WWI
"The Great War"
Significance of Battles
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
-One of the first actions of the American Expeditionary Forces under General John J. Pershing
-Stopped the Germans from advancing deeper into France
-Victory was largely in part to the new tactic of going "Over the Top" without using preparatory artillery fire at 04:45
Battle of Belleau-Wood
-Because Germany signed a treaty with Russia, they were able to focus all of their fighting on the enemies of the West.
-Proved to be a psychological blow to the Germans because how quickly this stronghold fell.
-Bloodiest battle ever in Marine history to date.
-Marines now wear a "Blood Stripe" on their uniforms because of this battle.
Battle of St. Mihiel
-Pershing hoped he would break through German lines and capture the city of Metz.
-It was one of the first U.S. solo offensives in World War I and the attack caught the Germans in the process of retreating. This resulted in the use of more affective artillery strategy.
-This battle marked the first use of the terms "D-Day" and "H-Hour" by the Americans.
-The Army Air Force (Air Force) played a key role in victory
-Demonstrated the importance of artillery in WWI, and the difficulty of supplying the massive World War I armies while they were on the move.
Gas
Machine Guns
Torpedo
Torpedoes revolutionized sea-warfare. The ability of the Germans to dive under water and shoot a missile through the water became a superior tactic feared by many. This is what caused the sinking of the Lusitania.
Spanish Influenza
The Spanish Influenza was a widespread epidemic during the year 1918 that killed between twenty and fourth million people. It is recorded as the worst epidemic in history. The effect of this branch of the flu was so severe that the average lifespan of the U.S. decreased ten years. The death rate between fifteen and thirty-four year olds were twenty times higher than before 1918. The cause of this disease is generally unknown.