Quit Whining Cameron, Romney Ran An Olympics

RiehlWorldView.com ^ | 7/27/2012 | Dan Riehl

[edpc]

The American contribution to WW1 and to 1918 and final victory, although helpful and brave, has been grossly exaggerated.

Yeah, that whole Belleau Wood thing has been overblown, huh? It was only the pivotal point in stopping the Germans from overrunning Paris, then the rest of France. You could have had a warm up act in 1918 for your Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

You bore the brunt of the 1918 offensive because the Germans had more troops to bring your way after the Russians pulled out.

They deployed so they could overwhelm and defeat you before American reinforcements arrived. They understood the addition would be problematic and were well on their way, kicking the crap out of French and British forces at the Somme and Marne Rivers.

Fortunately, the US Marines were able to slow them down and eventaully stop them at Chateau-Thierry by the end of May. But we thank you for the ride across the Atlantic and making the Germans so tired from all that marching and shooting they had to do before we got there.

[the scotsman]

I didnt and havent said American troops did little, all I have said is that they didnt ‘win the war’ by their entrance and battles, as modern myth claims.

It was till the British (and Commonwealth/French) armies that bore the major brunt in 1918.

Yes, the Germans threw us back 40 miles, but we stopped them and then drove them back to their start point and eventually back into Germany. And I have pointed out that that drive was a joint force of British, Americans, Canucks, French, Aussies......I have never said we did it alone.

We can start throwing out battles: you have Belleau Wood, we have Amiens. And on it goes. You have Thierry, we have the sacrifice of Gough’s 5th Army.

I am not and do not wish to be seen to belittle American involvement. All I am doing is putting it in true perspective.

I am in awe of the Marines of Belleau Wood. And one of my ww1 fascinations is with the ‘Lost Battalion’ (great film with Ricky Schroder about them btw), an American unit whose bravery and stand was incredible.