My Experiences In The First World War

by John Joseph Pershing, Frank E. Vandiver (Foreword by)

A graduate of West Point, John J. Pershing (1860–1948) led a spirited serving as a cavalry officer in campaigns against Geronimo and the Sioux, fighting in the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines, and leading the expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico. But it was his role and performance as Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I that won him lasting acclaim.On the eve of America's entry into the conflict in 1917, Pershing found our military in abominable condition. Yet by the time American troops penetrated German lines in the bitterly contested Meuse-Argonne offensive in October 1918, Pershing had miraculously transformed our forces into well-integrated, effective combat units. In My Experiences in the First World War (1931) he describes that process, from the events leading up to his appointment to his arrival in Europe; from problems of supply and troop training to his meetings with Haig, Petain, Clemenceau, and Foch; from the fierce battles of Belleau Wood, the Marne, Chateau-Theirry, St. Mihiel, and Sedan to the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Written in a direct lucid style, this book provides a unique first-hand view, from headquarters to the trenches, of the struggle that humanity vainly hoped would be the "war to end all wars."

Genres: History, Military History, Biography, World War I, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction

868 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 1931

About the author

General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing was a senior United States Army officer, most famous as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on the Western Front in World War I, 1917–18.

Reviews

[David Dennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

General of the Armies, John J. 'Black Jack' Pershing.

"Although observing statesmen and military men, others only vaguely, had sensed the situation as a menace of war, few seemed to appreciate that a resort to arms would involve practically the whole civilized world. Apparently none of the powers visualized what it would mean in its appalling destruction of human life, its devastation of countries, and in the suffering of populations."

This memoir with diary excerpts is a concise record of General Pershing’s experiences in his role in WWI, providing insight into the war told from the American perspective. It tells of his early life as a soldier, and events leading up to this war while the world sleepwalked its way into a catastrophe of indescribable proportions. No doubt, Pershing’s insights after this war helped shape the thinking of future American generals.

Pershing was unequivocal as to blame for this unspeakable tragedy which cost 20 million lives and wounded another 21 million.
"The details of what happened in the beginning are well known and the world has long since fixed the blame where it properly belongs—on the shoulders of the German Government of 1914."

He lists some of Germany’s atrocities and laments America’s lack of action in preparation for war:
"The invasion of Belgium was an open declaration of Germany’s attitude toward all neutral rights. If our people had grasped its meaning they would have at least insisted upon preparation to meet more effectively the later cumulative offenses of Germany against the law of nations, one of which was the sinking of the Lusitania."

Inaction played into the hands of Germany, she knew how long it would take the United States to put an army in the field.

Pershing comes off as modest and humane. In fact, he seemed to possess the patience of Job (for most of the time) and showed himself to be an astute politician in dealing with the French and British. I found it astonishing that both those powers tried to prevent Pershing from forming an American army. They felt that the millions of men being sent from the US, at the rate of 250,000 per month, should be fed into their own armies. Pershing was adamantly against this. He knew his men did not want to serve under any flag but their own. He also knew they would be slaughtered. The Allies had devised a system of defensive trench warfare as their mode of operation and training. Pershing was dead set against this.
"Trenches were not new to Americans, as both the Union and Confederate armies in the Civil War had used them extensively."

Pershing’s strategy was to fight aggressively on open ground and did not want his men trained exclusively in trench warfare. He also wanted his infantry to be well trained as crack shots with their rifles and was constantly frustrated by lack of training in these fighting techniques he’d specifically called for. Lack of preparation in aviation was dire and Pershing did not hold back as to his requirements to prosecute this war:
"The situation at that time as to aviation was such that every American ought to feel mortified to hear it mentioned. Out of 65 officers and about 1,000 men in the Air Service Section of the Signal Corps, there were 35 officers who could fly. We could not have put a single squadron in the field …"

When the general and his staff arrive in France, he was dumbfounded by the reception they received and there are many instances in the book where he tells of the emotion he felt and connection to the French people.
"The station was packed with people and the atmosphere seemed electrical with pent-up enthusiasm. The acclaim that greeted us as we drove through the streets en route to the hotel was a complete surprise. Women climbed into our automobiles screaming, “Vive l’Amerique,” and threw flowers until we were buried. It brought home to us a deep sense of the responsibility resting on America."

