"When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, the infantry was its primary offensive arm. By war's end the American Expeditionary Force had progressed developing techniques for breaking the trench warfare stalemate. The AEF integrated weapons like poison gas, tanks and aircraft into its offensive tactics and pioneered the mechanized combined arms warfare still practiced"--
The U.S. Army evolved into a truly modern fighting force during World War I. When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, the infantry was its primary offensive arm. Training focused mainly on target practice, bayonet charges and marching drills. Antiquated tactics emphasized massive attack waves relying on ferocity to achieve battlefield objectives. Heavy casualties resulted when inexperienced American troops encountered entrenched German veterans trained in the use of modern artillery and machine guns.
By war's end the American Expeditionary Force had progressed along a bloody learning curve, developing sophisticated techniques--small flexible formations, fire-and-maneuver and infiltration--for breaking the trench warfare stalemate. Eventually, the AEF integrated new weapons like poison gas, tanks and aircraft into its offensive tactics and pioneered the mechanized combined arms warfare still practiced by the U.S. Army. The exploits of the Fifth "Red Diamond" Division exemplify this critical period of development.
“"LaMonica delivers a valuable analysis of how US leaders envisioned warfare in their first major conflict of the twentieth century"-- H-Net Reviews .”
“LaMonica delivers a valuable analysis of how US leaders envisioned warfare in their first major conflict of the twentieth century”—H-Net Reviews.
Jeffrey LaMonica is an associate professor of history and coordinator of the Global Studies Program at Delaware County Community College in Media, Pennsylvania.
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