World War One

Find old World War 1 articles here. Find information on uniforms, women, gas warfare, prisoners of war and more.

A Letter from One Who Saw the First German Prisoners (NY Times, 1915)

This W.W. I letter was written by a French infantryman who had participated in one the earliest battles of 1914. In this letter, that managed to make it into the French, British and American papers, the Frenchman took a good deal of time to describe his impressions of the first German prisoners to be taken in the war:

Their appetite is so great that, though in [the] presence of a French officer they will click their heels together properly, they never cease at the same time to munch noisily and to fill out their hollow cheeks.

Secretary of War Newton Baker Visits the Front Trenches (NY Times, 1918)

Attached is a front page story from a 1918 NEW YORK TIMES that covered the important visit Secretary of War Newton Baker (1871 – 1937) had made to the American front line trenches during his World War I tenure at the Department of War. During this trip the former Ohio Governor donned trench coat, helmet and gas-mask while chatting it up with the Doughboys.


Click here to read an article from 1927 by General Pershing regarding the American cemeteries in Europe.

Poilu’ is not the Right Word! (NY Times, 1916)

The novelist, journalist, anti-Semite and French Academy member Maurice Barres (1862 – 1923) had some opinions regarding the word Poilu (the popular and affectionate slang term for the French front line soldier, which translates into English as hairy guy). In the following one page essay he presented a history of the word and continued with an explanation as to why it bugged him:

It lacks dignity. To my taste it belittles those whom it is meant to laud and serve. A hero can hardly be expressed by this brazen-faced and slanderous epithet. And yet, since it has taken root in our battlefields now for more than a year, one hesitates to speak ill of this word, in which so many admirable acts are somehow visible. It is winning it’s historic titles.

In the end, no one really cared what Maurice Barres had to say on this topic and the sobriquet poilu remained in place.

Poilu’ is not the Right Word! (NY Times, 1916)

The novelist, journalist, anti-Semite and French Academy member Maurice Barres (1862 – 1923) had some opinions regarding the word Poilu (the popular and affectionate slang term for the French front line soldier, which translates into English as hairy guy). In the following one page essay he presented a history of the word and continued with an explanation as to why it bugged him:

It lacks dignity. To my taste it belittles those whom it is meant to laud and serve. A hero can hardly be expressed by this brazen-faced and slanderous epithet. And yet, since it has taken root in our battlefields now for more than a year, one hesitates to speak ill of this word, in which so many admirable acts are somehow visible. It is winning it’s historic titles.

In the end, no one really cared what Maurice Barres had to say on this topic and the sobriquet poilu remained in place.

T.E. Lawrence (NY Times, 1919)

One of the most romantic figures of the entire war was Thomas Lawrence, a young Oxford graduate who had specialized in archeology… To Colonel Lawrence more than any other man was due the efficient organization of the Hejaz Army. He worked in perfect harmony with King Hussein and Prince Faisal, to whom he was second in command.

The Germans and Turks alike soon discovered the presence of this young Englishman among their Arabic opponents in the desert and, realizing the menace of his mysterious and amazing successes, put a price of $5000,000 upon his head.

Blonde as a Viking, he walked about the streets of Jerusalem or other cities, in full panoply of Arab royal costume, plunged in some inner dream.

Read other articles from 1919.

Dissent in the Pulpit (Literary Digest, 1917)

Shortly after the U.S. Congress declared war against Germany, a New York City minister named Dr. John Haynes Holmes (1879 – 1964) took to his pulpit and made a series of sound remarks as to why the United States had no business participating in the European war:

Other clergymen may pray to God for victory for our arms — I will not. In this church, if no where else in all America, the Germans will still be included in the family of God’s children. No word of hatred will be spoken against them, no evil fate will be desired upon them. I will remember the starving millions of Belgium, Servia, Poland, and Armenia, whom my countrymen may neglect for the more important business of killing Germans…

Uniform and Equipment Cost Illustrated (Scientific American, 1917)

A black and white magazine illustration from the cover of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN that appeared six months after President Wilson’s declaration of war against Germany in order to let Uncle Sam’s taxpayer’s understand what it will cost them to put a million and a half men in the field.

Their Reckless Abandon (U.S. Army Study, 1919)

Here is another account from The Enemy Order of Battle report (1919) – on this page two experienced German veterans recalled their unit’s battles with the American infantry:

American soldiers took big chances and [did so] irrespective of any danger.

Intent on Battle (U.S. Army Report, 1919)

Here is a page from The Enemy Order of Battle report (1919) by the subsection of the same name that was an arm of the U.S. Army General Staff. The report tells of Baccarat, a portion of the Western Front during the later part of the war that was quiet, by mutual agreement between the French and Germans – until the U.S. Army took their place in the French position – and then all Hell broke loose.

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