lesson 8 wwi: 1917: desperation & anticipation - america enters the war

Lesson 8

WWI: 1917: Desperation & Anticipation -America Enters The War

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the role of the US in the war to 1917.

• Understand the concept of unrestricted submarine warfare and discuss its impact on the war.

• Understand how and why the U.S. entered World War I.

• Understand the impact of the war on British and U.S. society.

• Be able to describe the efforts made to mobilize the American public in World War I.

Phases of World War I

1914 - Maneuver and Frustration

1915 - Search for New Solutions

1916 - Attrition

1917 - Desperation and Anticipation

Review of the War

August 3, 1914 Germany invades Belgium; war begins

“Miracle of the Marne”; German invasion haltedSept 5-10, 1914

October 1914 Race to the Sea ends; Stalemate on Western Front

1915 Sea blockades established around UK and Germany

Feb 1915-Jan 1916 Dardanelles Campaign (Gallipoli)

1916 Germans accept futility of breakthrough on Western Front, adopt attrition strategy against French at Verdun

1

Review of the War

Battle of Verdun (German Offensive)Feb - Dec 1916

Battle of the Somme (Allied Offensive)Jul - Nov 1916

German decision for unrestricted sub warfare1 Feb 1917

Germans withdraw to Hindenburg LineMar 1917

2

Submarine Warfare

Submarines were an unproven weapon

• No doctrine for use

• Little support from establishment

German U-boats

Germany had about 20 operational Unterseeboots at the beginning of the war

U-9

Small, short ranged, gasoline powered

Displacement: 600 tons (submerged)Range: 3,300 miles (surface)

6 torpedoes

U-boat.nethttp://uboat.net/wwi/

German U-boats

U-9

German U-boats

U-9 (1910)


6 torpedoes


16 torpedoes

Mittel-class (1915)


German U-boats

Ocean Minelaying Submarines

Type UE 2 (1916)

Displacement: 1,500 tons (submerged)Range: 13,900 miles (surface)

14 torpedoes / 42 mines


Blockade Running Sub

Maryland Historical Society

Cargo Submarine DeutschlandBaltimore, Maryland – July 1916

Cargo Submarine DeutschlandNew London, Connecticut – November 1916

Cargo: Germany-US: dyes, pharmaceuticals, gemstones US-Germany: strategic materials (nickel, tin, rubber)


U-155 (ex-Deutschland) (1916/1917)


Displacement: 1,875 tons (submerged)Range: 25,000 miles (surface)

18 torpedoes

Commissioned in the Imperial Navy February 1917


U-155 (ex-Deutschland)


Stopping merchant ship for inspection

German Commerce Raider

The Victims

Timetable to War for US

May 7, 1915 Lusitania torpedoed

The VictimsRMS Lusitania

May 7, 1915

U-20


May 7, 1915

Lusitania sank in 18 minutes

Sinking of the LusitaniaMay 7, 1915

"The Circle of Modern War" and logo© Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013

( 5:48 – 8:43 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fugRGvcJ4_U&t=348


May 7, 1915

Compared with daily casualty figures at the Front, the Lusitania fatalities were tiny. But world reaction to what had occurred off the Irish coast Friday 7 May 1915 was enormous.

Diane PrestonLusitania: An Epic Tragedy

Lost: 1,198 of 1,959 souls on boardIncluding 128 Americans, 49 children


May 7, 1915 Lusitania torpedoed

Mar 15, 1916

Dec 1916

Jan 22, 1917 Wilson calls for peace without victory

Wilson begins peace initiative

Army Reorganization Act

Woodrow T. Wilson28th President of the United States

1856 - 1924

Grew up in Georgia (Augusta)

Princeton graduate

Academic Career

Governor of New Jersey (1911-1913)

President 1913-1921 (Democrat)

Termed a Progressive, idealist

Active presidency

Federal Reserve ActClayton Antitrust ActFederal Trade Commission ActRe-established Progressive Income Tax

Born in Staunton, VA

(PhD Poli Sci, Johns Hopkins)

Woodrow T. Wilson28th President of the United States

1856 - 1924

Wartime President

US declared its neutrality in 1914

Protested British & German neutrality violations

Re-election slogan in 1916: “He kept us out of war!”

