War chronicle · 6 April · Washington, USA
The USA enters the war
Americans want their government to fight back when the Germans sink 10 US merchant ships.
On 1 February, German U-boats sank 10 American merchant ships. This came just weeks after the Germans resumed the practice of unrestricted submarine warfare, despite clear warnings from the United States not to.
American public opinion is now firmly against Germany. Under pressure to respond, the United States Government declares war on Germany on 6 April.
The US Navy is ranked only third behind Britain’s and Germany’s. It immediately launches into action – hunting down German U-boats in the Atlantic with the British.
In contrast, the US Army is tiny. It possesses none of the weapons needed on the Western Front, such as modern artillery, aircraft, and tanks. The first soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) arrive in France in June. But disappointingly it will be at least a year before the AEF is properly equipped, trained, and large enough to take its place on the front line.
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