American Expeditionary Force, Siberia facts for kids
The American Expeditionary Force, Siberia (often called AEF in Siberia) was a group of soldiers from the United States Army. They were involved in the Russian Civil War in Vladivostok, Russia. This happened after the October Revolution from 1918 to 1920. This force was part of a bigger effort by Allied countries in North Russia. Because of this mission, early relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were not good.
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sent troops to Siberia for both diplomatic and military reasons. One main goal was to help the 40,000 soldiers of the Czechoslovak Legion. These soldiers were stuck by Bolshevik forces while trying to travel along the Trans-Siberian Railroad to Vladivostok. They hoped to eventually reach the Western Front of World War I.
Another key reason was to protect many military supplies and train cars. The United States had sent these to the Russian Far East to help Russia in World War I. President Wilson also wanted to support any efforts by Russians to govern themselves or defend themselves. At that time, Bolshevik forces in Siberia controlled only small areas. President Wilson wanted to make sure that neither Cossack groups nor the Japanese military would take advantage of the unstable situation. He also wanted to protect the important railroad line and the rich natural resources nearby. Being against communism was also a strong reason for the mission.
At the same time, about 5,000 American soldiers were sent to Arkhangel in Russia. This was part of a separate mission called the Polar Bear Expedition.
Contents
What was the AEF in Siberia?
The AEF in Siberia was led by Major General William S. Graves. It eventually included 7,950 officers and soldiers. The force had soldiers from the U.S. Army's 27th and 31st Infantry Regiments. Many volunteers also came from the 12th, 13th, and 62nd Infantry Regiments. These were all from the 8th Division, which General Graves used to command.
American troops used different weapons. These included M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (BAR) and Auto-5 shotguns. They also had M1903 Springfield rifles and M1911 .45 caliber pistols. Some Mosin–Nagant rifles were also used.
When did the American troops arrive?
General Graves arrived in Siberia on September 4, 1918. However, the first 3,000 American soldiers landed in Vladivostok earlier. They arrived between August 15 and August 21, 1918. They were quickly given guard duty along parts of the railway. This railway stretched between Vladivostok and Nikolsk-Ussuriski in the north. Some units were placed along the railway as far west as Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude.
What was the mission of the AEF?
General Graves had a different view of the mission than other Allied commanders. He believed their job was to protect American supplies and help the Czechoslovak Legion leave Russia. He did not think they should fight against the Bolsheviks. Graves often asked for calm and clashed with commanders from British, French, and Japanese forces. These commanders also had troops in the area. They wanted him to take a more active role in the fighting in Siberia.
To help run the Trans-Siberian Railroad, a group called the Russian Railway Service Corps was created. It was made up of American personnel.
What was life like for the soldiers?
Life in Siberia was very hard for the American soldiers. They faced many problems with fuel, ammunition, supplies, and food. Horses that were used to warmer climates could not work in the freezing Russian temperatures. Machine guns that used water to cool down would freeze and become useless.
The last American soldiers left Siberia on April 1, 1920. They spent 19 months there. During this time, 189 soldiers died from various causes. For comparison, the smaller American North Russia Expeditionary Force had 235 deaths. They fought for nine months near Arkhangelsk.
The American writer Upton Sinclair wrote about the AEF in Siberia in his novel Oil!. He suggested that capitalist reasons were the main cause for the Allied intervention.
What were the results of the mission?
President Wilson's missions in Russia did not succeed. The Eastern Front of World War I was not restarted. The war supplies stored in Russian ports were not saved. Also, no popular, democratic, non-Communist government was set up. The Japanese continued to interfere in Siberian affairs for two more years. They tried to create a puppet state, but it did not work. Even the successful rescue of the Czech Legion had little to do with General Graves' small expedition. The Chief of Staff, Peyton C. March, called the missions in Russia "a military crime."
See also
In Spanish: Fuerza Expedicionaria Estadounidense en Siberia para niños
Images for kids
-
AEF Hospital Car Number 1 at Khabarovsk, Russia
.jpg)
