Over There: The United States in the Great War, 1917-1918

If I did not read this book, I would not have been a history major.

"Over There" is an eloquent telling of the story of the American involvement in World War I. It covers all aspects of the American experience including domestic society and politics, army organization and soldier heroism.In the early parts of the book, Farwell explains the series of German actions which gradually drove an isolationist nation to war. The tug of war, between interventionists such as Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, and isolationists lead by Sen Robert LaFollette, left Woodrow Wilson in the middle, his actions pleasing to no one. We read of the extreme Anti-German frenzy which arose after the declaration of war. The frenzy manifested itself in drill sergeants who repeated false reports of German atrocities, Billy Sunday's assertion that "If you turned Hell upside down you would find "Made in Germany" on the bottom' and mobs which stoned dashounds. Although Liberty Cabbage and Liberty Pups reverted to Sauerkraut and dashounds, German Shepherds remained Police Dogs and wristwatches, necessitated by uniforms devoid of watch pockets, remained popular.With the declaration of war the problems turned to mobilization and equipment. One thing which surprised me was the meager American industrial contribution to the war. Where were the railroads and industry which had been so crucial to North victory in the Civil War, the arsenal of Democracy to come in World War II or the creators of cruise missiles and smart bombs? In World War I the U. S. was definitely a supplier of raw man power to use French and British aircraft and artillery.General Perhsing's struggle to organize and preserve an American Army gets appropriate attention. With the introduction of U. S. Troops into battle the focus shifts to heroes and battles. Eddie Richenbacher, Quintin Roosevelt and Alvin York are just a few of the heroes mentioned. This book is not all praise, however. American shortfalls are reported and Pershing's leadership is critically examined.Woodrow Wilson is the leader whose performance seemed to alienate almost everyone. To interventionists, including Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson was slow to enter the war, deficient in mobilization and weak in accepting an armistice, rather than demanding unconditional surrender.This book is readable, enjoyable and informative. I highly recommend it for anyone with an interest in U. S. involvement in World War I.

This books is a good introduction or overview of America's involvement in World War I. It's clearly written and not to dense, although I have noticed several editorial errors throughout the text (one paragraph refers to the same person with two different names). I also like that Farwell has included chapters about the home front during the war, giving us an idea of what the rest of America was doing during the war, not just the soldiers. If you're looking for a strictly military history of World War I or a book that goes into a lot of detail about the war, this one isn't for you. Likewise, it doesn't cover much of the three or four years before America entered the war (which is beyond the scope of this book). But it is enjoyable and informative reading that can serve as a springboard for further study of WWI.

I have always been a Civil War buff, but in order to "expand my historical horizons" I read this book. I had a Great grandfather that fought in the war and I wanted to learn more about it. This book was a wonderful and entertaining book to read. It gives the reader an insight on how the average soldier spent his time during and away from the war. The book focuses on not only the horrors of the war, but it also contains many humerous stories that had me laughing out loud! I sincerely enjoyed this book. Anyone with a curiosity for this time period should read it.

Over There cronicles the United States' contribution to allied efforts in World War I, both in Europe and here at home. Farwell's book is well researched and insightful. Especially interesting is Farwell's contention that by not forcing the Germans into a total surrender (as some generals wanted) we set the stage for World War II by allowing the Germans to put their own spin on the war's end. He draws a comparison to our recent decision during the Gulf War not to force Hussein out of power, thus enabling him to continue his antics in the middle east. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in 20th Century history and World War I in particular.