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Forty-Seven Days: How Pershing's Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War I
The Battle of the Meuse-Argonne stands as the deadliest clash in American history: More than a million untested American soldiers went up against a better-trained and more experienced German army, costing more than twenty-six thousand deaths and leaving nearly a hundred thousand wounded. Yet in forty-seven days of intense combat, those Americans pushed back the enemy and forced the Germans to surrender, bringing the First World War to an end--a feat the British and the French had not achieved after more than three years of fighting. In Forty-Seven Days, historian Mitchell Yockelson tells how General John J. Black Jack Pershing's exemplary leadership led to the unlikeliest of victories. Appointed commander of the American Expeditionary Forces by President Wilson, Pershing personally took command of the U.S. First Army until supplies ran low and the fighting ground to a stalemate. Refusing to admit defeat, Pershing stepped aside and placed gutsy Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett in charge. While Pershing retained command, Liggett reorganized his new unit, resting and resupplying his men, while instilling a confidence in the doughboys that drove them out of the trenches and across no-man's-land.
432 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 18, 2018
Unfortunately this book did not connect with me at all. Just 2 Stars for me. I just didn't get interested in all the discussion and coverage of the generals. It was not an exciting narrative. I found myself wandering off to other books to get a better idea of this period.
March 16, 2016
“Forty-Seven Days” by Mitchell Yockelson is a World War I account of General Pershing and his top commanders during the Meuse Argonne phase from September 26, 1918 to November 11, 1918. In France along the Western Front the American Expeditionary Forces pushed the Germans back with each battle. Pershing was results oriented and his American divisions did not disappoint him. Detailed plans and logistics assisted the warriors on the ground and the aviators in the sky above and with momentum and confidence each victory led to another culminating with Armistice. In their wake was massive death and destruction but the Great War was over.
As we near the 100th Anniversary of WWI this book provides a glimpse into a major portion of America’s involvement. Yockelson has performed much research along with fresh information. I was unaware that General Pershing had a lasting romantic relationship with the much younger Micheline Resco. In addition I was very pleased to notice Marine Corps Major George Hamilton listed in the index.
May 22, 2016
had awaited the arrival of the horde of Americans to reinforce them to end the war, by overwhelming German forces with the large number of new troops. The story of the AEF's role and its leader, Black Jack Pershing, is the centerpiece of this work.
To provide context, we learn of Pershing's background and his rise in the army. He took charge of the Mexican expedition just before the First World War. The early portions of the book also speak to the slow pressures leading the United States into the war. The role played by President Woodrow Wilson is also discussed.
Once The US declared war. a weak military needed to be developed and become a power. The work does a nice job showing how this happened. Troops were not well trained at the outset. Troop ships took Americans to Europe where Pershing and others organized training so that--when the time came--American could contribute to the war effort against Germany. The author does a nice job of exploring the politics of the military. European allies wanted the Americans to go into battle sooner than later--and under European control. Pershing, with the support of his President, resisted.
By 1918, the Americans were ready--and went into combat largely under American leadership. The victories--and the challenges--and the casualties--are well described here, to give a sense of both the costs and benefits of American involvement.
In the end, if you want a sense of the AEF's role, this is a fine work to peruse.
To provide context, we learn of Pershing's background and his rise in the army. He took charge of the Mexican expedition just before the First World War. The early portions of the book also speak to the slow pressures leading the United States into the war. The role played by President Woodrow Wilson is also discussed.
Once The US declared war. a weak military needed to be developed and become a power. The work does a nice job showing how this happened. Troops were not well trained at the outset. Troop ships took Americans to Europe where Pershing and others organized training so that--when the time came--American could contribute to the war effort against Germany. The author does a nice job of exploring the politics of the military. European allies wanted the Americans to go into battle sooner than later--and under European control. Pershing, with the support of his President, resisted.
