Disagreement Over How to Use American Forces. Britain and France Want U.S. Troops in The Trenches—Now! Pershing Wants Own Control Special to The Great War Project. (30 April) As the American presence in France grows, finally, into a significant fighting force, the debate over how the American soldiers should be most effectively deployed generates increasing…
GERMAN MORALE IS FLAGGING
by Mike Shuster
Disillusion Among the Germans; Call a Halt in Their Offensive. Meanwhile, Growing American Presence on the Western Front. Special to The Great War Project. (23 April) More and more American troops are arriving on the French battlefields during the final days of April, a century ago. Among the major developments: the first tank-on-tank battle of…
MORE AMERICANS REACH THE BATTLEFIELD…UNPREPARED
by Mike Shuster
British, French Highly Critical of American Preparation. Americans Are Beginning to Die. Special to The Great War Project. (16 April) The need for American participation in the war is evident everywhere and every day. So reports historian Martin Gilbert. From the commanders of both the British and French forces on the Western Front comes “an…
ALLIES FACE RESISTANCE IN OWN RANKS
by Mike Shuster
Germans Renew Onslaught; Irish, Canadians Defy England. Finally, the Americans! Special to The Great War Project (9 April) On this day a century ago, the Germans renew their offensive on the Western Front, ferociously. “After a bombardment lasting four-and-a-half hours,” reports historian Martin Gilbert, “the battle of the Lys began. Fourteen German divisions attacked on…
GERMAN OFFENSIVE STALLS
by Mike Shuster
British, Allies Outnumbered, Yet Hold Off Attackers; A Poet in the Trenches. Special to The Great War Project. (2 April) On this Easter a century ago, “General Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, finally agreed,” reports historian Martin Gilbert, “that American troops could join the British and French armies in small…
IN GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE, CRISIS ON BOTH SIDES
by Mike Shuster
Allies Near Collapse, Then Turn the Tide. Foch: ‘We Cannot Surrender One Inch.’ Special to The Great War Project. (26 March) For a week a century ago, the situation is dire for the British forces facing the onslaught of the German spring offensive, codenamed Operation Michael. “On March 25th,” reports historian Martin Gilbert, “the Germans…
LAST CHANCE FOR BOTH SIDES AS GERMANY ATTACKS
by Mike Shuster
Germans in Stronger Position; Allies in Terrible Shape; The Kaiser Declares Victory. Special to The Great War Project. (19 March) In the early morning of March 21st a century ago, the Germans launch the spring offensive that is intended to bring rapid victory to their forces on the Western Front. The goals, according to historian…
AMERICAN ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT STILL ALIVE
by Mike Shuster
A Thousand Protesters in Prison; Socialists Won’t “Repent.” Uneasy Days on the Battlefront. Special to The Great War Project. (13 March) The anti-war movement in the United States remains as intense as ever. That’s the view of historian Adam Hochschild as he surveys the battlefields these days a century ago. “More than a thousand conscientious…
GERMANY NOW DOMINATES ON WESTERN FRONT
by Mike Shuster
German Air Attacks Increasingly Deadly. For Allies, It’s Victory or Collapse. Special to The Great War Project. (6 March) This week a century ago, the Germans let loose with one of their most effective air attacks of the war. Historian Martin Gilbert writes: “In the first week of March 1918, Germany and Austria launch four…
GERMAN ATTACK IN WEST IS IMMINENT
by Mike Shuster
On Russian Front, German Eyes Set on Petrograd The Kaiser Celebrated with Champagne Special to The Great War Project. (25 February) It’s a crucial moment in the war for all sides. The peace treaty that ended the war between Germany and Russia fundamentally redrew the map of Europe. “The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin,” reports historian…