107th U.S. Infantry in France – Belgium 1918-1919

Simple route map underplaying some of the heaviest fighting encountered by American forces on the Western Front.

This straightforward map of the French and Belgian coast along the English Channel presents the route of the 107th U.S. Infantry Regiment during the unit’s World War I campaign. Debarkation in Brest in May of 1918 was followed by a rapid advance across France, with the first enemy contact coming in late August at the Battle of Vierstraat Ridge. This was followed by extremely heavy fighting in the Second Battle of the Somme when the regiment, operating as part of the 27th Division, attempted to pierce the fortified Hindenburg Line.

The 107th was relieved in October of 1918, but only after sustaining about 1,900 casualties. At the commencement of the fighting, the unit totaled about 3,000 men and officers. The map is accompanied by an index of the regiment’s headquarters, with additional locations provided by the battalion and for the machine gun company, where applicable.

The image was designed by Sergeant George F. DeZeller of the 107th Infantry Regiment. The map was likely published in 1920 as part of History of the 107th Infantry, U.S.A.

Source: New York State Military Museum