The Germans knew they only had a small window of opportunity to win the war before the Americans arrived with a force of more than 3 million men. After capitulation by the Russians at the Eastern Front, Germany rushed as many divisions as it could to the Western Front. Pershing began to understand the magnitude of the task before him. To form a properly trained army and air force from scratch was daunting. At last, the first Americans began to arrive and the French population was elated.
"This first appearance of American combat troops in Paris brought forth joyful acclaim from the people. On the march to Lafayette’s tomb the battalion was joined by a great crowd, many women forcing their way into the ranks and swinging along arm in arm with the men. With wreaths about their necks and bouquets in their hats and rifles. …Many dropped on their knees in reverence as the column went by."

But the clock was ticking. The next massive obstacle the general faced was getting his troops across the Atlantic. He points out that since the losses caused by the civil war American shipping was seriously depleted. The only way was for the Allies to use their ships for the purpose, but they were reluctant.

It is eye-opening, that is to say, what a great general has to think about in waging a world war—it’s not just a matter of charging off into battle. Pershing had to organize and manage: communications, first aid, hospital building, organization of the Red Cross and YMCA, shipping, road building, transportation (including railways), war material, lumber, horses and mules, billeting, morale, venereal disease, control of alcohol consumption, defense against poisonous gas, chaplains and religion, uniforms and cold weather gear, fuel, promotions, courts martial, justice and executions, the press and censorship. Pershing was hands-on with all these issues. For instance, he sent for specialists in forestry, lumbermen and 10,000 laborers for cutting down trees and setting up saw mills and building roads; railway engineers to organize railway transportation and repair of existing damaged cars and trains for movement of allied and American armies. Later, Spanish flu’ would occupy his mind and become a major factor, ultimately killing millions.

Pershing tells us about the use of poisonous gas which had been discussed at the Hague Conference in 1899 and to which Germany had subscribed to the agreement. But her armies dishonored this pledge, throwing humanity to the winds, becoming the first to use gas shells—which later they, themselves, must have regretted.
"The first gas attack had occurred on April 22, 1915, in the Ypres salient… What followed almost defies description … hundreds of men were thrown into a comatose or dying condition ..."

There were moments of great drama. When Pershing visited Beauvais to meet with the Supreme War Council the allies set upon him, insisting again and again that the American troops be allocated into the ranks of their own armies. He told them:
“ 'The time may come when the American Army will have to stand the brunt of this war, and it is not wise to fritter away our resources in this manner.' At this juncture, Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau, entered the room. Milner met Lloyd George at the door and said in a stage whisper behind his hand, 'You can’t budge him an inch.' Then all five attacked me with force. I said with the greatest possible emphasis, 'Gentlemen, I have thought this program over very deliberately and will not be coerced.' ”

There are references to ‘colored troops’. Pershing had commanded Americans of African descent earlier in his career and that was where his name ‘Black Jack’ Pershing originated. He’d commanded the ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ as they were called. This name was said to have been used by the Indians who respected them, finding them as ferocious as buffalo. Some black regiments went on to fight alongside the French and were highly decorated. A colored division, the 92nd, had been selected by the War Department for temporary service and training with the British armies, but their Military Attache in Washington protested. Pershing was surprised and wrote to Marshal Haig:
“May 5, 1918. “MY DEAR SIR DOUGLAS: …You will, appreciate my position in this matter, which is that these negroes are American citizens. Naturally, I cannot and will not discriminate against these soldiers."

Race comes up again in Pershing’s diary on June 22, 1919. Rumors are being spread and he hears about it when he talks to his men in the field.
"Colored soldiers highly incensed that false stories of their mistreatment are being circulated at home. …German propaganda was working overtime in the US to stir up trouble. …My earlier service with colored troops in the Regular Army had left a favorable impression on my mind. On the frontier and elsewhere, they were reliable and courageous … Exploits of two colored infantrymen some weeks ago in repelling much larger German patrol, killing and wounding several Germans and winning Croix de Guerre by their gallantry, has roused fine spirit of emulation among colored troops. … The only regret expressed is that they are not given more dangerous work to do. They are especially amused at the stories being circulated that the American colored troops are placed in the most dangerous positions, and all are desirous of having more active service than has been permitted them so far."

