The German offensives of 1918 were possible because Germany had achieved numerical superiority on the Western Front for the first time since 1914. The Allies scrambled to increase their own numbers and better coordinate their forces, but over all this activity hung the big question: “Where are the Americans?”
The US hustled to get as many soldiers as possible into the trenches quickly, but there were also difficulties at home in producing enough weapons and equipment. With a mid-term election looming, the Wilson Administration had to fend off accusations that it had bungled the war effort.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening War Theme
“U.S. Field Artillery March”
Composed in 1917 by Edmund Gruber and John Philip Sousa. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
Closing War Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.