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World War One
The Yankee Division played a key role among many other US military groups in the sucess of the Allied powers in World War One. When the US joined the war the fighting was locked in a stalemate as both sides were dug into trenchs. The energy and moral boost given by the arrival of American Troops greatly affected the outcome of the war. The Yankee Division played a key role as they made up a large portion of early American Troops to arrive in France during the war fighting in key battles. -
US Entrance into World War One
After Woodrow Wilson's speech asking for a declaration of war, the United States Congress votes to declare war on Germany and its allies joining the Allied Powers in World War One. -
Yankee Division Organized
Organized in August 1917 by Brig. Gen. Clarence Edwards. Consisting of mainly all new england national guard units. Headquarters established in Boston. Consisted of 27,000 men. A press conference occurred to determine the nickname for the 26th Infantry division; they adopted the suggestion of the “Yankee Division” because “All New Englanders are Yankees.” -
Arrival in France
The first groups of the 26th Infantry Division known as the Yankee Division arrive in France. This fresh group of troops including the Yankee Division gave a significant boost to the Allied Powers moral and efforts contributing greatly to the outcome of the war. -
Yankee Division Spirits High
By September 1 the unit’s “community spirit” was high because its members came from one relatively small, but populated region of the United States with many veterans of the Mexican Expedition, having joined as “volunteers for service rather than for pay,” -
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Yankee Division Makes its way to France
The first units of the 26th shipped out from east coast ports and Montreal for England in September and early October 1917. The last elements arrived at Brest in December, 1917. -
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Yankee Division Training in France
After moving from Southampton to France, training began near Neufchâteau in January, 1918. The 26th was the first of only two American divisions, the other being the 1st, to nearly complete the full training cycle before being committed to battle in late February 1918. -
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Yankee Division on the Line
The 26th Infantry Division fought at Château Thierry, St. Mihiel, and Troyon and took part in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The Division was on the line 192 days from March, 1918 until the Armistice and took almost 16,000 casualties. -
The battle at Château Thierry
The Yankee Division lead by the Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces John Pershing, experienced their first comabt at the battle of Château Thierry. -
The battle of St. Mihiel
The battle of St. Mihiel took place from September 12th to September 15th 1918. This battle marked the first coutner offensive lead by Americans against the Germans. The Yankee Division played a key role in this battle as a strong member of the AEFs present during this offensive. -
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive lasted from September 26, 1918 until the end of World War One. This offensive lead by over a million American Troops including that of the Yankee Division ended the stalemate with the Germans in the trenches and was the last major conflict of the war. -
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World War Two
World War Two lasting from September 1st, 1939 to September 2nd 1945 is the deadliest and largest war seen. The American Troops in this war played a large role in ensuring the sucess of the Allied Powers. The Yankee Division in this war participated and played a large role in many key battles including, the battle of the bulge, Moncourt Woods, Morville-les-vic, and many others. These Yankee Division played a key role in the liberation of France from German control leading to success in the war. -
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7th, 1941 the Japanase launched a suprise attack on the US military base in Pearl Harbor. This attack on American land sparked the United States Congress to declare war against the Axis Powers and the United States officially joined World War Two. -
Arrival at Normandy
After joining the effots of World War Two the first goal of the Americans was the help liberate France. The Battle of Normandy commonly referred to as Doom-Day or D-Day. The Allied Powers vicotry at Normandy allowed for many US troops including the Yankee Division to land in France at Utah beach a few months later to join the counter offensive as part of the liberation efforts in France. -
Battle for Moncourt Woods
During the war the Germans had set up an observation post on a hill in a small forest outside the village of Moncourt in France. The Yankee Division was tasked with taking this post from the Germans on October 22, 1944 and two days later the attack was made and the division succesfully overtook the post. -
The battle for Morville-les-Vic
As part of the Third Army’s “Lorraine Offensive” the yankee division launched a major attack in the direction of morville-les-vic, France. Shown above is a map of the area around Morville-les-Vic which was a key area in France for German defenses. This effort by the Yankee Division greatly affected the war as they were able to sucessfully go on the offensive against the German army helping the sucess of the Allied Powers. -
Battle of the Bulge
During World War Two the Germans attempted to launch a counter offensive back into France to reclaim the land that they had took earlier in the war. The Yankee Division played a key role in this battle as they were moved to Luxembourg where they were to defend from a German offensive. The Yankee division defending this position was vital for the Allied Powers as if the German had broken through they would have been able to move back into France and regain lost territory.