Le débarquement américain à Château-Thierry

• German attacks on American trading boats to stop Allied provisions • Triple Alliance led Mexico to attack the USA • Calls for intervention from UK and France • President Wilson convinced to intervene in 1917

Russia withdrew from Eastern Front due to revolution. German forces repatriated all Eastern troops to Western Front, knowing American arrival would unbalance the war against them.

• USA entered war in April 1917 • First combat units started fighting in November 1917 • American army did not yet exist • American soldiers placed under French command

Germany had to act quickly before American forces arrived in significant numbers. The delay between American entry and combat participation gave Germany time for major offensives.

• Launched on March 21, 1918 • Goal to break a fast way to Paris • Intense bombing in Picardie and massive mobilization against British • Front line retreated more than 50km but Germans failed to pierce through

General Erich Ludendorff attempted an approach to the Somme, but General Foch and the Allies prevented it. German army became stuck on all fronts for more than a month.

• Launched May 27, 1918 from Chemin des Dames • Germans shelled region and advanced 45 km in 10 days • Took city of Château Thierry on their way • Spectacular advance wore them out, forcing consolidation of lines

The advance marked the beginning of the Second Battle of the Marne, which became the decisive point for the end of the Great War. Both factions organized ultimate defense positions.

The 2nd US Division, mainly composed of veterans from other military campaigns and impressive sharpshooter Marines, received orders to hold the line in the Bois Belleau area, which was in German hands.

• Marines ordered to take Belleau Wood on June 6, 1918 • Germans protected by trenches and heavily equipped with ammunition • Americans had no artillery support and must cross open fields • Distance to cross varied: 200m on Eastern side, 800m on Western border

June 6 allowed Allies to set foot on Belleau Wood but became the most costly day for American Marines since the Corps' creation in 1775. Significant portion of American troops on the Western side were put out of action.

• Americans progressed in very small steps for nearly two weeks • Heat and summer conditions made water scarce: one flask per two men per day • Shells released gases in the woods and bodies piled up from heat exposure • Final assault on June 23 took last part of woods, pushing Germans back on June 26

The Battle of Belleau Wood, named by Americans as 'Hell's Wood,' allowed them to sign their letters of nobility and represented the first massive commitment of American forces during World War I.

• Friedensturm (Battle for Peace) launched July 15, 1918 • New attempt to end conflict by crushing Allies • Offensive set on multiple fronts crossing the Marne • Bridges installed to cross obstacle but bombed by French and American aviation

• Battle raged at Château Thierry with French and American troops fighting together • Fierce combats on Hill 204 for nearly 5 days • Germans stopped and Allies launched counter-attack July 18 • French and Americans retook Château Thierry on July 21

Heroic defense of the Marne and Château Thierry earned the 3rd US Division the evocative nickname 'Rock of the Marne,' commemorated with a monument.

The 42nd US Division, known as Rainbow Division, represented armies of nearly 26 American states and participated very actively in the combats.

• July 26: 167th Regiment of Alabama and 168th Regiment of Iowa took back Red Cross Farm • Strongest German positions in the region • Fight was terrible with bayonet combat prevalent • Resulted in death of famous American poet Joyce Killmer

By this costly victory, soldiers of Rainbow Division pushed enemy farther than the Ourcq, allowing Allies to progress further into German positions.

Within a little more than two weeks, the Germans lost all lands they had acquired, marking a significant turning point in the campaign.

When Americans arrived, they totally disturbed the ratio of power. Americans really started in 1918 to take direct actions while Germans remained positioned on the heights of the Chemin des Dames.

• May 27, 1918 marked over 1000 days of war for France • French soldiers were exhausted after years of conflict • Foch requested intervention of US soldiers • 2nd and 3rd Divisions deployed to key positions

American soldiers were young men with relatively good morale and decisiveness despite lacking experience. Marines had moral duty to prove they were the best. Germans initially underestimated them but were turned back.

Germans developed huge respect for US Marines by end of conflict after being repelled during attacks. Marines' shooting ability and determination surprised German forces who expected quick victory.

At beginning of US commitment, American soldiers were few on territory. Initial forces had only 200,000 men with national guards possessing pretty poor experience in modern combats.

• When USA entered war, they increased speed of mobilization • Divisions were formed in France for training • 10,000 men landed each day in June and July • Target goal was 4 million soldiers

If conflict continued beyond November 11, 1918, Americans were preparing for long war of 4+ years and would likely reach target numbers by November/December 1918.

Even after war stopping point, flood of American army continued to reach Europe, establishing long-term American military presence.

• For black population, participation in combat offered occasion to hope for questioning of their status • Hope for acknowledgment of new rights • About 400,000 of 2 million enrolled black soldiers participated in war effort • Mainly restricted to maintenance, logistics, and unarmed tasks

Segregation was in place and General John Pershing saw black forces useful only for back of front, not reliable for fights unless directed by white men.

• Racism was attenuated in French army by presence of colonial troops • Marshal Foch and General Pétain requested black soldiers to fight • About 2,000 black soldiers from 93rd Division made available • Integrated into French army as 369th Regiment of Fourth French Army

Black soldiers received French rifle, cartridge belts, bayonet, bags, and famous Adrian helmet worn by French soldiers. They became known as Harlem Hellfighters from their neighborhood of origin.

• Joined army at Sens on March 13, 1918 • Joined by three other regiments of black American soldiers • Included 370th Infantry nicknamed 'Black Devils' • Total 93rd French Division reached around 10,000 men

Black soldiers showed quickly their ability to fight and will to do well, becoming advantage for French forces and allowing them to hold part of front. Some received decorations and promotions.

• Welcome by French troops was positive • Regular complaints of American regarding treatment did not reach command • American command feared men would get used to apparent equal treatment • General Pershing tried several times to demobilize front soldiers

• First American unit to cross Rhine River into German territory • Spread jazz throughout troops and country • Set record for time at front lines for American regiment: 191 days • First Americans decorated with French war cross

General Goybet wrote: 'During seven months, we lived like brother of arms, sharing the same work, the same fatigues, the same dangers; side by side we participated at the big battle of Champagne, crowned by tremendous victory.'

• At end of war, black troops returned under American command • American command decided to bridle victory • Feared possible claims of equality after war • Forbidden black troops from marching in Paris parade

American command preferred showing white troops. Under pressure of Colonel Hayward, Harlem Hellfighters could only march in New York on 5th Avenue during February 1919 return.

• Discrimination issue held up until Civil Rights Act July 2, 1964 • President Johnson signed act declaring discrimination by skin color illegal • About 600 black soldiers fell in combat from 120,000 American dead • 2,500 other black soldiers injured in combat

• 30,000 American soldiers rest in 6 graveyards managed by American Battle Monuments Commission • Three cemeteries in Aisne: Bony, Seringes-et-Nesles, and Belleau • Belleau cemetery contains 2,289 graves • Huge chapel built over Belleau Wood trenches displays names of 1,000+ disappeared soldiers

• Memorial of Hill 204 inaugurated in 1937, honoring July 18, 1918 attack and reconquest from Germans • France-America Friendship House pays tribute to American soldiers who lost life • Engine of Quentin Roosevelt's plane exhibited, shot down by Germans July 14, 1918 • Son of President Theodore Roosevelt memorialized

American humanitarian efforts notably incarnated by philanthropist Anne Morgan, though not detailed in this video. National French-American Museum of Blérancourt preserves memory of engagements.

• Aisne offensive important to understand American intervention in France • Biggest American war effort given starting September 1918 in Meuse Argonne offensive • Here were first steps of American soldiers alongside other nationalities • Birth and pursuit of French-American friendship perpetuated long after war