By the beginning of the twentieth century, the United States had
already become an international power and a recognized force at
sea, but its army remained little more than a frontier
constabulary. In fact, when America finally entered World War I,
the U.S. Army was still only a tenth the size of the smallest of
the major European forces.
While most previous work on America's participation in the Great
War has focused on alliance with Great Britain, Robert Bruce argues
that the impact of the Franco-American relationship was of far
greater significance. He makes a convincing case that the French,
rather than the British, were the main military partner of the
United States in its brief but decisive participation in the
war-and that France deserves much credit for America's emergence as
a world military power.
In this important new look at the First World War, Bruce reveals
how two countries established a close and respectful
relationship-marking the first time since the American Revolution
that the United States had waged war as a member of a military
coalition. While General Pershing's American Expeditionary Forces
did much to buoy French morale and military operations, France
reciprocated by training over 80 percent of all American army
divisions sent to Europe, providing most of their artillery and
tanks, and even commanding them in combat.
As Bruce discloses, virtually every military engagement in which
the AEF participated was a Franco-American operation. He provides
significant new material on all major battles--not only the
decisive Second Battle of the Marne, but also St. Mihiel, Cantigny,
Reims, Soissons, and other engagements--detailing the key
contributions of this coalition to the final defeat of Imperial
Germany. Throughout the book, he also demonstrates that there was a
mutual bond of affection not only between French and American
soldiers but between the French and American people as well, with
roots planted deep in the democratic ideal.
By revealing the overlooked importance of this crucial alliance,
A Fraternity of Arms provides new insights not only into World War
I but into coalition war-making as well. Contrary to the popular
belief that relations between France and the United States have
been tenuous or tendentious at best, Bruce reminds us that less
than a century ago French and American soldiers fought side by side
in a common cause--not just as allies and brothers-in-arms, but as
true friends.
General
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