By 1918, the Americans were ready--and went into combat largely under American leadership. The victories--and the challenges--and the casualties--are well described here, to give a sense of both the costs and benefits of American involvement.
In the end, if you want a sense of the AEF's role, this is a fine work to peruse.
June 27, 2016
This book offers a good, comprehensive account of the Battle of the Meuse-Argonne in which an independent American Army (under the overall command of General John J. Pershing) took part in a key campaign that helped to hasten the end of the First World War.
January 19, 2025
Read for research. This volume is not as comprehensive as Edward G. Lengel's TO CONQUER HELL (which I am still poring through as I write this, only because I am a hardcore note taker). On the other hand, World War I is -- like any major international conflict -- such a complicated affair that you can easily get lost in that these sorts of general books are often quite helpful, lest one fall down a rabbit hole. We get a decent overview of Pershing, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and the specific attitude of Americans (albeit, often at the expense of the British or the French, who WERE there). I'd recommend this book to get a handle on this very important battle, but you're honestly better off with Lengel than Yockelson.
May 7, 2016
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was a huge affair, and as we draw closer to the 100th anniversary of that event we are seeing a spate of books pop up on the subject. This is a good thing, as the battle – the bloodiest America has ever fought; we lost an average of 550 KIA a day for each of the 47 days of the battle, and times three wounded – has been ignored by most historians for far too long. And though Lengal’s fantastic work, ‘To Conquer Hell’, is arguably the first ‘modern’ book to delve into that battle at an individual soldier level spanning across the divisions that participated in it, to balance that effort we needed a similar book told from the perspective of the command structure that engaged the battle.
Now, in Mitch Yokelson’s new book ’47 Days: How Pershing’s Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War 1’, we have just that. Mitch relates the story of the A.E.F. from largely the perspective of General John Pershing himself, as well as the command staff under him. It is a fast paced read, told in an entertaining way, hitting the high notes (as well as low notes) of the A.E.F. experience through the war and in particular the great Meuse-Argonne offensive. It is not a complete history of the A.E.F. nor of the battle; Mitch and I both agree that no one book could possibly cover all that ground to the extent it needs covering. Instead his work here serves as an illustration of what it took, from the top down, to deal not only with handling our first effort at a coalition war in conjunction with allies who saw the American army as largely nothing more than a replacement depot for their own depleted ranks, but also with a staff of career army officers with their own ambitions, attitudes and prejudices; some of which did not necessarily marry well with their commander’s philosophy of how that war was to be fought. Through it all Mitch takes the issues to hand well, making for a very balanced effort and well told. His prose is smooth and very enjoyable here.
And while Yokelson will readily admit he is an ardent admirer of Pershing, he doesn’t give the man a pass for the mistakes he made or the lapses in judgement. One example would be where, toward the end of the Meuse-Argonne, Mitch well illustrates how, after Pershing handed control of 1st Army over to General Hunter Liggett, Pershing became something of a busy-body, seemingly hunched over the general’s shoulder the whole time he prepared the final drives that would end the war. Conversely, he does an excellent job at illustrating exactly just why Pershing pushed the war right up until the final minutes on November 11th; something that has caused endless debate among historians. (Virtually no one believed the Germans would quit when they said they would, nor stay down long if they did. It was almost inconceivable they would acquis to the harsh demands of the armistice.) Love him or hate him, Pershing performed a difficult task that had never been done by an American general before, and overall did a decent job. This book illustrates that and does so extremely well. Again, it is not a complete history of the A.E.F., nor is it a battle worthy assessment as well illustrated in Mark Grotelueschen’s fine work, ‘The AEF Way of War’. Rather it shows the progression of an army, which did not exist in April, 1917, into a war-winning entity – not in heavy detail (again, it would take a multi-volume work to accomplish that) but as an overall ‘story’ which will appeal to general readers, not just WW1 historians or students of military history.