Attempted to mediate peace (Dec 1916)

Criticized by Republicans for not rearming US

Asked both sides to state minimum security goalsCentral Powers: “No need – we are going to win”

Allies: Dismember empires of Central Powers

Declaration of unrestricted sub warfare decisive

Would not tolerate loss of lives, freedom of seas


May 7, 1915

Mar 15, 1916

Dec 1916

Jan 22, 1917

Lusitania torpedoed



Wilson calls for peace without victory

Feb 24, 1917

Feb 3, 1917

Zimmerman Telegram revealed

US breaks relations with Germany

Feb 1, 1917 Germany resumes unrestricted sub warfare

(the “Strategic Distraction” from previous lesson)

Zimmerman Telegram

Sent by German Foreign Secretary, Arthur Zimmerman

• To Embassy in Washington, January 16, 1917

Ambassador forwarded to Embassy in Mexico

British intercepted message, passed to US

Publication of message enflamed US!

Zimmerman Telegram

Berlin, January 19, 1917

On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America.

If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement....

You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan.

Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months.

Zimmerman(Secretary of State)

Timetable to War

May 7, 1915

Mar 15, 1916

Dec 1916

Jan 22, 1917

Feb 1, 1917

Feb 3, 1917

Feb 24, 1917

Lusitania sunk



Wilson calls for peace without victory

Germany resumes unrestricted sub warfare

US breaks relations with German

Zimmerman Telegram revealed

Wilson asks for war declarationApr 2, 1917

Declaration of War

April 4, 1917 Senate approved 82 – 6

April 2, 1917

President Wilson asked Congress for declaration of war

April 6, 1917 House approved 373 - 50

Declaration of War

Why Did The US Enter the War?

Unrestricted submarine warfare

• US tradition of defending Freedom of the Seas



The Zimmerman Telegram

• Challenged Monroe Doctrine

• Posed a direct threat to the U.S.

• Revelation focused Americans on war issue




• Democracy vs. Autocracy

Make the World Safe for Democracy





• Trade with belligerents, mostly Britain

American “Non-Neutrality”






• Lack of response to peace feelers

American Frustration

German submarines forced the United States into the war. But it would be too simple to say that America fought solely for the freedom of the seas, still less of course for the sake of New Mexico. The United States were already committed to the Allied side.

Why Did The US Enter the War?Another view

A. J. P. Taylor (British historian)The First World War: An Illustrated History (1963)





At first, the American Government had tried to remain strictly neutral. Banks were instructed not to give credit to the belligerents. Soon businessmen complained that the chances of good profits were being lost.

Atfirst, the American Government had tried to remain strictly neutral. Banks were instructed not to give credit to the belligerents. Soon businessmen complained that the chances of good profits were being lost.



German submarines forced the United States into the war. But it would be too simple to say that America fought solely for the freedom of the seas, still less of course for the sake of New Mexico. The United States were already committed to the Allied side. Atfirst, the American Government had tried to remain strictly neutral. Banks were instructed not to give credit to the belligerents. Soon businessmen complained that the chances of good profits were being lost.

Large funds were extended to the Allies. Copper, cotton, wheat poured across the Atlantic. Factories worked overtime on British and French orders. The economy boomed.

Large funds were extended to the Allies. Copper, cotton, wheat poured across the Atlantic. Factories worked overtime on British and French orders. The economy boomed.




If the German submarines stopped this trade, there would be depression, crisis. If the Allies lost the war, the American loans would be lost also.

Large funds were extended to the Allies. Copper, cotton, wheat poured across the Atlantic. Factories worked overtime on British and French orders. The economy boomed. If the German submarines stopped this trade, there would be depression, crisis. If the Allies lost the war, the American loans would be lost also.




In the end, the United States went to war so that America could remain prosperous and rich.

