ABSTRACT
Although almost thirty nations took part in the conflict, with campaigns in Italy, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, most of the fighting took place on two fronts. In the west, France and Great Britain, later joined by the United States, opposed Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The war had begun with Germany's invasion of Belgium and its penetration of France to the outskirts of Paris. The European alliances that fought the war were forged during the first decade of the century. American writers during and immediately after the war portrayed a militaristic Germany as the chief culprit. The United States had embarked upon a limited "preparedness" campaign before entering the war, but it was unable to provide immediate military help to the Allies beyond "show the flag" detachments. When American troops finally landed in France in large numbers, a dispute arose over how to use them. British armies were exhausted, and the French were in even worse shape.
