10 Most Important Battles In US History

The largest battle in American history was fought in the forests of the Argonne along the Meuse River, in France at the end of World War 1. In late 1918, the German Empire was at its breaking point as fresh US troops, known as “doughboys” arrived on the scene. American troops, under the command of General John J. Pershing, had defeated the Germans at St. Mihiel and were ready to deliver the final allied blow to the central powers.

On 26 September 1918, US, French, and a small number of Siamese troops advanced against German positions after an artillery bombardment. Despite an initial surge by allied forces, German defenses led by General Max von Gallwitz quickly rebounded with the addition of reinforcements. As fighting raged on, casualties mounted all along the line. Corporal Alvin York of the US 82nd Infantry Division achieved fame with his heroic capture of 132 Germans. However, men on both sides were succumbing to brutal deaths and combat injuries as the war came to a halt.

On 1 November, American troops began a new assault along the developed battle lines, delivering final, critical blows to the German military, winning the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. On 11 November 1918, the First World War officially came to a close. Over 38 million were dead or wounded by the end of the “war to end all wars.”

The Americans decided to prod their head into a European affair from almost two centuries of isolationism. This would not be the last time the country did such a thing. With this battle, it was a victory for the United States, allowing them to stay in Europe until the end of the war. It gave confidence to the soldiers and military commanders which allowed the country to rally support behind the successes in World War 1 going into the second world war, successfully convincing the American people.