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52 Army Hist. 1 (2001)

handle is hein.milandgov/aryhsy0052 and id is 1 raw text is: ARMY HIS TORY THE PROFESSIONAL BULLETIN OF ARMY HISTORY PB-20-1-2 (No. 52) Wahington, D.C. Spring 2001 More Than Numbers Americans and the Revival of French Morale in the Great War By Robert A. Doughty Of the contributions made by American forces to the Allied effort in World War I, the most important may have been the Americans' role in re iving French morale. Arriving in June 19 17 a fer the faiure of the Nivelle offensive and amid a spate of mutinies within the French Army, the Americans initially did little to reassure French soldiers in the trenches, but their eager entry into battle against the German offensil e in March 1918 soon contributed significantly to restoring French morale and assuring Allied victory. Without this assistance, the French Army might hase disinegrated and the Germans emerged victorious. Though historians often note the importance of American troop strength and industrial power, especially in the erosion of German resolve, they rarely give the Americans much credit for resiving French morale British historian John Keegan's recent book, The First World War, exemplifies this view. While Keegan highlights the appearance of the Americans in the title of his final chapter, America and Armageddon, he largely discounts their military significance. Keegan emphasizes the Americans' large numbers, but he neglects their contribution to the fighting and the impact of their combat successes on the revival of French determination and hope? Indeed, he largely dismisses the U S. Army's contribution by repeatedly mentioning its lack of professionalism and competence and by neglecting its achievements on the battlefield. Instead, using the colorful language that makes his books appealing to so many readers. Keegan merely explains American C)1er of the 8 Infa try and Field ArtiI.. ry both ement of the r Division, receie the French Croix de Guerre on 3 Mlarch 1918 Ir their gallantry in a raid conducted two days earlier French frener Georges Clemenceau, third from left, attended the ceremony. (Signal Corps photo)

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