Broken Stalemate
Broken Stalemate
Until the later parts of the First World War, even though important battles had been fought and won by both sides, there was a stalemate. Wars are fought and won by pushing the enemy back, and the winners base their wins by gaining ground. The First World War saw a different type of fighting, and this was Trench warfare. This was created so that soldiers had to rarely see the enemy on the field of battle directly, and get shot by an even bigger invention during the war, and that was the machine gun. With both sides keeping there armies in the “trenches” the chances of pushing the enemy in one direction or another by moving the line of battle, was greatly decreasing, and a stalemate ensuing.
As it was known by all, America was about to enter the war, and
Germany knew that when they did, the United States was going to be a better
trained, and refreshed army. So knowing that they needed a huge victory,
strategic locations that the British held that were not well defended were
attacked, and over run. And this tactic was seen as a victory for the German
army, and worked for a bit, but then with new tactics coming out, the victory
was not long lasting.
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By the time that American entered the war, they made sure that the troops leaving America for the battlefield, were not only trained for the new types of fighting, but they also knew what they were getting in to. The troops new that trenches were the most popular type of warfare, and they knew the conditions of them, and they knew ho to build the most efficient style of trench that made it possible to fight, and then push the enemy back. And therefore gaining important ground that made it possible to declare some victories that inspired the war effort.
The United States also realized that with numerous allies that were fighting the same enemies, they were usually fighting by themselves. So when the United States entered the war, the military personnel in charge made it possible for all the allied countries to be fighting the same way and receive the latest training possible, and this ensured that the stalemate was broken. Another great advancement was to put field artillery into play. They made sure that artillery not man did as much damage as possible, and by doing so, they were able to take fewer casualties, and take more enemy held territory. Building on the success of the allied armies, and the Americans entering the war, American and French Tank divisions were put in charge of defeating the German 2nd army. The Argonne Offensive was the largest of its type for the Americans, and made a hero of its organizer and leader General John Pershing. Having takes close to 25,000 German prisoners, and being able to break the back of the German army, this offensive which was the turning point of the war, and within a month, the war was virtually over. Never before in history of modern warfare has the tank been so valuable. |
References:
History.com Staff. (2009). Meuse-Argonne offensive opens - Sep 26, 1918 - HISTORY.com. Retrieved July 23, 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in- history/meuse-argonne-offensive-opens
Overby, D. (2012, January 31). Breaking the Stalemate at the Front | Diana Overbey. Retrieved July 23, 2016, from https://dianaoverbey.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/breaking-the-stalemate-at-the-front/