World War I Radio

One hundred years ago, the United States was heavily involved - with well over 4 million troops in Europe - in World War I, the 'War to End All Wars'.

America had been sat on the sidelines for nearly three years as The Great War raged in Europe, but with German U-boats prowling the Atlantic off the Jersey Shore, attacking civilian vessels and US ships, President Woodrow Wilson called for war and Congress backed him on April 6, 1917.

The war is best remembered for the brutal trench warfare, the millions of deaths and the failure to bring a lasting peace to Europe, but the conflict also saw an emergence of technology that would remake life on and off the battlefield,

The one thing that was absolutely vital to the modern warfare was communications. The huge armies needed to be in constant contact, and with that came the birth of the wireless radio, used to orchestrate troop movements along the front line - which stretched for hundreds of miles.

After banning private radio, the government funded research and development which resulted in such rapid development of radio, which likely would have otherwise taken years. The war and its technology really transformed the United States, and the world, and it brought about the first commercial radio stations which crackled into life soon after the war ended.

In 1930, the radio series Empire Builders, offered a playlet as a tribute to the men who served in World War I. It's a story of the Old Timer, and a reunion of friends who served together at Dunkirk, and brings a picture of what actually happened along the many miles of front line trenches when word was received that the World War was over. It was written by an American army officer who was there. Interestingly, it may also be the earliest recording of Don Ameche on radio.

You can listen to this episode, titled Armistice Day on RUSC today. 

Happy listening my friends,