Thursday, 20 April 2017

La Grande Guerra +100 - When the US entered the war

The April episode of the digital calendar that traces back the main events of World War I is now online

Versione stampabile

The 36th episode is available here: www.lagrandeguerrapiu100.it

April 1917: this 36th episode of the digital calendar describes a period of intense activity on the war front and in politics.

First of all, the US entry into WWI against Germany, upon decision by President Wilson (see image), in contrast with the country’s isolationist positions. The decision was taken after the submarine warfare led since January by the Germans had begun to pose a threat to the global economic interests of the United States.

From a tactical point of view, the entry into WWI of the USA started to make a difference only after some time, because a large army had to be recruited and trained. As you can see from the infographics, in the spring of 1918 the US managed to deploy millions of soldiers ready to fight.

On the opposite front, the testimony page is dedicated to the “April theses” announced by the Bolsheviks’ leader, Lenin, after his return to his homeland. The theses outlined an interesting and vague programme: the promise to end the war, but also to give lands to millions of Russian peasants.

On the Western front, another useless battle started in April 1917, with the French attacking on the “Chemin des Dames”. The battle will continue for several months with no significant progress on either side. In the French army mutinies increased during these long fights in the battlefield, the symptom of distress and fatigue.

We also publish a biographical piece on Alice Schalek, an adventurous Austrian journalist and photo reporter, and an essay on Austro-Hungarian propaganda through images, portraits, postcards.
Authors from all the universities participating in the project, Trento, Innsbruck, Krakow and Montpellier, have submitted their written texts for this episode.

To navigate the digital calendar: www.lagrandeguerrapiu100.it
Follow us on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/La-Grande-Guerra-più-100-223695561154219/
Twitter: twitter.com/GGpiu100

Since May 2015 all the website content are available in English. Special features are prepared by historians from the universities of Innsbruck, Krakow and Montpellier, to learn about the other war fronts.
The calendar month by month