{"id":9936,"date":"2023-11-26T10:50:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T09:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=9936"},"modified":"2023-11-26T10:50:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T09:50:09","slug":"how-were-wwi-and-the-mississippi-river-related","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-were-wwi-and-the-mississippi-river-related\/","title":{"rendered":"How Were Wwi And The Mississippi River Related"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The relationship between World War I and the Mississippi River was not immediately apparent to most observers at the time, but it can be seen as an integral part of the war effort once examined more closely. Although there were many locations where American forces were involved in World War I, the primary fronts were in Europe. The Mississippi played a critical role in supplying the U.S. troops stationed in Europe with necessary supplies and materiel. In addition, the Mississippi River was instrumental in transporting the troops themselves to Europe in order to participate in the war.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Army had to use the Mississippi River to transport troops, munitions and other materiel to Europe in order to supply the U.S. forces stationed in Europe. It was especially important for transportation towards the frontlines due to the lack of railroads in France. The Mississippi River was also used as a major supply route for war materials from the United States to Europe. Throughout the war, numerous steamboats carried supplies to the frontlines in Europe. Without the Mississippi River, supplies would have had to been sent across the Atlantic Ocean by naval vessel, an expensive and dangerous possibility.<\/p>\n

American forces relied on the natural resources of the Mississippi River in other ways as well. The primary targets of American forces were German U-boats, which wreaked havoc upon the supply ships of the Allies. The U.S. Navy used the Mississippi River to launch several ant-submarine measures aimed at countering the U-boat menace. This included the construction of “sonar nets” from Florida to the Gulf of Mexico and the deployment of ships specially equipped with anti-submarine weaponry. These measures proved effective at reducing the threat from German U-boats.<\/p>\n

The impact of World War I on the Mississippi River was not just in terms of supplying troops and material but also in terms of the economic and social effects it had on the inhabitants of the river region. Many families along the river lost their homes during the war as a result of the American occupation of the area. Many of the towns along the Mississippi River were forced to close businesses due to the lack of transport along the river once the river was used as a supply line. Also, the lives of those living in the region were significantly changed, as the river served as a major thoroughfare for American troops on their way to Europe.<\/p>\n