The Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the End of World War I

This paper will review the actions of American forces during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Upon the arrival of American forces to France in June 1917, an inexperienced combat force quickly transformed in just 15 months and abruptly ended the war after a 47 day campaign. They were led by General John J. Pershing, fighting against an experienced German foe who had been in battle for over three years prior to their arrival. The American forces involved consisted of the U.S. 1st Army, which was centered in the offensive and part of the overall Allied Expeditionary Force. French forces took part in the offensive to the west, British forces fought to the east. The offensive was named after the very thick Argonne Forest was to the west and Meuse River to the east. Without the arrival of American forces to Europe and their participation in the offensive, World War I would have continued with more lives lost and countries destroyed. Seven days after the American objectives were captured and operations of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive ceased, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, thus ending World War I.

Keywords: American forces,

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive and the End of World War I

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip of Bosnia-Serbia on June 28th, 1914 (“Franz Ferdinand”, n.d., para. 4). This plunged Europe into World War I, and eventually pitted two unified forces against each other. The Allied Powers consisted of Great Britain, France, Russia and the United States of America. The Central Powers consisted of Germany, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire (“World War I: Beginnings and the Aftermath”, 2007, para. 1). Prior to the arrival of American forces, the Allied Powers desperately n...

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...rale of the French and British. American forces faced an incredibly well defended German foe. Compared to their allies, they were inexperienced in combat. With the odds against them, American forces pushed forward. They brought a renewed spirit to the fight. They exceeded all expectations, and their involvement directly ended The Great War. It was a victory for the Allied Powers, but only because the American forces led the way.

Works Cited

Stewart, R.W. (2005). American military history: The united states army in a global era, 1917-2003. (Vol. II). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. Retrieved from http://www.history.army.mil

Franz Ferdinand. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/bio/f/franzfrd.html World War I: Beginnings and the Aftermath. (2007, December 16). Retrieved from https://www.mtholyoke.edu/~raina20s/ww1/play.html