Book Description

"The story of this strange war of North Russia ... inspiring in its human significance, its exploits of moral strength and sheer resolution and godlike courage." Following requests from Britain and France to send troops to Russia to fight the Red Army, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the formation of the Northern Russian Expedition, also known as the Polar Bear Expedition and Archangel Campaign (after the Russian city, Arkhangelsk). The expedition was tasked with defeating the Red Army in Northern Russia. Lenin and the Bolsheviks were strengthening ties to Germany which allowed the Germans to send troops fighting in Russia to the Western Front against Britain and France. John Cudahy was a lieutenant of the 339th Infantry Regiment that was part of the expedition. This captivating first-hand account of the desolate winter months sees American soldiers fight for their lives along the Vologda railway. It also importantly provides a valuable and insightful political critique of the connection between the Archangel Expedition and the Vladivostok Expedition, asking questions that were not answered by the statesmen for American soldiers facing death and unknown dangers. Though he personally believed the mission to be a waste of American life, Cudahy's memoir of the campaign is filled with stories of exceptional courage and comradery. John Cudahy (1887 - 1943) was a Lieutenant of Company B of the U.S. Army's 339th Infantry Regiment. Following WWI, he became the American ambassador to Poland, Ireland, Belgium, and Luxembourg in the leadup to WWII, whilst also running his family's real estate company.