I think the best aspect of the book though, is the connection Yokelson demonstrates between the doughboys and himself. Having spent as much time as he has in the WW1 records at the National Archives in College Park, MD (Mitch was a senior archivist there for years and few know those records as he does), it is plain that he has grown to understand the attitudes and perceptions of the men and boys who fought that war and I think this is paramount to writing about them. All too often writers make the mistake of seeing the war exclusively through modern eyes, and thus with nearly 100 years of experience behind them. It is imperative when writing about the doughboys that one try and make contact with them and see things as they did, erasing what we know of what happened in the next 100 years and judging the war and their experiences in the A.E.F. as they might have. For a writer to achieve this connection, not over-do it, and get the message across to a modern reader is a wonderful accomplishment. Mitch Yokelson does so here admirably.
This book has already taken a space on my top shelf, alongside the other important works on the war I turn to. I highly recommend this work. Well done Mitch; well done indeed.
Now, in Mitch Yokelson’s new book ’47 Days: How Pershing’s Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War 1’, we have just that. Mitch relates the story of the A.E.F. from largely the perspective of General John Pershing himself, as well as the command staff under him. It is a fast paced read, told in an entertaining way, hitting the high notes (as well as low notes) of the A.E.F. experience through the war and in particular the great Meuse-Argonne offensive. It is not a complete history of the A.E.F. nor of the battle; Mitch and I both agree that no one book could possibly cover all that ground to the extent it needs covering. Instead his work here serves as an illustration of what it took, from the top down, to deal not only with handling our first effort at a coalition war in conjunction with allies who saw the American army as largely nothing more than a replacement depot for their own depleted ranks, but also with a staff of career army officers with their own ambitions, attitudes and prejudices; some of which did not necessarily marry well with their commander’s philosophy of how that war was to be fought. Through it all Mitch takes the issues to hand well, making for a very balanced effort and well told. His prose is smooth and very enjoyable here.
And while Yokelson will readily admit he is an ardent admirer of Pershing, he doesn’t give the man a pass for the mistakes he made or the lapses in judgement. One example would be where, toward the end of the Meuse-Argonne, Mitch well illustrates how, after Pershing handed control of 1st Army over to General Hunter Liggett, Pershing became something of a busy-body, seemingly hunched over the general’s shoulder the whole time he prepared the final drives that would end the war. Conversely, he does an excellent job at illustrating exactly just why Pershing pushed the war right up until the final minutes on November 11th; something that has caused endless debate among historians. (Virtually no one believed the Germans would quit when they said they would, nor stay down long if they did. It was almost inconceivable they would acquis to the harsh demands of the armistice.) Love him or hate him, Pershing performed a difficult task that had never been done by an American general before, and overall did a decent job. This book illustrates that and does so extremely well. Again, it is not a complete history of the A.E.F., nor is it a battle worthy assessment as well illustrated in Mark Grotelueschen’s fine work, ‘The AEF Way of War’. Rather it shows the progression of an army, which did not exist in April, 1917, into a war-winning entity – not in heavy detail (again, it would take a multi-volume work to accomplish that) but as an overall ‘story’ which will appeal to general readers, not just WW1 historians or students of military history.
I think the best aspect of the book though, is the connection Yokelson demonstrates between the doughboys and himself. Having spent as much time as he has in the WW1 records at the National Archives in College Park, MD (Mitch was a senior archivist there for years and few know those records as he does), it is plain that he has grown to understand the attitudes and perceptions of the men and boys who fought that war and I think this is paramount to writing about them. All too often writers make the mistake of seeing the war exclusively through modern eyes, and thus with nearly 100 years of experience behind them. It is imperative when writing about the doughboys that one try and make contact with them and see things as they did, erasing what we know of what happened in the next 100 years and judging the war and their experiences in the A.E.F. as they might have. For a writer to achieve this connection, not over-do it, and get the message across to a modern reader is a wonderful accomplishment. Mitch Yokelson does so here admirably.
