Alla inlägg den 27 februari 2014

Av loren adams - 27 februari 2014 13:56

Autumn passed and Americans flocked to. Not a single troop ships were lost. Pershing came at last from Paris, set up headquarters and a large camp in the town of Chaumont, separated it from the surroundings and created a small efficient and exemplary USA.The new Army grew up in large camps around. By May President Wilson proclaimed conpulsory conscription. The French countryside northeast of Paris was alivened with gladsome, about the horrors of war ignorant young Americans with money in their pockets and everywhere in stations and in villages canteens and reading rooms were set up. They were accompanied by the YMCA leaders who made life bearable and served hot coffee on all platforms; stuff that the poor French soldiers had never experienced, and now got the part.

Everywhere Americans vitalized the front. Exhausted Frenchmen who were brought back met their replacements - well feed, mood healthy Americans who filled the bullet-riddled roads and the old horrible trenches. They were unassailed by war-weariness and fear and came in seemingly inexhaustible streams.
In June, they went through all the horrors of war concentrated in the battle for Belleau Forest, a coniferous and hardwood-jungle witin the Verdun area, that the Germans fortified during four years with hidden machine-guns and shooting positions. The Americans asked French about maps, but the maps were not French forte. They answered that they were perhaps in Paris.

- We'll go into the woods and see how it looks, said the American general.
They went in, they were chased out and they went back inside again. The losses were appalling: Casualties In Verdun class. Colonels were killed and generals came back wounded  

A young American who came up to the front by that terrible forest remembered the first thing he saw of Americans at war. A soldier who had both of his hands shattered led a train of 800 wounded towards the military hospital, because he was the only one who had eyes to see. The man behind him had laid his hands on his shoulders, and followed by all the other gas-blind, all with their hands on the soldier before him, in an infinite line. 
They took the Belleau wood, and from that day they just went forward, side by side with their allies. At time 11 am Nov. 11th ceased fire. It was over.

 

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Av loren adams - 27 februari 2014 09:46

 

At Ludendorff Offensive eighth day, searched General Pershing and his chief of staff, an old Indian fighter named general Tasker Bliss, the General Foch, who three days before had reached his dream and ambition goal: to get give directives to all allied armies on the western front. The two Americans found Foch in his secluded and idyllic headquarters behind blossoming cherry tree in a small weirdly house between Beauvais and Compi`engne. Pershing arrived unannounced and just stepped on. Foch, Petain and Clemanceau low over a table with front maps in front of them.

Pershing had rehearsed and learned by heart in French what he would say.

- I have come here to offer you American troops in the ongoing battle. All we have is yours. Use us how you want. I also wish to emphasize that the American people would be proud to participate in history's greatest battles.
The three Frenchmen stood up from the maps. Foch was the right man to target with lofty and dramatic words. He was so delighted that he wanted to hear it again and get an audience. He took without a word Pershing by the arm and led him out into the garden where high French staff officers walked around and chatted.
- Repeat what you said, he asked Pershing.


Pershing read it again. Foch shook his hand. From a cherry tree he stood and admired said Tasker Bliss, who not would be outdone:
- We have come here to die.
Up until the 11 November, armistice day , 81,000 Americans would make truth of Tasker Bliss promise at the cherry tree, as so many died during the seven months that Americans fought in the war.

Av loren adams - 27 februari 2014 07:33

 

The first American troops, who were often called "Doughboys", landed in Europe in June 1917. However they did not participate at the front until late October 1917, when the Ist Division, a formation of experienced regular soldiers and the first division to arrive in France, entered the trenches near Nancy.

The phrase "going over the top"; OTT, came into usage during World War I Iand referenced attacking infantry rising out of their own trenches to assault the enemy. When the whistle blew and in order to attack opposing trench lines, infantry were required to climb over the parapet of their trenches and cross No Man´s Land""." As World War I offensives generally sustained heavy losses, "going over the top" was an unpopular activity for soldiers.

 

 
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