Marianne and Columbia in Arms: The Franco-American Relationship During the First World War

Abstract

The First World War was the United States’ first significant foray into European conflict and their first war as part of a major international coalition. The inadequacy of the US Army for the conflict forced them to rely on extensive support from its allies to successfully prosecute the war. For most members of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), the ally with which they most closely associated with was France who provided substantial amounts of equipment, training, and guidance. Most work on bilateral Franco-American relations during the period focus on high level diplomatic and military relations between the leaders of both nations and casts the state of relations as being antagonistic. This paper examines the more mundane experiences of AEF members with French soldiers and civilians and how those experiences shaped American views of themselves and their allies. By examining the American relationship with the French on and off the battlefield, it provides a view of the alliance outside of the staterooms and war rooms and re-examines previous characterisations of the relationship. The first chapter examines American relations with French civilians in port towns, in billets, and on leave through the opinions and behaviour of members of the AEF. The second and third chapter focus on the relationship with the French military not only through American opinions about the military competence of their ally but also examines the development of an American military identity apart from and in opposition to the French. American experience in the war allowed Americans not only to form stronger relationships than generally acknowledged with the French but also allowed them to develop a stronger sense of their own identity as a people and a country.