The Allies had doubts about the Americans, questioning their ability to fight as well as their own seasoned armies. The opportunity soon came to remove any reason for misgivings. The German attack of May 27th 1918 was made by thirty German divisions. It came as such a surprise that the French did not have time to destroy important bridges across the Aisne. American troops were rushed to Chateau-Thierry.
"The roads were crowded with French troops and refugees retreating in great confusion, many soldiers telling our men that all was lost. …Although in the battlefield for the first time, the Americans maintained their position and by their timely arrival stopped the German advance on Paris."

With the Americans in the fight, the tide was about to turn, but the shortage of horses and mules for hauling guns and war material was a continual problem and one gets the picture of the dreadful suffering of these magnificent creatures during man’s quest to kill one another.
"We were promised 80,000 of the 160,000 to be obtained through the requisition at the rate of 15,000 per month…These numbers, however, would still leave us with a large shortage …"

Extraordinary tales emerged after America’s first battles in the Chateau-Thierry/St. Mihiel region. Diary entry July 12, 1918:
"Took lunch with Harbord at Nanteuil-sur-Marne, where his brigade of the 2nd Division is resting. He told of a marine who had captured seventy-five German prisoners single-handed."



General Pershing, wife Helen
with three of their children.

There are touching moments, considering what Pershing had so recently endured: His wife and three daughters had died in a fire in San Francisco in August 1915. His black orderly had climbed through the window and rescued his son. During July of 1918, after his inspection of an aviation center, he went for a walk, which must have brought back heartbreaking memories.
"I visited the fine old pension in which I had spent two happy months with my family back in 1908. The beautiful garden, the shade trees, the swing, the children’s sand pile, all were the same, but now I was a stranger."



The Pershing home after the deadly fire of 1915

"The American troop build-up continued through 1918 at the rate of 250,000 per month. A cable made it clear that the War Department expected to have eighty divisions, or approximately 3,200,000 men, in France by July, 1919. The St. Mihiel victory probably did more than any single operation of the war to encourage the tired Allies. And initial moves of the German government to stop the fighting occurred at this time and without doubt because of the results of these four days of battle."

After fighting ceased, it was realized Germany was on its knees, no longer in a position to fight. Pershing had strong opinions about subsequent events.
"Instead of requiring the German forces to retire at once, leaving material, arms and equipment behind, the Armistice terms permitted them to march back to their homeland with colors flying and bands playing, posing as the victims of political conditions. … If unconditional surrender had been demanded, the Germans would, without doubt, have been compelled to yield, and their troops would have returned to Germany without arms, virtually as paroled prisoners of war. The surrender of the German armies would have been an advantage to the Allies in the enforcement of peace terms and would have been a greater deterrent against possible future German aggression."

Twenty years later, Germany resumed the war in its quest to be masters of Europe. I found this book factual and deeply interesting—a gold mine for researchers of the Great War from the American perspective.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 1 out of 5]

I managed to get through volume one and didn't skim much, but all of the politics gets hard to take at times. I don't see how Pershing put up with it all. I didn't realize how much organization his staff had to do. The had to rebuild railroads and roadways and salvage wrecked train cars in order to move men and supplies. While it was interesting to learn what went into the buildup prior to our troops arriving in France, I find the stories of the men doing the work more interesting. Volume two starts with our troop involved in combat, but I still gave up half way through. Pershing managed to make combat boring. Fix Bayonets by John W. Thompson was much better. Thompson was a captain in the Marine Corp and shared what life was like on the front lines. His book is also filled with sketches that he did at the time.

[Greg Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a retired US Army Chief Warrant Officer, I often read military non-fiction. As I read these volumes, I felt as though transported through time. Although without doubt a militarily written text, the general is was an accomplished wordsmith and created a book of interest. I have had the pleasure to visit a number of the locales of the conflict, which only added to the interest factor. I highly recommend this book!