Large funds were extended to the Allies. Copper, cotton, wheat poured across the Atlantic. Factories worked overtime on British and French orders. The economy boomed. If the German submarines stopped this trade, there would be depression, crisis. If the Allies lost the war, the American loans would be lost also.







Protect US Economic Interests

Grand Strategy 101

Why did Great Britain go to war in 1914?

Maintain European balance of power(Lesson 5)

1917: Britain, France on the ropes

Russia in revolution, almost out of the war

Germany poised to knock Britain out of the war w/ subs

US chose to pursue British objective: maintain balanceWhat should the US do?


Unrestricted Submarine Warfare





Protect US Economic Interests

Maintain European Balance of Power

Entry of the US into the War

Video

Irish Revolt

Mexican Border Incursion

HIGHLIGHTS:

Election of 1916

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgs1KNwpBW4

US Enters World War I


( 0:26 – 8:04 )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgs1KNwpBW4&t=26

Mobilization

Goal: Mobilize America for Total War

• National Unity

• Military Manpower

• Industry

How do you do this?

Mobilization


• National Unity

• Military Manpower

• Industry

• Build Popular Support

How do you do that?

Propaganda

Propaganda is persuading people to make up theirminds while withholding some of the facts from them.

!

Sir Harold Evans (1928 - )British-born journalist and writer

Propaganda

Committee for Public Information

(Creel Commission)

Goal: To create "a passionate belief in the justice of America's cause that would weld the American people into one white hot mass instinct with fraternity, devotion, courage and deathless determination."

Public InformationBuilding Support

George Creel, 1920

Building Support

Georgetown University Libraryhttp://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/amposter.htm

Building Support

Building Support

Georgetown University Libraryhttp://www.library.georgetown.edu/dept/speccoll/amposter.htm

Building Support

Chorus

Over there, over there,Send the word, send the word over there -That the Yanks are coming,The Yanks are coming,The drums rum-tummingEv'rywhere.

So prepare, say a pray'r,Send the word, send the word to beware.We'll be over, we're coming over,And we won't come back till it's overOver there

Billy Murray – audio:(2:09)

Building Support

Wartime Security Measures

Espionage Act - 1917

Sedition Act of 1918

• Made it a crime to interfere with the operation or success of the armed forces of the United States or to promote the success of its enemies

Trading with the Enemy Act - 1917• Gave President the power to restrict trade between the U.S. and its enemies in times of war.

• Amended Espionage Act of 1917

• Prohibited Americans from using "disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language" about the United States government, flag, or armed forces during war.

Wilson’s 14 PointsJanuary 8, 1918

I. Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at II. Absolute freedom of navigation upon the seas III. Establishment of an equality of trade conditions IV. National armaments will be reduced V. Impartial adjustment of all colonial claims VI. Evacuation of all Russian territory VII. Belgium must be evacuated and restored VIII. All French territory should be freed and the invaded portions restored IX. Readjustment of the frontiers of ItalyX. Peoples of Austria-Hungary should be accorded opportunity of

autonomous development XI. Rumania, Serbia, and Montenegro are restoredXII. Turkish portions of Ottoman Empire should be assured sovereignty XIII. An independent Polish state should be erected XIV. A general association of nations must be formed

A statement of U.S. war objective

… the first by any of the warring powers

Mobilization


• National Unity

• Industry

Mobilization

The United States went to war on the side of the Allies in April 1917 without stockpiles of equipment or plans for creating them. Worse, the Army had no clear idea of the character and magnitude of its wartime needs and no detailed specifications for production of many kinds of equipment. Had such plans existed they would have been of little use anyway because so little was known about the nation's industrial capacity, including the location and productivity of various industries. What lay ahead was improvisation in the face of unforeseen crises to compensate for inadequate planning and preparation.

