American troops didnt fight in large numbers until April/May 1918, and an American army didnt undertake a solo major offensive until SEPTEMBER 1918, at St Mihiel.
It was the British (along with French and Australian and Canadian troops) who took the brunt of the German counterattack in Easter 1918 (the ‘kaiserschlact’).
And it was the BRITISH who bore the brunt of what became known as the ‘Hundred Day Offensive’ in the summer of 1918, that drove the Germans back to the German border.
Frankly the Canadian and AUSTRALIAN units in 1918 did as much, if not more, to drive the Germans back.
And in ww1, half of all US troops carried across the Atlantic were carried by the Royal Navy. And ALL US troops taken from England to France were carried by the RN.
And the AEF in 1917-18 relied entirely on British and French tanks, airplanes and artillery pieces.
And all US combat training in France was given by British and French officers and trainers.
The American contribution to WW1 and to 1918 and final victory, although helpful and brave, has been grossly exaggerated.
It was the British who won the Western Front in 1918. And I am not saying that because I am British. Its because its the truth.
Pity they waited until 1918, since the U.S. help was superfluous and all. 1,000,000 fresh American troops meant the end for Germany and they knew it - they could not fight for another two, three or four years because their support at home was collapsing.
I'm sure we appreciated the training and equipment - it was, after all, the least you could do, since it really wasn't our party in the first place.
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.