This book has already taken a space on my top shelf, alongside the other important works on the war I turn to. I highly recommend this work. Well done Mitch; well done indeed.
April 28, 2016
On November 11, 1918, the armistice between the Allied and German governments was declared. All fighting stopped and peace was proclaimed. But the preceding 6 weeks had hardly been quiet. The battles in the Meuse-Argonne and St Mihiel kept the war going. It is this six week period that author Mitchell Yockelson covers in his new book, "Forty-seven Days: How Pershing's Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the Germans". Like many recent books about WW1, Yockelson takes a small period of time and covers it in depth.
Although the war in Europe had begun in August, 1914, the Americans had not entered the war until April, 1917, and we were slowly building up troop levels and war materiel to send to France. General John J Pershing - "Black Jack" - was appointed to command the troops and he came to France (and England) to meet the French and British commanders already fighting the Germans. Pershing did not want to give up US command to the Allied leaders. The American Expeditionary Forces were to fight under Pershing. Jack Pershing was an interesting fellow and Yockelson gives his background and how he rose through the ranks (somewhat due to a "helpful" marriage to a Senator's daughter?) to his position. But Yockelson also gives plenty of bio-time to the other Allied commanders (and to the Germans) as well as Pershing's aides, many of whom found greater glory as WW2 leaders.
Yockelson does a great job in writing about those last battles of the war and looked at the men who fought. He doesn't forget the ladies; the female telephone operators - fluent in French - who were brought over from the US to man the phones at the various headquarters. His book tells of the "Lost Battalion", an American battalion stuck for weeks behind the German lines and the various means tried to rescue them. Yockelson has written a very personal book, looking at the micro-level of the war. He also includes good maps and photographs. Excellent for the armchair historian.
Although the war in Europe had begun in August, 1914, the Americans had not entered the war until April, 1917, and we were slowly building up troop levels and war materiel to send to France. General John J Pershing - "Black Jack" - was appointed to command the troops and he came to France (and England) to meet the French and British commanders already fighting the Germans. Pershing did not want to give up US command to the Allied leaders. The American Expeditionary Forces were to fight under Pershing. Jack Pershing was an interesting fellow and Yockelson gives his background and how he rose through the ranks (somewhat due to a "helpful" marriage to a Senator's daughter?) to his position. But Yockelson also gives plenty of bio-time to the other Allied commanders (and to the Germans) as well as Pershing's aides, many of whom found greater glory as WW2 leaders.
Yockelson does a great job in writing about those last battles of the war and looked at the men who fought. He doesn't forget the ladies; the female telephone operators - fluent in French - who were brought over from the US to man the phones at the various headquarters. His book tells of the "Lost Battalion", an American battalion stuck for weeks behind the German lines and the various means tried to rescue them. Yockelson has written a very personal book, looking at the micro-level of the war. He also includes good maps and photographs. Excellent for the armchair historian.
November 6, 2016
A decent-enough account of the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Makes the grandiose claim that this offensive above all the others in the "Hundred Days" commanded German attention and drove the decision to seek an armistice, but really doesn't back it up besides proffering a few quotes from Hindenburg and others, all of whom after the war clearly had incentives to blame defeat on the inexhaustible supply of Americans and not the superior operational performance of the Allied armies (particularly the BEF and select French armies) under Foch in 1918. I decided to read this hoping for a convincing rebuttal of some of the claims in British- or French-focused works about the incompetence of the Americans in staff functions, logistics, and even Pershing's basic strategic vision concerning the Meuse-Argonne, and found little to counterbalance those claims. Yockelson clearly does not intend it, but his lavish portrayal of Pershing's strength of character and discipline, and the courage and tenacity of the average American rifleman is so complete that, by comparison, the lack of equivalent comment on planning, staff work, tactical and operational leadership in the AEF, and the basic soundness of Pershing's strategic vision almost confirms the Anglo-French claims of American incompetence by its silence.
