On April 6, 1917, the United States congress voted to formally enter World War I. More than two years of war had been waged in Europe, as the U.S. tried to remain neutral. In early 1917, German submarine attacks on all ships bound for England resumed, adding to the building pressure to join the war against the German Empire and the Central Powers, which led President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress to declare war. I’ve covered World War I extensively before, in the 10-part series World War I in Photos. Today, a collection of relatively-unseen images from a century ago, focusing on American war involvement, some on the home front, some overseas, and some images of their allies and enemies as well.
100 Years Ago, the United States Entered World War I
-
Original caption: Automatic rifle team ready for action. Manned by Pvt. J.H. Maxwell and Pvt. E.A. Sullivan, Co. B, 137th Infantry Regiment, near [unintelligible] Germany. Aug. 1918. #
National World War I Museum and Memorial -
-
Original caption: One of the signs of America's entry into the war, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Notice of mail suspension with Central Powers, posted in the main post office, April 15, 1917. #
Felix J. Koch / U.S. national Archives -
-
American soldiers drilling at home. Original caption: Men in the trenches with gas masks on ready to go over the top. Presidio Barracks, San Francisco, California, in June of 1918. #
Charles Feinberg / U.S. National Archives -
-
-
Experimenting with dazzle camouflage patterns. Original caption: Experiments on models of vessels to illustrate various methods of camouflage on different types of ships. Camouflage department, U.S. Navy, Washington, DC. #
U.S. National Archives -
Once painted, the camouflaged ships would be placed on a tabletop to be viewed through a periscope, simulating conditions at sea, to evaluate the effectiveness of the patterns. Original caption: Models of two ships on same line of direction, one plain, and the other dazzled. This method of camouflage was used on battleships and transports to deceive U-Boat commanders and make correct aim difficult. #
U.S. National Archives -
-
Original caption: Physical training twenty-two stories in the air. Men and girls employed by the New York State Industrial Commission going through physical exercises designed for the National Security League, on the roof of the Victoria Building in New York. #
U.S. National Archives -
Original caption: Three motorcycle dispatch bearers in training at the U.S. Training Detachment School in Richmond, Virginia, wearing their gas masks, ready to start on a dispatch carrying trip in an exhibition. #
U.S. National Archives -
-
Original caption: Wives and mothers of men at the front, being instructed in shooting at the Wakefield rifle range in Wakefield, Massachusetts, by Major Portal and U.S. Marines. #
Richard W. Sears / U.S. National Archives -
-
Original caption: Carrier pigeons are being trained for service with the armies abroad and here. A pigeon section of the Signal Corps has been established under the command of Major Griffith, and a flight was held in May of 1918, from Washington to New York. A flock of 3,500 birds made the trip. #
U.S. National Archives -
Soldiers playing baseball while wearing gas masks. Original caption: It is not troubling these soldiers any to play ball while wearing their gas masks. Gas Defense Plant, Long Island, New York. #
U.S. National Archives -
-
Original caption: War horse being well cared for in the big conflict. The average life of a horse in the war zone is six weeks. Scene in a German veterinary hospital in the field. A horse, being wounded by shrapnel, is being made ready for an operation. #
U.S. National Archives -
-
-
Original caption: War news printed right before your eyes is the latest method of displaying bulletins by big newspapers. The mechanical bulletin printing machines in the window of a Cincinnati newspaper. It is a linotype machine and a printing press combined. #
J.R. Schmidt / U.S. National Archives -
-
-
Original caption: Some of the colored men of the 369th (15th, NY) who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action. Front row, left-to-right: Private Eagle Eye, Ed Williams; Lamp Light, Herbert Taylor; Private Leon Fraitor; Private Kid Hawk, Ralph Hawkins. Back row, left-to-right: Sgt. H.D. Prinas; Sgt. Dan Storms, Private Kid Woney, Joe Williams; Private "Kid Buck", Alfred Hanley; and Corporal T.W. Taylor. #
U.S. National Archives -
-
British fleet in the Firth of Forth. Original caption: taken from a rigid balloon showing the English fleet in the Firth of Forth where the German fleet was turned over to the allies. #
U.S. National Archives -
Original caption: The torpedo-aeroplane, a new arm precluded by armistice. Among new devices which armistice prevented Royal Air Force from putting into use against enemy was the torpedo-aeroplane. #
U.S. National Archives -
Original caption: The Leviathan that brought back 166th Infantry. The Leviathan returned with 12,000 of our boys from France. Among them were the 166th Infantry, 42, Rainbow Division. #
U.S. National Archives -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.