137: The First Battle of the First American Army: St. Mihiel

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 July 2023

⏱️ 61 minutes

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Summary

“Marshal Foch, you have no authority as Allied Commander-in-Chief to call upon me to yield up my command of the American Army and have it scattered among the Allied Forces where it will not be an American army at all.” This is the story of the first battle of the First American Army. Fresh off of an Allied victory at Amiens, Supreme Commander Ferdinand Foch has new ideas for a combined Allied strategy along the Meuse and in the Argonne forest. But his plan comes at a cost to the Americans, ready to launch their first offensive as a fully organized army against the Germans at the St. Mihiel Salient. General Black Jack Pershing won't be deterred. But can he beat the Germans at this salient, then move an entire army with all of its supplies 60 miles to participate in this new offensive in time? We’ll find out. ___ 4 Ways to dive deeper into History That Doesn’t Suck Join our growing facebook community Get our weekly newsletter, The Revolution Become part of the HTDS Patreon family Subscribe to Greg’s monthly newsletter, Connected History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	History that doesn't suck is a bi-weekly podcast delivering a legit, seriously researched
0:03.6	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
0:07.0	If you'd like to support HTTDS or enjoy bonus content, please consider giving at patreon.com-forod-slash-history-that-doesn't-suck.
0:22.5	It's 4.10am, August 8, 1918.
0:26.0	A seemingly endless line of khaki-clad young men from the British Isles and the dominions of Canada and Australia
0:32.0	are quietly taking positions just east of the northern French city of Amiens.
0:37.0	This is British General Sir Henry Rollinson's fourth army, and in 10 minutes, this impressive force will give the
0:44.3	Some River Stadling German Second Army an unwelcomed and unexpected wake-up call.
0:50.0	Likewise, the French First Army, operating just to the south and on the right of the British,
0:55.0	are preparing to do the same to the German 18th Army.
0:58.0	In short, this is a massive, highly coordinated, surprise attack.
1:05.0	Behind the British infantry, 1,800 French and British pilots, the latter only recently organized as the Royal Air Force,
1:12.0	aka the RAF, are starting up their planes.
1:16.0	At the same time, the engines of 500-plus tanks, including 342 of Britain's new heavy-marked fives,
1:23.0	roar like an army of locomotives.
1:26.0	British infantrymen feel their hearts pound through their chests, knowing that the crowds can fear this cacophony of the engines,
1:32.0	propellers and wheels. But no matter, it's 4.19am.
1:37.0	So we'll just check to ensure that their steel helmets are secure and bayonets are fixed as they grip their rifles.
1:43.0	Section officers stare at their synchronized wristwatches as they count down the last minute,
1:48.0	from 60 seconds to 30 to 10 right to the appointed hour, 4.20am.
1:55.0	Fire! Artillery opens the attack. Like a hellish forest, the British Fourth Army's 2034 guns sing a song of death as they spit shells on the Germans.
2:07.0	Their accuracy is top notch.
	...

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