One other comment - this book (at least the Kindle and Audible versions) are riddled with minor errors that probably mean little to the average reader, but probably should not have made it through the editing process and detract from the overall scholarship of the book. Troy Middleton became a Lieutenant General and commanded the VIII Corps in World War II, not the 8th Division as a Major General. Various unit designations, descriptions of pieces of equipment, etc. are also wrong.
One other comment - this book (at least the Kindle and Audible versions) are riddled with minor errors that probably mean little to the average reader, but probably should not have made it through the editing process and detract from the overall scholarship of the book. Troy Middleton became a Lieutenant General and commanded the VIII Corps in World War II, not the 8th Division as a Major General. Various unit designations, descriptions of pieces of equipment, etc. are also wrong.
September 1, 2016
One outstanding read from Mitchell Yockelson. The "Green" American troops led by General John J. "Black Jack" Pershing came of age in this very detailed and descriptive account. Another sequel to David v Goliath, how our First Army overcame tremendous odds to squelch the more seasoned and battle tuned Germans. Incredible story with the insight into the Meuse-Argonne the bloodiest clash in American History will captivate any reader. The personalities are here with Black Jack, Hunter Liggett, Douglas MacArthur, George C Marshall, Harry S Truman, Eddie Rickenbacker,"Galloping Charlie"Whittlesey, George C Scott and Indiana's own Sam Woodfill to name just a few. Major General John Lejeune, the Marine's Marine" and the "greatest of Leathernecks" and how his "Indianhead" Division was called upon repeatedly when things simply had to be done is more than remarkable. The US fought two wars in this theater, the Germans and our allies- the French and the Brits. The true grit of the American Doughboy will inspire all readers for they were the cause of this great defeat of German forces that will awe one through infinity.
June 1, 2016
My knowledge of WW I in general and the US role in particular has always been lacking. This is a good place to start, even though it begins at the end (from the end of September to November 11). Yockelson draws a clear picture of how the American army turned the fortunes of war for the allies in 1918. It focuses on the battle of the Meuse-Argonnne and tells the story of how Pershing's army grew up into a war machine capable of taking the battle to the enemy everywhere. It brings the horror of World War I to a level the reader can understand. Lots of famous characters show up including Pershing, Patton, Billy Mitchell, and Rickenbacker.
There are several maps, though not quite detailed enough to always follow the narration.
There are several maps, though not quite detailed enough to always follow the narration.
April 15, 2016
I found this book to be a fast read that made me want to keep turning pages. It was well written and very informative. It provided a great perspective on America's role in the first world war. After reading this I have a much more thorough understanding of how the tide chart in the last months of the great war. I will look for more things by this author to read.
January 22, 2017
Readable but ultimately disappointing.
5/10
5/10
February 11, 2023
This would have been a great book in the 1960s or 1970s, but is severely lacking by today's standards.
The book is incredibly rah-rah jingoistic American, with very little relevant context or critical analysis. It takes old American sources at face value, lacks any criticality of American performance, the comparisons with similar actions by other Allies is completely misleading, perpetuates myths that were discredited decades ago, and it doesn't even have an order of battle for the Germans.
I'll start with the lack of order of battle. I couldn't find any German order of battle for the St Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne battles, and this book certainly doesn't have one. It's mention of the opposition they faced is fragmentary and desultory. The book gives a vague idea that the German forces facing the Americans were understrength and third rate troops, but this is glossed over in the interests of making the American achievement sound better, despite often attacking with 10:1 odds and heavy casualties.
Myths and misinformation such as the unreliability of the Chauchat machine-gun and in-line aero engines using castor oil reveal more about Yockelson's outdated sources and lack of detailed knowledge of the subject than they do about the actual events.
