The Lewis Army Museum on Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington has displays on World War I.
World War I begin in June 1914 with the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. According to the Museum:
“World War I was meant to conclude swiftly, but the European arms race had created weapons and machines that changed forever the nature of war. The U.S. initially vowed to remain neutral—but German attacks on merchant vessels and attempts to form a secret alliance with Mexico ultimately led President Wilson’s declaration of war in 1917.”
According to the Museum:
“The Imperial Germany Army entered World War I well-trained and equipped, and experienced in colonial warfare. Unfortunately, the European soldiers of World War I were all trained and equipped in a similar manner—using strategies and tactics developed during the 19th century, while using the weapons and technology of the 20th. The result was a years-long stalemate of trench warfare with casualties and deaths more numerous than previously thought possible.”
It has been estimated that as many as 22 million people died as a result of this war. While the United States had nearly 117,000 combat deaths, France had 1.4 million and the British Empire had 1.1 million.
German Uniforms and Equipment
According to the Museum:
“Early in the war German Imperial forces were well-outfitted and sharply dressed. As the years wore on soldiers adjusted their uniforms and equipment to be adapt to the requirements of trench warfare. … By the time Americans arrived the German forces bore little resemblance to the Imperial Army of 1914.”
According to the Museum:
“Barbed wire played an important role in the misery of trench warfare during the First World War. It was used as a defensive measure by both sides during the war. Barbed wire was also used to channel and entrap enemy soldiers and make them easier to kill.”
According to the Museum:
“The machine gun is a prime example of how technology had advanced past strategy and tactics during the early 20th century. While soldiers manning machine guns could kill vast numbers, the offensive tactics of the European armies failed to adapt rapidly enough.”
According to the Museum:
“The controlled-feed bolt-action of the rifle is considered an important technological advance in the evolution of firearms. These remained excellent weapons but were expensive to manufacture, a definite drawback during World War I.”
The Americans
The United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, the first troops arrived in France in June, and the war ended in November 1918. For American soldiers the war only lasted for 17 months.
According to the Museum:
“After years of stalemate in the trenches of the Western Front, European armies were worn down and there were simply not enough soldiers to replace casualties. The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was able to turn the tide of the war to the Allies’ advantage. Although the fighting was bitter and costly for the first groups of inexperienced American troops, they were fresher and better supplied than their German counterparts and it was only a matter of time before the AEF and its allies were able to overpower an exhausted Germany Army.”
More World War I museum exhibits
Air Force Museum: World War I airplanes (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: World War I memorabilia (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I French, British, and American airplanes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: World War I Sopwith airplanes (photo diary)
Veterans Memorial Museum: World War I (Photo Diary)
Ohio History Center: World War I (photo diary)
Ohio History Center: World War I posters (photo diary)
Ohio History Center: World War I machine guns (photo diary)