Maintained my interest throughout, with nothing negative. Thorough enjoyment! The book without doubt added emmensely to my knowledge of World War I.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish this book, which is very unusual for me - to start a book and not finish it. I lost interest in the book. I'm not really interested in war experiences from the military commander's point of view, so I shouldn't have started it in the first place.

[David Allen Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being a student of World War I who has read dozens and dozens of books on the conflict, I had put off reading General Pershing's 2 volume, Pulitzer Prize winning 1931 memoirs because I had read time and again in the work of "scholars" that the book was biased, inaccurate and of little value. Then at a used book sale, I came across an original, slip-cased first edition of the work, still in tattered but original dustcovers, printed on March 10,1931 and for which I believe I paid about $10. Having spent the better part of a year carefully reading the work I am so sorry I listened to the "experts" because this is one of the best Great War books I have ever read, and I learned so much.

First, this is a memoir, not an academic history. It may well be colored by Pershing's personal opinions and recollections a decade after the events. But for the most part it appears to be very accurate. The book reads very easily and very well. Pershing was a great writer. What makes this book so valuable is Pershing's level of detail. He constantly names names of other generals and officers who clearly played important roles but who are not named and talked personally about in other books on the war. Time and again, I found myself stopping to Google the name of a previously unknown general and found out fascinating stories and information about them.

Pershing also includes the exact texts of many original memos and letters and diary entries. Even if cherry-picked, they are firsthand real accounts you just don't find in another account. There are many great maps and battlefield depictions and several high quality black and white photos you won't see anywhere else.

What comes across so clearly in this book is how much political pressure was put on Pershing by the British and French to just put American troops into their armies that had spent 3 + years failing and being massacred. President Wilson told Pershing to keep our army separate and he did. Pershing has very pointed views that he felt different kinds of attack methods were needed than what the British and French had been doing. Future battles proved him correct.

Yet, what is somewhat frustrating is how long it takes Pershing to put our troops into front line action. Time and time again he seems to hesitate saying more "training" was needed but there was no training for the new horrific trench and gas warfare. But when Pershing does attack despite initial mis-steps and losses, it is clear the US Army makes a huge dent into the battered German armies.

And it may be hindsight but ending the war with a political "armistice" on November 11th 1918 just as the US Army was attacking hard in the Muesse Argonne forest, where an ancestor of mine was killed in a poison gas attack, was a monumental error. The German armies were allowed to return and spin the falsity they weren't defeated, that the politicians and Kaiser had let them down, and it sowed the seeds for World War II which was little more than a reprise and continuation of World War I.

The book pretty much ends abruptly with the Armistice; Pershing does not go into the post war return to America, the American involvement in the Russian Civil War, or even his victory parades when he got home. He also doesn't spent a lot of time on the ravages of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic but he does talk some about it.

I know this book is 2 volumes long and isn't readily available, but ignore what the scholars and academics say and read it carefully if you are a student of World War I or even just have a passing interest. Pershing's voice is honest, true, readable, intimate, just remember it is a memoir not a precise history. You will not only get Pershing's point of view, but also learn about many other American army and navy officers who played important roles that are not mentioned in most other books about the war. This book is an invaluable read and when you read it you will understand why it won the Pulitzer Prize.

[Marianne Roncoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Commander of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I...in his own words. Everything you wanted to know about how America contributed to the winning of WWI from the time France and Great Britain were on the verge of losing the war in 1917 to the Armistice on November 11, 1918. While Germany was running all over France and beating up the Allies, General Pershing directed the American forces to win.

His main strategy was creating an American Army, while the British and French Prime Ministers and the British and French Chiefs of Staff relentlessly pleaded with him to amalgamate American forces into the British and French Armies. He spent the majority of the war insisting that American forces should be commanded by American field commanders and not French or English ones.

His description of the war reads like a tutorial on the qualities of a successful leader who sees the forest of grand strategy through the trees of day-to-day management. One learns all about infantry and artillery and how to move around a million troops along with feeding and clothing them, providing forage for horses, docks for ships, stations for trains and medical care for wounded. Unlike ordinary people who would fly into a rage over the incompetence of military and civilian leaders four thousand miles away in Washington, General Pershing maintained his cool while relentlessly appealing to the war department's better angels to provide the resources he needed to fight the war..