The comparisons with British and French performance are ridiculous. For instance it is mentioned that the French took 30-40,000 casualties trying to take the salient in 1915, while the Americans took it easily. What they don't mention is that it was the focus of a major battle in 1915 between the creme of the French and German armies, while in 1918, there was only a tiny rearguard holding it while the rest of the German defenders retreated to a better defensive position. In one key position, the Germans had a whole 75 troops to oppose an American division.
The first phase of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive could have profitably been compared to the Second Battle of Arras eighteen months earlier. In that a similar-sized British force launched an attack against a similar-sized German force. In both cases, the attacks took the Allies through the German forward defences and to the main German defensive lines. The attacks took about the same length of time. Comparisons between the British and American experiences would have been useful. Likewise, comparisons between the American attacks and the british attacks happening at the same time would have given context. Instead, Yockelson chooses to paint the Americans as all-conquering supermen, with nothing to really back it up (partly I suspect, because such comparisions would show the inexperience of the Americans and the cost in unnecessary casualties).
One example of this is an attack made without enough bombardment to cut the wire, and little surprise. This was similar to the Australian 4th Division at First Bullecourt nearly two years earlier. The Australian division was almost destroyed for no gain, while the Americans succeeded. Why? Because the opposition they faced in their suicidal attack was so weak, it was unable to punish them for their ineptitude.
All-in-all, it is an uncritical paen to an American myth rather than a useful history of the battles it covers.
The book is incredibly rah-rah jingoistic American, with very little relevant context or critical analysis. It takes old American sources at face value, lacks any criticality of American performance, the comparisons with similar actions by other Allies is completely misleading, perpetuates myths that were discredited decades ago, and it doesn't even have an order of battle for the Germans.
I'll start with the lack of order of battle. I couldn't find any German order of battle for the St Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne battles, and this book certainly doesn't have one. It's mention of the opposition they faced is fragmentary and desultory. The book gives a vague idea that the German forces facing the Americans were understrength and third rate troops, but this is glossed over in the interests of making the American achievement sound better, despite often attacking with 10:1 odds and heavy casualties.
Myths and misinformation such as the unreliability of the Chauchat machine-gun and in-line aero engines using castor oil reveal more about Yockelson's outdated sources and lack of detailed knowledge of the subject than they do about the actual events.
The comparisons with British and French performance are ridiculous. For instance it is mentioned that the French took 30-40,000 casualties trying to take the salient in 1915, while the Americans took it easily. What they don't mention is that it was the focus of a major battle in 1915 between the creme of the French and German armies, while in 1918, there was only a tiny rearguard holding it while the rest of the German defenders retreated to a better defensive position. In one key position, the Germans had a whole 75 troops to oppose an American division.
The first phase of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive could have profitably been compared to the Second Battle of Arras eighteen months earlier. In that a similar-sized British force launched an attack against a similar-sized German force. In both cases, the attacks took the Allies through the German forward defences and to the main German defensive lines. The attacks took about the same length of time. Comparisons between the British and American experiences would have been useful. Likewise, comparisons between the American attacks and the british attacks happening at the same time would have given context. Instead, Yockelson chooses to paint the Americans as all-conquering supermen, with nothing to really back it up (partly I suspect, because such comparisions would show the inexperience of the Americans and the cost in unnecessary casualties).
One example of this is an attack made without enough bombardment to cut the wire, and little surprise. This was similar to the Australian 4th Division at First Bullecourt nearly two years earlier. The Australian division was almost destroyed for no gain, while the Americans succeeded. Why? Because the opposition they faced in their suicidal attack was so weak, it was unable to punish them for their ineptitude.
All-in-all, it is an uncritical paen to an American myth rather than a useful history of the battles it covers.
May 17, 2021
I liked this book. I thought it was very interesting. This WWI book about the American Doughboys was quite interesting. I am quite familiar with WWII but had somehow always over looked learning about WWI other than to know that it involved trench warfare.
Yockelson throws a lot names and dates at the reader, but I don't know how this book could have been written without that information. I liked how he drew Douglass MacArthur and George Patten and others into the narrative. Names that my generation are familiar with for their importance in WWII. Eventually, I had to just let the names and places and dates wash on past and had to get on with the story line.
