AMERICAN WWI INFANTRY DOUGHBOYS

The American infantry participating in World War I served in operations in Europe US Expeditionary Force American Expeditionary Forces), which was formed in July 1917, shortly after the US joined the Great War. Units of this Corps fought primarily on the Western Front, in France with the German army, but it is worth adding that the few American troops also supported the Italian army in its fights with Austro-Hungarian troops in northern Italy. The commander-in-chief of the American expeditionary forces was General John Pershing, who emphasized the best possible training of his subordinates, which meant that American troops began to actually support their allies in combat only from January 1918! However, by May 1918, the number of American soldiers stationed in France reached a million, of which around 500,000 were it was already in service at the front. The first major advance of the American army in this war took place on May 28, 1918. Later, American troops took part in such battles as, for example, at Belleau Wood, Chateau-Thierry or Saint-Mihiel. It is estimated that during World War I, American troops fighting in Europe lost about 320,000 people, including about 120,000 killed and about 200,000 wounded. It is worth noting that the American infantry at that time relied primarily on equipment of French origin, such as the 75mm Mle 1897 cannons, 155mm Schneider howitzers and Renault FT-17 tanks.