When the United States entered World War I on April 6, 1917, Europe had already endured years of fighting. President Woodrow Wilson had initially sought to keep America neutral, but German submarine attacks and shifting public opinion contributed to the decision to join the conflict.
The American military faced major challenges. Many soldiers arrived at training camps with limited equipment and little preparation for modern warfare. In France, they encountered devastated towns, trench warfare, relentless artillery fire, and poisonous gas.
As American forces adapted to conditions on the Western Front, their growing involvement helped change the course of the war. The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, launched on September 26, 1918, became a major American operation, with more than 26,000 U.S. soldiers killed. The fighting ended with the armistice on November 11, 1918.
The war also changed American society, from women’s roles in the workforce to the country’s growing international influence.
Explore America’s role in World War I and the lasting impact on the soldiers who served.
Documentary: America’s World War I Centennial
Directed by: Jorge Franzini
Production: Curiosity Stream (2017)
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