Anyone who knows about WWI knows something about trench warfare and how French and Allied troops stubbornly fought over a few feet of dirt from the North Sea to Switzerland right through France and Belgium. It was enlightening to read what General Pershing thought of trenches and the alternative strategies that eventually won the war.

I came away with a new appreciation of the difference between unconditional surrender and a negotiated peace, the Armistice. General Pershing had a lot to say about this.

Know that the book reads very much like Winston Churchill's accounts of WWI and WWII. Like Churchill, Pershing is the center of the narrative. If the readers know this up front and balance this account with other accounts of the war, they can appreciate the strengths and limitations of a great warrior's autobiography. Reading John Keenan's History of WWI, Alan Palmer's Victory 1918, and Paul Fussell's, The Great War and Modern Memory, one can place General Pershing's account within the context of all the events and the people involved in the great war.

[Len Knighton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of us have heard of the various Congressional or Government Reports comprising a mountain of paper. One of note written during my youth was the Warren Commission Report on The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
This book could be regarded as such a report. For a military expert or historian it is informative and all-encompassing, in some instances detailed to the extreme. Indeed, I learned a lot about World War One through this book.
For the casual reader, however, the book is as dry as Hawkeye's (MASH) perfect martini. It is also a long book so be prepared for many hours of dull reading. General Pershing is telling the country of his war experience, not trying to entertain us.

Two stars waxing

[Jeff Ragan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, inspiring and applicable account of Pershing's creation of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. His innate understanding of the necessities of war-making within and in support of his men, his political acumen in dealing with far more experienced leaders of other nations, and his personal integrity and conviction in moving the whole mission forward - his overcoming of these obstacles and others is a sterling model for other leaders in this and other specialties. And Volume I doesn't even get to the fighting yet!

[George King · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was very informative and interesting it definitely needed an editor. But I guess you can’t edit a General. Including copies off letters and memos distracted from the enjoyment of the book especially when these letters and memos were reproduced in smaller fonts.

Maybe it was was necessary but it was also redundant to include all the examples of the way the allies tried to incorporate the AEF into their armies.

Glad I read the book but it was a challenge.

[Phillip Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great War as Pershing saw it

Well done. The commanding general in Europe gives his opinion and narrates the significant events of the entry and engagement of the AEF in the World War. For any understanding of the years 1917-1918 and United States participation this is a must read.

[John D LaFoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I always enjoy reading history written by those who performed it. The only issue I had with is this book was that all the sketches were missing which significantly detracted from understanding the battles. We were lucky as a nation to have someone of John Pershing's caliber in this endeavor.

[Chris Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically speaking this is a gold mine of background information from Pershing’s experience in WWI.

But it’s light on action ( accounts of battles). So if that is what you are looking for skip this book

If your looking to know more about the war this is a must read.

[Russell G Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sustaiing victory day by day with Pershing in France.

This book clearly shows how Pershing not only assisted our allies but with his strong leadership most likely shaped the future for our own army in the future.

[Larry Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book!
First, the logistics effort to get the personnel and equipment to the battle front in France in such a short time frame was as least as big a challenge as the fighting. Having read several books on the U.S. industrial and logistics story in World War II, I would be very interested in a similar study on the First World War.

Second, I have always heard of the issue with Britain and France wanting the American troops send to fill in their war-depleted divisions, rather than fight as a stand alone U.S. force. I did not realize that Pershing had to fight this battle with the Allies virtually continuously, even after American units had starting making a major positive impact.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

General Pershing provides a remarkable recounting of the prodigious efforts to create a modern American army for service in France.

[Jens · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's amazing how America had to scale it up from a meagre force to a combat-ready army and what gigantic decisions this entailed for the commander. Also, some aspects of the American involvement I took for granted, were actually much more contested (own front/army, own training, timing,..). Halas, the book is all about managing the start-up of the war effort and much less the war itself.