Figure 1.--All the world powers were locked in the Great War for 3 years. The one country that resolutely staid out of the War was the United States. And the United States with its vast potential power held the keys to the outcome. President Wilson after winning re-election launched an effort for a negotiated end to he War (November 1916). The Kaiser decided, however, on a military solution. The Untied States declared war (April 1917), but at the time did not have a substantial army to send to war.

The primary Allied armies at the onset of the War was the French and Russian armies, although the Russian Tsarist Army was large, it was poorly equipped. The French Army had been the primary force on he Western French which stopped the Great German offensive (1914). And for 3 years they were the primary force manning the Western Front. The Belgian Army that survived the initial German offensive was very small. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) that slowed the German advance through Belgium was very small (1914). The huge Russian Army prevented the Germans from concentrating on the Western Front. The volunteer army raised by the British was severely bloodied on the Somme (1916). Finally the British were forced to introduce conscription and build a large conscript army. They were augmented by the Australians and Canadians. The German offensive at Verdun has significantly weakened the French Army, but the Germans also suffered horrendous casualties. Disastrous German miscalculations resulted in America entering the War (1917). The Kaiser rejected an American peace plan and decided on a military solution. America still did not have a large arms industry. It did have a large population offering the manpower the Allies desperately needed and began building the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). Having shattered the Tsarist Army and forcing he Bolsheviks to accept the humiliating Brest-Litovsk Treaty, the Germans moved substantial forces west for a summer offensive that they were convinced would finally win he War. The untested AEF helped bring the German Spring 1918 Western offensive to an inconclusive halt. When it achieved only minor gains at great cost, the Germans found themselves not only weakened, but facing a damaged, but still intact French Army, a strengthened British Army, and a new American Army rapidly growing in strength with tens of thousands of men arriving monthly in France. The Allied then initiated their war-winning Hundred Day Offensive which would be a largely Anglo-American operation (August 1918).

Belgian Army

The small, but heroic Belgian Army played a huge role in slowing he German (August 1914) making the French stand at the Marne possible (September 1914). The Belgian units that survived the initial German offensive was very small and did not play a major role in the rest of the War.

British Army

The Royal Navy was Britain's senior service. Britain in 1914 had only a small, all volunteer, but very professional force to deploy--the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The initial BEF helped stop the German drive that was meant to win the war (1914). The British tried to fight the War with an all volunteer army, he only country to do so. Finally the British were forced to introduce conscription and build a large conscript army. They were augmented by the Australians and Canadians. The volunteer force that followed in the wake of the BEF was decimated on at the Somme (1916). This forced the British for the first time to pass a conscription law, a step it had not taken even during the Napoleonic Wars. This enabled Britain to build a large new army. The British as a result by 1918 they had built a large conscript army that was finally a match for the Germans. It was the largest field army that the British had ever deployed. And it was supported by Canadian and Australian units. The British had learned a great deal on the Somme (1916) . Revised tactical doctrine and supported by new tank force, the British were finally ready to assault the Hindenburg Line.

French Army

The primary Allied armies at the onset of the War was the French and Russian armies. he French Army through 1916 was the primary force on the Western Front. It was the French Army which stopped the Great German offensive at the Marne (1914). And for 3 years they were the primary force manning the Western Front. The German offensive at Verdun sought to knock France out of the War. I significantly weakened the French Army, but the Germans also suffered horrendous casualties. The Germans had sought to break the French Army at Verdun. They came very close to achieving their objective, but in the process suffered debilitating losses of their own. The French Army since 1917 as a result of the struggle foe Verdun was largely restricted to defensive operations. The French Army had been severely weakened at Verdun, but it was not broken. And it played a major role in stopping the German 1918 Spring offensive. In doing so they had suffered enormous losses, but so had the Germans. Te Germans could not replace their losses. The French could turn to the massive new American Army growing in strength every day. The situation in 1918 thus was very different than in 1914. The Western Front was no longer a primarily French front.
Battle of Verdun to knock France out of the war and almost succeeded (1916). But the Germans also sustained huge casualties. The Germans did knock Tsarist Russia out of the War (1817), but negotiation were delayed. Finally forces from the East were fed into the Summer offense (March 1918). While Russia was knocked out of the War, incredibly incompetent Germany diplomacy brought the Americans into the War. So by th time the Germans launched their summer campaign, American forces were arriving at the front to strengthen the Aliened lines. When it achieved only minor gains at great cost, the Germans found themselves not only weakened, but facing a damaged, but still intact French Army, a strengthened British Army, and a new American Army rapidly growing in strength with tens of thousands of men arriving monthly in France. >

