November 1918). The AEF was only involved heavily involved in combat for 7 months. The World war II experience would be different.

Awaiting Return

Some of the AEF Doughboys men stayed in France untill the final War settlement. Most of the AEF was slated for transport home, but it took some time to find the shipping to get a million men back home. As a result, there was considerable time for AEF soldiers to meet the French. Actually most AEF soldiers spent more time training before commited to conbat and then after the Armistice awaiting transport home. After the Armistace, the Boughboys ha a great deal of free time. There was no more training. So there was mostly free time. For most American World War I doughboys it was the first time away from home. Most of the soldiers had not even traveled widely in the United States, let alone Europe. We do not yet have much information about French experiences with the Americans or the Americans with the French. One widely reported experience was how more open or liberal the French were about cultural matters, incliding dress, drinking, race, sex and other matters. It was an eye-opening experience for many Americans. There seem to have been relaively few French war brides. We are not precisely sure why that was. Becaue of the timing of the Armitics, most Doughboys spent Chritmas 1918 with the French. It must have been an emtional time--for the both the Americns and French. For the Dougboys the war was over The war was over and they had mase it--but friends were lost. For the French the War was over, although fathers, brothers, and husbans were lost.

Sources

Wagner, Fred C. July 1, 1918. Somewhere in France. Wagner was a Marine, killed in the Château-Thierry offensive a couple weeks after he wrote this lerter to his aunt. In William L. Clements, ed. World War One Letters and Documents Collection (DNDC)

Created: 5:24 PM 10/7/2008
Last updated: 2:01 PM 5/1/2021