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United States declares war on Germany. The U.S. joins the side of France and Britain.
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The Federal government was to raise up an army to go fight in war. All males aged 21 to 30 were required to register for military service.
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This battle is the first major American offensive of the war. American troop under the leadership of Major-General Robert Lee Bullard captured the village of Cantigny from the German Eighteenth Army.
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The first battle where the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) experienced the heavy casualties associated with the Great War; the symbols of U.S. Marine Corps determination and dedication; and a signal to both allies and adversaries that America was on the Western Front to fight.
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Since 1917, when the U.S. declared war on Germany and entered World War I, American divisions had fought in Europe. But they had only fought in support of the major French or British units already firmly entrenched in the effort. On September 12, 1918, the (AEF) under General John J. Pershing launched their first major offensive in Europe as an independent army.
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World War I (1914-1918) was finally over. This first global conflict had claimed from 9 million to 13 million lives and caused unprecedented damage. Germany had formally surrendered on November 11, 1918, and all nations had agreed to stop fighting while the terms of peace were negotiated. On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allied Nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Russia) signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ending the war.
