WEST POINT CLASSES IN THE GREAT WAR

West Point classes before the Great War was the main source of officers guiding the U.S. Army.  The huge mobilization meant an equal increase in the officer corps which West Point could not begin to cover.  But the officers with West Point in their background – much as was the case during the American Civil War – did account for most of the upper leadership positions within the Army and the AEF.  Also, like the Civil War, there was a certain animosity between West Pointers and those without the pedigree in World War One, too.  I, however, want to focus on the West Pointers here.  This is a brief rundown of several who helped the American efforts during the Great War.

AEF Commander General John J. Pershing (class of 1886) and Army Chief of Staff General Peyton March (class of 1888)
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FROM ITALIA IRRENDENTA TO ANTIFASCISM IN ONE BOOK – EMILIO LUSSU

Emilio Lussu as an officer with the 151st Italian Infantry Regiment of the Brigatta Sassari

ITALIAN OFFICER, POLITICIAN AND WRITER OF THE GREAT WAR AND BEYOND

A UNIQUE WORK

Perhaps the best novel written about the Italian Great War front – not in English is The Sardinian Brigade by Emilio Lussu.  The book’s title in Italian Un anno sull’altipiano which translates to A Year on the High Plateau with other English editions are titled A Soldier on the Southern Front.

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