Allied vs Central Powers (up to 1916)
Allies During WWI
Allies
Britain and Colonies
France and Colonies
Russia (until Russian Revolution of 1917)
Italy (was allied with Germany and AustriaHungary before the war broke out)
Central Powers
Austria-Hungary
Germany
Ottoman Empire
Wilson declares Neutrality
President Wilson’s declaration of neutrality August 19, 1914:
“The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name…We
must be impartial in thought, as well as action, must put a curb upon …
every transaction that might be construed as a preference of one party
to the struggle before another.”
Source: http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/President_Wilson%27s_Declaration_of_Neutralitiy
US enters WWI - 1917
Life in the Trenches of WWI
–
After Germany invaded Belgium in 1914, both sides dug trenches in France
»
By spring 1915 – 2 parallel systems of deep trenches crossed France
(Belgian coast to Swiss Alps)
»
Trench Warfare – 3 years of fighting for mere yards of ground
•
Rat infested
•
Only wide enough for 2 people to pass
•
Provided no shelter from weather
• Nowhere to move/exercise
• Lice common
• Trench fever – body louse bite – becomes
ulcerate or become gangrenous – high fever
and rash – sometimes caused death
American Power tips the Balance
–
Selective Service Act
3 million drafted
»
 2 million went to Europe (3/4 saw active combat)
•

African Americans in WWI

400,000 served (1/2 in France)

Segregated units

Excluded from navy and marines
Creel Commission - government propaganda machine set up by
President Woodrow Wilson in 1916

Controlled news by flooding it with “official information” (i.e. what
the government wants the public to “know”, endless repetition)

Within 6 months – turned a non-war population (i.e. pacifist,
socialist, isolationist, non-interventionist) into a hysterical Germany
hating war-mongering people
American Power tips the Balance
–
New Weapons = More New Dangers for soldiers and civilians
»
Inhalation of poison gas
»
Constant bombardment = shell shock (modern terminology = Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder)
»
Trench Foot – from standing in wet trenches
•
Toes turn red or blue – then numb
•
Start to rot
•
amputation