American Expeditionary Force Siberia

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The American Expeditionary Force Siberia (AEF Siberia) was the involvement of U.S. troops in the Russian Civil War, during the tail end of World War I after the October Revolution, in Vladivostok, Russia, from 1918 and 1920.

President Woodrow Wilson's motivation for sending troops to Siberia stemmed from the same desires that drove him to try to impose the Treaty of Versailles provisions: the promotion of democracy and self-determination. But first and foremost, he wanted to protect the billion-dollar investment of American guns and equipment along the Trans-Siberian Railway. Vast quantities of supplies had been sent when America believed that Russia was capable of fighting and winning against the Central Powers in the spring of 1917.^[1]

Concurrently, 5,000 American soldiers who were sent to Arkhangelsk, Russia as part of the separate Polar Bear Expedition.

Contents 1 American Expeditionary Force Siberia 2 Logistical problems and casualties 3 Notes 4 See also 5 External links 6 Further Reading on the invasion of Russia 6.1 Further Reading specifically on the AEF Siberia 7 Footnotes

[edit] American Expeditionary Force Siberia

In Vladivostok, the American Expeditionary Force Siberia, commanded by Major General William S. Graves, was made up of some 7,500 troops. The Major General later wrote a volume detailing the experience. (See the Graves biography for more details)

Although General Graves did not arrive in Siberia until September 4, 1918, some American troops had arrived as early as August 15, and had quickly taken up guard duty along segments of the railway between Vladivostok and Nikolsk-Ussuriski in the north.^[2]

Calling for restraint, Graves clashed repeatedly with commanders of British, French and Japanese forces.

Graves' U.S. Military Academy obituary says, "His administration of a distasteful duty won him the respect of the Russian people who felt that the restraint imposed on other commanders by Gen. Graves assisted in checking Allied intentions to dismember their country."^[3]

[edit] Logistical problems and casualties

The experience in Russia for the soldiers was miserable. Problems with fuel, ammunition, supplies and food were widespread. Horses accustomed to temperate climates were unable to function in sub-zero Russia. Water-cooled machine guns froze and became useless. The enemy was an experienced Red Army that understood the climate and terrain.

In both the Polar Bear Expedition and the American Expeditionary Force Siberia, the Army lost about 150 soldiers killed in action, 50 who died of wounds, 150 who died of disease and 50 lost to accidental causes, and six committed suicide.^[4] The last U.S. soldiers left Siberia April 1 1920.

[edit] Notes

The Polar Bear Roll of Honor (North Russia)[5] gives a total of 235 Casualties:

• 83-Killed in Action
• 27-Wounded in Action
• 29-Missing in Action
• 12-Prisoners of War
• 14-Died other causes
• 70-Died of Disease

[edit] See also

• Polar Bear Expedition
• North Russia Campaign
• Siberian Intervention

[edit] External links

• The Russian Railway Service Corp in Japan and Siberia
• The Story of the American Expeditionary Forces
• Guarding the Railroad, Taming the Cossacks The U.S. Army in Russia, 1918-1920 at The National Archives
• America's Secret War Hundreds of photos.
• Polar Bear Expedition Digital Collections An interactive site featuring the digitized Polar Bear collections of various soldiers and organizations housed at the Bentley Historical Library. The materials consist of more than 50 individual collections of primary source material, including diaries, maps, correspondence, photographs, ephemera, printed materials, and a motion picture.
• "Detroit's Own" Polar Bear Memorial Association

[edit] Further Reading on the invasion of Russia

• With the "Die-Hards" in Siberia, available at Project Gutenberg. (1920; Reprint 2004 Reprint ISBN 1-4191-9446-1)
• Foglesong, David S (1995). America's Secret War Against Bolshevism: U.S. Intervention in the Russian Civil War, 1917-1920. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2228-0.  review on Humanties and Social Sciences Online. Article retrieved March 10, 2006.
• Goldhurst, Richard (1978). The Midnight War. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-023663-1. 
• Guins, George Constantine (1969). The Siberian intervention, 1918-1919. Russian Review Inc. ASIN B0007FQDTU. 
• Hendrick, Michael (1972). An Investigation of American Siberian intervention (1918-1920). Texas Southern University. ASIN: B0006W99ZE. 
• Hudson, Miles (2004). Intervention in Russia 1918-1920 : A Cautionary Tale. Pen and Sword. ISBN 1-84415-033-X. 
• Kindall, Sylvian G. (1945). American Soldiers in Siberia. Richard R. Smith. ASIN B000BFHTSU. 
• Willett Jr., Robert L (2005). Russian Sideshow: America's Undeclared War, 1918-1920. Potomac Books. ISBN 1-57488-706-8. 
• White, John Albert (1950). The Siberian Intervention. Princeton University Press. ASIN: B0007EGUTO. 

[edit] Further Reading specifically on the AEF Siberia

• Gordon, Dennis (1940). America's Siberian Adventure, 1918-1920. Ayer Co Pub. ISBN 0-405-03083-5. 
• Graves, William S. (1982). Quartered in Hell: The Story of the American North Russia Expeditionary Force 1918-1919. G O S. ISBN 0-942258-00-2. 
• Maddox, Robert James (1977). The Unknown War with Russia: Wilson's Siberian intervention. Presidio Press. ISBN 0-89141-013-9. 
• Unterberger, Betty Miller (1969). America's Siberian Expedition 1918-1920 : A Study of National Policy. Greenwood Press Reprint. ISBN 0-8371-0726-1. 

[edit] Footnotes

1. ↑  Guarding the Railroad, Taming the Cossacks The U.S. Army in Russia, 1918 - 1920, Smith, Gibson Bell
2. ↑  American soldiers faced Red Army on Russian soil, Army Times, September 16, 2002