MobilizationUS Army Center for Military History, 1995

Americans In Europe

U.S. troops with French-made Renault FT-17 tanks

Americans In Europe

U.S. soldier with French-made Chauchat light machine gun

Americans In Europe

U.S. soldiers with French-made Hotchkiss machine gun

Americans In Europe

U.S. artillerymen with French-made 75 mm gun

Americans In Europe

Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker withFrench-made SPAD fighter

Captain Eddie

Americans In Europe

Note the pattern:

“ … French-made … “

“A giant armed with a penknife”British historian B.H. Liddel Hart On US preparedness for World War I

Example: Of 3,400 field guns used by AEF, only 130 were US-made

America’s ContributionShipbuilding

The U.S. Shipping Board

• created in September 1916 to revitalize the U.S. merchant fleet

• built over 1,000 cargo ships

• commandeered more than 2 million tons of shipping from private yards and owners

• operated German ships seized by the U.S. government when war declared on Germany in 1917


Ship construction - Puget Sound Ship launch - Mobile, AL


Hog Island Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA

Largest shipyard in the world - 50 construction slips


“Hog Islander” (5,000 tons)

122 built

SS Cassimer

None delivered prior to Armistice


The U.S. Shipping Board

1,255 merchant ships launched

(4,030,000 GRT*)

1917-1918

* Gross Registered Tons: a measure of cargo ship capacity equivalent to 100 cubic feet (2.83 cubic meters)

America’s ContributionConvoy System

European-bound convoy - 1918

Loss rates dropped from 10% to 2%

America’s Contribution

Manpower

Mobilization


• National Unity

• Industry

• Manpower

Selective Service ActMay 18, 1917

Needed to build army to 4 million

By June 1917, 10 million Americans had registered

U.S. Army - April 1917

• 5,791 officers, 121,797 enlisted

• ranked 16th among the world's armies• just behind Portugal

• plus 97,000 National Guardsmen in state service

Mobilization

Rapid expansion of training base

Four million men in uniform by armistice

US at War

America Mobilizes


Mobilization

December 31, 1917 - 205,000 US soldiers in France

June 1, 1918 - 655,000 US soldiers in France

July 1, 1918 - 935,000 US soldiers in France September 1, 1918 - 1,530,000 US soldiers in France Armistice - 2,076,000 US soldiers in France

AEF

Divisions 1, 3-8: Regular Army and Volunteers

American Expeditionary Force

Division 2: Hybrid of Regular Army and US Marines

Commanded by two U. S. Marine Corps Generals

Brigadier General Charles A. Doyne

Major General John A. Lejeune *

* Later 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps

Lejeune

AEF

Divisions 1, 3-8: Regular Army and Volunteers

American Expeditionary Force

Divisions 26-42 National Guard Units combined by states or contiguous states.

The 42nd "Rainbow" division was an exception having contingents from twenty-six states and the District of Columbia

Divisions 76-91: National Divisions: Regular Army Cadre with draftees

Division 92 African-American regulars and volunteers with mostly white officers

Division 93: Never formed as a division. Its four regiments of African-American volunteers plus National Guardsmen and primarily white officers were separately assigned to French divisions and fought with distinction.

Division 2: Hybrid of Regular Army and US Marines

AEFAmerican Expeditionary Force

US divisions more than twice as large as others

US: 25,000 - 28,000 men

Others: 10,000 - 12,000

Americans In Europe

World War I Battle Streamer

Americans In Europe

Elements of US 1st Expeditionary Division (later 1st Division) arrived in France, June 1917

Americans In Europe

Phases of World War I

1914 - Maneuver and Frustration

1915 - Search for New Solutions

1916 - Attrition

1917 - Desperation and Anticipation

1918 - Dénouement

Lesson 10

World War I: End of the War,Seeds of the Next

Next:

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the situation Germany faced as it entered 1918.

• Be able to describe the changes in the war on the Western front in 1918.

• Understand the role the US played in the fighting in Europe.

• Be able to describe the operations of the US military in Europe in the years immediately following the armistice.

• Be able to discuss the major provisions of the Versailles Treaty and how this document sowed the seeds for World War II.

lesson 8 wwi: 1917: desperation & anticipation - america enters the war

Documents