About this Chapter

Weapons of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive explores the world’s first industrial war, where centuries-old military tactics met modern technology, leading to immense destruction. The U.S.’s greatest battle of the Great War was a 47-day offensive in northeastern France. This chapter examines the impact of modern weapons on military tactics and their toll on soldiers.

Key Questions:

• How were these weapons used in the Meuse-Argonne?
• What was the best way to fight in the Meuse-Argonne region?
• What legacy did these weapons leave behind?

This chapter is part of the iBook Bringing the Great War Home: Teaching With The Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, produced by ABMC in partnership with Learn NC and Virginia Tech. You can access individual elements here on ABMC.gov or download the full iBook from iTunes.

In this Chapter:

• Section 1: Introduction
• Section 2: How Should America Fight the Great War in the Meuse-Argonne?
• Section 3: How Did Poison Gas Change Warfare?
• Section 4: Meuse-Argonne Case Study: How Does Open Warfare Lead to a Pistol Duel?
• Section 5: What Was the Legacy Left by the Weapons Used during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive?
• Section 6: A Menu of Instructional Options
• Section 7: Bibliography
• Section 8: Video and Audio Transcripts
• Section 9: Credits and Disclaimer
• Download the Full Chapter

Chapter Materials

• Preface and Acknowledgements (PDF)
• Parker Audio (MP3)
• Pershing Audio (MP3)
• Kyler Audio (MP3)
• Ferguson Audio (MP3)
• A Luger’s Story (PDF)
• Great War Debate Resources (PDF)
• Poison Gas Op-Ed Work Packet (PDF)
• Quote Analysis Slideshow (PPTX)
• Persuasive Argument Slideshow (PPTX)
• Download Full Chapter (PDF)