Minnesota in the War with Germany, Volume 1 - 1928

Front Cover, Minnesota in the War with Germany, Volume 1, 1928. GGA Image ID # 181dbe52f0

By Franklin F. Holbrook and Livia Appel. St. Paul, Minnesota Historical Society, 1928, xi, 374 p. Illustrations. Green hardcover with title on binding. The Second volume (not a part of the Archives, was produced in 1932).

This is the initial volume of a projected two-volume narrative history of Minnesota's contribution to the war with Germany (World War I). It has been produced under the direction of the Minnesota Historical Society.

An earlier plan for a comprehensive history in eight volumes had to be dropped with the state legislature decided that the project was too costly, but not before the first of the proposed volumes -- A History of the 151st Field Artillery, by Louis L Collins -- had come from the press. The present volume, however, is intended to stand with its prospective companion volume as an independent work.

A chapter from Minnesota in the War With Germany describes the training of officers at Fort Snelling, Minnesota during World War I.

Extract from the Author's Introduction

This is the first of two volumes describing the contributions made by Minnesota to the victorious consummation of the war with Germany.

It is hoped that, taken together, they will not only furnish to interested persons a fairly adequate record of the achievements of this state and a cross section of the numerous enterprises carried on throughout the country during those busy, spectacular months, but also that they may prove of some value to the historian who shall attempt to make a synthesis of local activities everywhere in a general history of the United States in the World War.

The greater part of the book consists of a discussion of the militan- aspects of the subject, civilian activities having been reserved for treatment in the second volume.

It begins with two chapters dealing generally with public opinion from the time of the outbreak of the war in Europe in 1914 until the entrance of the United States in April, 1917, including a discussion of the stand taken at various times by the newspaper press; various of the less conservative elements, such as the Socialists and organized labor; and the several more important racial groups, chiefly the German-Americans.

Then follow chapters describing the preparation of the manhood of the state for military training and service. The national guard troops were mobilized, recruited to war strength, and inducted into federal service.

The two battalions of the 1st Minnesota Field Artillery were sent to Forts Snelling and Riley, respectively, where they assisted with the work of the officers’ training camps in progress there; and later, in September, 1917, were assembled at Camp Mills, New York, for inclusion in the 42d Division, about to embark for overseas.

The three infantry regiments were sent, in the autumn of 1917, to Camp Cody for training.

Review

Well documented, this state study treats some of the problems of a state in which the war was controversial due to its ethnic composition. Minnesota had a very strong peace movement which was overridden by a pro-war Commission of Public Safety. The chapters dealing with training camps are strong.

-- America and World War 1 by David R. Woodward

Contents

• Chapter I: Foreshadowings of Conflict
• Chapter II: The Declaration of War
• Chapter III: State Troops Called Into Service
• Chapter IV: Recruiting for the Army, the Navy, and the Marine Corps
• Chapter V: The First Draft
• Chapter VI: Selective Service in Full Operation
• Chapter VII: The Training of Officers at Fort Snelling
• Chapter VIII: Training Activities at the William Hood Dunwoody Industrial Institute
• Chapter IX: The Air Service Mechanics School
• Chapter X: The Students' Army Training Corps
• Chapter XI: The Federalized National Guard Units at Camp Cody
• Chapter XII: Minnesotans at Camp Dodge
• Chapter XIII: Minnesotans Generally in Camp and Field

List of Illustrations

• American Troops Landing in France
• A Patriotic Parade in Minneapolis in April 1917
• Recruiting Posters Used by Company K, 3d Minnesota Infantry
• Poster Displayed in the Homes of Volunteers
• Marine Corps Recruiting Poster Used in St. Paul
• Scenes at the St. Paul Union Depot upon the Departure of a Draft Contingent
• Bayonet Practice at Fort Snelling
• A Shipwright Class at Dunwoody Institute
• The Sewing and Cutting Department at the Air Service Mechanics School
• Boiling Down Waste at Camp Cody
• Scenes at Camp Dodge
• American Infantrymen Advancing up A Slope near Exermont

Library of Congress Catalog Listing

• Personal name: Holbrook, Franklin F. (Franklin Fisk), 1883-1955.
• Main title: Minnesota in the war with Germany / by Franklin F. Holbrook and Livia Appel.
• Published/Created: St. Paul : Minnesota Historical Society, 1928-1932.
• Description: 2 v. : ill., facsims. ; 24 cm.
• LC classification: D570.85.M6 H6
• Related names: Appel, Livia, 1893-
• LC Subjects: World War, 1914-1918--Minnesota.
• Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Series: Publications of the Minnesota Historical Society
• LCCN: 29000608
• Geographic area code: n-us-mn e------
• Other system no.: (OCoLC)542774
• Type of material: Book