I had always heard of Pershing. We have the Pershing Missiles that were set up in Germany as a deterrent for Soviet aggression. The Pershing Tank that was in service in the 50's. But, I really didn't have a good idea of how John J (Black Jack) Pershing was. That is the main reason that I picked up this book and decided to read it.
Yockelson throws a lot names and dates at the reader, but I don't know how this book could have been written without that information. I liked how he drew Douglass MacArthur and George Patten and others into the narrative. Names that my generation are familiar with for their importance in WWII. Eventually, I had to just let the names and places and dates wash on past and had to get on with the story line.
I had always heard of Pershing. We have the Pershing Missiles that were set up in Germany as a deterrent for Soviet aggression. The Pershing Tank that was in service in the 50's. But, I really didn't have a good idea of how John J (Black Jack) Pershing was. That is the main reason that I picked up this book and decided to read it.
June 17, 2017
An inaccurate title. This book only took 46 days for me to read. (Seriously, 46 days.)
World War 1 is hard to place into a followable narrative. Even at this level, the final 47 days in which the AEF conducted the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, various stories at various levels with various units and people become hard to follow. Units appear and disappear out of nowhere. What this book needed was a bit more length to get some of those details in there. It also needed many more maps to help visualize the situation.
Where Mr. Yockelson does very well is where the war allows for an easier narrative. The stories of Sgt. York and the Lost Battalion are clear and to the point. (Although maps would have been nice here also.
I'm glad I read the book, but I think I will look for other books on the Meuse-Argonne to fill in some of the details and questions that linger in my minde
World War 1 is hard to place into a followable narrative. Even at this level, the final 47 days in which the AEF conducted the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives, various stories at various levels with various units and people become hard to follow. Units appear and disappear out of nowhere. What this book needed was a bit more length to get some of those details in there. It also needed many more maps to help visualize the situation.
Where Mr. Yockelson does very well is where the war allows for an easier narrative. The stories of Sgt. York and the Lost Battalion are clear and to the point. (Although maps would have been nice here also.
I'm glad I read the book, but I think I will look for other books on the Meuse-Argonne to fill in some of the details and questions that linger in my minde
January 5, 2017
A really interesting description of the US involvement in WW I. Lots of battle detail - one might say too much, but this is what the book is about, so I don't think it is too much. Lots of information about General Pershing. During parts of the book I felt like I was in the opening battle scene of the movie Saving Private Ryan. I gained a depth of understanding of WW I that I did not have before.
I liked the little side stories about particular aspects of the war effort, like the information about the Pigeon Service.
The only real shortcoming of the book is that I still don't understand why the American forces prevailed when the other Allied (primarily British and French) could not. Was it simply that the addition of another million soldiers overwhelmed the already weakened Germans? I think that might be it, but I'm unclear on the point.
I liked the little side stories about particular aspects of the war effort, like the information about the Pigeon Service.
The only real shortcoming of the book is that I still don't understand why the American forces prevailed when the other Allied (primarily British and French) could not. Was it simply that the addition of another million soldiers overwhelmed the already weakened Germans? I think that might be it, but I'm unclear on the point.
June 13, 2019
As the cover jacket states, this is the gripping account of the U.S. First Army's astonishing triumph over the Germans in America's bloodiest battle of the First World War-the Battle of Emuse Argonne. Again, I hoped to learn some insight into my grandfather's unit's role in WWI and I was again disappointed in that aspect. I was however astonished at how US forces was basically able to come into a war that was basically at a stalemate and (spoiler alert) win a decisive victory over the Huns. I especially enjoyed the short biographies of some of the more well known participants like Harry S Truman, George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Alvin York and Edddie Rickenbacker. I especially enjoyed learning about "Black Jack" Pershing, so much so that I read a biography on the General.
