The war that began in Europe in 1914 was known at the time as the “Great War,” the “World War,” or simply “the war.” Among Allied troops, German soldiers on the other side of the front were called “Jerry,” “Huns,” “Fritz,” or—mostly by the French—“boche.” British troops were nicknamed “Tommies,” and French soldiers, many of whom wore thick mustaches or beards, were nicknamed “poilu” (“hairy one[s]”).
When America entered the war, its forces deployed to France were collectively known as the American Expeditionary Forces, or “AEF.” Its uniformed troops—including soldiers and Marines—were called “Yanks,” “Sammies,” and most commonly “doughboys.” Doughboys in France were said to be “over there.” Though the precise origin of “doughboy” remains uncertain, the nickname was employed extensively in rallying posters, songs, and literature. Among Allied nations, “doughboy” was used flatteringly, and “over there” became a patriotic rallying slogan. The reader will also notice that “men” appears often to collectively refer to troops or soldiers, reflecting the all-male Army of 1917–1918.
The source for every quotation in this book is cited in the Notes, except for successive quotes in the same paragraph from the same source. In the interest of clarity, spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected in the original quotations to avoid adding the intrusive “[sic],” and all spelling corrections are specifically listed in the Notes.