This trend might be older than the WW1 itself, but better late than never ig✌️💔 . Context: During the early years of the First World War, the USA remained neutral. Nevertheless, American banks loaned money to the Entente powers, and many US volunteers joined French units. In April 1917, the US Congress voted to declare war on Germany after the Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted and disclosed, enraging Americans. The Zimmermann Telegram was an immediate cause for the declaration of war. However, the full reasoning for joining the war on the Entente’s side was obviously deeper. It also included unrestricted submarine warfare, previously initiated by Germany (which caused the sinking of Allied passenger ships and the d//aths of American civilians), economic ties with the Entente, and a majority of public opinion sympathizing with the Entente in 1916-17. The American soldiers began their rough and grueling training very soon. On 15 June 1917, the US military began the construction of 32 new training camps for the preparation of the American Expeditionary Force. «Workers hammered nails, shoveled dirt, and sawed lumber in a race to finish the training camps and army schools before the new draftees and volunteers arrived.» The new training camps could house the combined populations of Arizona, Nevada, Delaware, and Alaska. Throughout 1917, some men were sent to France and began performing defensive front-line duties on the Western Front. However, as historian Edward M. Coffman notes, “1917 was predominantly a time of frustration and promise”. Only in 1918 did US soldiers start arriving in France in greater numbers. By the Armistice of November 1918, more than 2 million American soldiers were serving in Europe. The first offensive action was conducted in late May of 1918 at the Battle of Cantigny. In September of 1918, US troops performed a major offensive during the Battle of Saint-Mihiel. However, the largest US offensive to that point was performed at Meuse–Argonne from late September to November of 1918. #historymemes #worldwar1 #ww1 #USHistory #cosplay - @kaiservoncringe