November 26, 2018
I had this book referenced in an article about the US army chasing Pancho Villa into Mexico after Villa raided Columbus, NM in March of 1916. I was led to believe that this book would be about that part of the army that went after Villa. Although the book touched on that campaign in the first 10 pages, the rest of the book was about WWI. My grandfather had been a part of that campaign and I wanted to learn more about it and the men who were involved. So instead I got my post-100 Year Anniversary of the end of WWl history lesson. If you want to learn about the US part in the First World War, this is a good place to start.
May 1, 2018
This book is good to read if you are interested in the American involvement of WWI. From the start of Americans joining in on the war and till the end of the war, there are many great individual stories of famous and some not so well known Americans who fought valiantly in the war. My favorite story is the Lost Battalion. Not only will you read a soldiers story in the war you will also read plenty about General Perishing and how he lead the Dough Boy's to victory. Overall this is a great book to read if you are ever into any World War type of book.
December 2, 2020
I enjoyed this. But the audio version suffered from perfect pronunciation of French names and a heavily accented stab at the English names - an unhappy ratio, given the relative frequencies involved. But I got the main contours: the Meuse-Argonne offensive was Pershing and the American doughboys testing ground. They passed.
November 18, 2018
“The United States Army would come of age during the horrific battle through trial and error, largely due to the leadership of one single American: John J. Pershing.” ~ Mitchell Yockelson, Forty-Seven Days: How Pershing's Warriors Came of Age to Defeat the German Army in World War I
May 27, 2017
The story of the American entry into World War I. Pershing , Lajuene, Rickenbacker, names I have heard and knew tiny bits and pieces about. This tale tells of their great deeds. A very good read.
December 29, 2017
Readable and good overview of the Meuse-Argonne battle without bogging down in excessive detail regarding troop/unit movements.
November 28, 2018
I think this one suffers from too much detail. Just way too many units and divisions to keep track of but the overall story is interesting.
January 7, 2021
Good info, and flows well, but it doesn't have a story. It was never clear to me why they titled it 47 days.
December 16, 2022
Good book on the American sacrifice in the forgotten World War. Well written book, could have used better maps but overall I would recommend.
March 29, 2018
Not a horrible book, but could have been a lot better. This book reminds me of some of the British books I have that includes so much minor details that it overwhelms the narrative. The author does a really good job introducing people in the story, but then losses it with way too much detail. Admittedly, reading this on a Kindle made it harder to follow than a normal book. I think the author also would have focused a little bit on other parts of the Western Front at the time to give a more complete picture.
November 13, 2018
A solid overview of Pershing's Meuse Argonne offensive during the First World War. Yockelson spends the first roughly third of the book delving into Pershing's life and his development as a tactician and strategist--most of which I found particularly fascinating. His narration of the campaign sticks to a fairly standard operational and battle narrative that most people will find engaging. Yockelson does especially well balancing the birds-eye view of the campaign with on-the-ground narration from participants. I will probably use some of this book as basis for lectures in the future.
July 26, 2016
From New Book Network: "National Archives historian and forensic archivist Mitchell Yockelson reappraises the American Expeditionary Force’s performance under the command of General John J. Pershing. Accordingly, the American forces’ combat experience in the September to November 1918 Meuse-Argonne Campaign is shown to be far more pivotal to Allied victory than allowed for in the standard Anglo-centric literature of the conflict. Even as Pershing’s army acquired its craft in hard fighting against an increasingly implacable and desperate German opponent, the men of the A.E.F. proved to be relentless in their efforts to clear the densely wooded and fortified forest that had resisted French efforts for the previous four years. Yockelson’s account of the campaign is even-handed and well-written, providing the foundation for an interesting conversation about the book and his own approach to writing and interpreting history from a wide range of primary and secondary sources."
July 31, 2018
This book gives you a good overview of Pershing’s command during the final battles of world war 1
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