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Final Report of General John J. Pershing

John J. Pershing · 1920

Pershing's official 1920 report to the Secretary of War describing how he organized, supplied and led the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe.

Pershing wrote this as his own official account of commanding the AEF in World War I.

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Title page of a bound book. Centered text reads 'FINAL REPORT OF GEN. JOHN J. PERSHING, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES', with a small embossed United States War Office seal below, and 'WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1920' at the bottom. The book's navy cover is visible at the edges.
John J. Pershing, Final Report of General John J. Pershing, 1920. Washington Government Printing Office.

About this source

What it is

This is the official final report that John J. Pershing submitted as Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office in 1920. The bound volume contains maps, diagrams and four sections covering organization, operations, supply and administration of American forces in Europe.

Why it matters

The report is Pershing's own summary of how the United States built and ran its army in France during the First World War. It shows how he saw his role as commander and what he thought was most important for the government and the public to understand about the American effort.

Look closer

  • Why might a commanding general want to write a long official report after a war ends?
  • What do the maps and diagrams suggest about the scale of organizing an army overseas?
  • Whose perspective is missing from an official report written by the top commander?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of General John J. Pershing on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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