Romanian Army

The Romanian Army was substantial, more than 650,000 men forming 23 divisions. he Army was, however, poorly trained and equiped. This did not stand out when comapred to he Bulgarians and the Ausro-Hungarans, but it was noable when compared to the Germans. Romania under Allied prerssue made a very poorly considered decision to declare war on Germany (1916). The war did not go well for Romania. The Germans decisively defeated Romanian Army. This was a side shoe and had little impact on he War. What was important was the draconian peace Germany imposed on Romania. This made it clear to the Allies what would happen if they lost the war. Germany complained a great deal about the Versailles Treaty, but actually Germany had no objection to punitive peace treaties. Brest-Litovsk is another example. Germany just did not like punitive peace treaties imposed on them. .

Russian Army

The primary Allied armies at the onset of the War was the French and Russian armies. The Russian Tsarist Army was essentially the Eastern Front. The Tsarist Army was large, but it was poorly equipped. The huge Russian Army suffered serious defeats an losses, but it prevented the Germans from concentrating their forces on the Western Front. The Germans won major victories in the East against the Tsarist Army. In addition the Tsarist Government managed the economy very poorly. inflation spiraled out of control. And food shortages occured in the major cities. Under relentless German pressure, the Tsarist Army began to disintegrate. Churchill was absolutely right about Gallipoli (1915). It was vital to get supplies to the Russians. The operation was poorly managed by the admirals and general.s The Tsarist was overthrown (March 1917). A moderate parliamentary Government was set up led by Alexander Kerensky. He kept Russia in the war. Lenin and the Bolshevik promising 'Peace, Land, and Bread' seized power (November 1917). The Bolsheviks resisted the draconian peace the Germans demanded, so he Brest-Litovsk Treaty was not signed fr several months (March 1918). Having shattered the Tsarist Army and forcing he Bolsheviks to accept the humiliating Brest-Litovsk Treaty, the Germans were not able to shift major forces West for some time. When that finally occurred, the German launched substantial forces west for a summer offensive that they were convinced would finally win he War. The problem for Germany is that they had to keep substantial forces in the East.

United States Army

From the beginning of the Republic the United States resisted creating a large standing army. Rather there was a tiny standing army and state militias that could be called up in case of emergency. This worked well in the 19th century. The only major military event was the Civil War. America was protected from foreign treats by two vast origins. The 20th century would be different. With the outbreak of World War I in Europe, most Americans wanted nothing to do with it. Disastrous German miscalculations resulted in America entering the War (1917). The Kaiser rejected an American peace plan and decided on a military solution. America still did not have a substantial army or a large arms industry. It did have a large population offering the manpower the Allies desperately needed and began building the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). The Untied States had to build a large army virtually from scratch. American began creating an army. Untrained green troops wre sent to France for training. The German Navy assured the Kaiser that American troop transports would sunk at sea. They failed to sink one laded troop ship. Gen. Pershing arrived in France (June 1917), but there was no U.S. Army yet. The Americans when they entered the War in 1917 also had only a small professional army. America rapidly recruited a large conscript army and began transporting it to France. The German Navy assured the Kaiser and Reichstag that German U-boats would prevent America from deploying an army in France. It was one of the most disastrous military assessments in German history. The AEF began arrived in France in numbers and by mid-1917 there were about 1 million Americans training in France and 2 million more being trained at American camps. he untested AEF helped bring the German Spring 1918 Western offensive to an inconclusive halt. An entirely new army took up position on the western Front during 1918--the AEF. The Americans when they entered the War in 1917 also had only a small professional army. America rapidly built a large conscript army and began transporting it to France. The German Navy assured the Kaiser and Reichstag that German U-boats would prevent America from deploying an army in France. It was one of the most disastrous military assessments in German history. T The AEF was not yet fully trained, but it was a force with high morale and willing to assault the Germans. The Allies wanted the Americans to be used as replacement troops in British and French units. Pershing insisted on fielding an American army to fight under the U.S. flag and American commanders. The Allied then initiated their war-winning Hundred Day Offensive which would be a largely Anglo-American operation (August 1918).

Created: 6:48 PM 3/26/2005
Last updated: 9:44 PM 11/9/2024