Key BattlesKey Battles
MarneMarne Verdun SommeSomme St. MihielSt. Mihiel Hindenburg Hindenburg
LineLine
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British battlefield in Belgium, September 1917
The Germans AdvanceThe Germans Advance
The German plan for fighting both the French and Russians was a quick attack to defeat France in the west, then fight the Russians in the east.
The Germans pass through Belgium - their army fights bravely but are easily defeated by the Germans.
By September, Germany is in France.
The French and British troops stop the advancing Germans at the Battle of the Marne
Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne
September 5–9, 1914
Marne River, East of Paris
Stopped Germany’s rapid advance
Prevented the fall of Paris
Set the stage for trench warfare
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Second Battle of the Marne
TrenchWarfareTrenchWarfare
By November 1914, fighting had reached a stalemate.
In a stalemate, neither side is strong enough to defeat the other.
Both sides dug in, creating a maze of trenches protected by mines and barbed wire.
Soldiers lived in miserable discomfort spending weeks at a time in muddy, rat-infested ditches.
Trench WarfareTrench Warfare
Soldiers spent day after day shelling the enemy.
Then officers would order their men “over the top.”
Soldiers crawled out of the trenches to race across “no man’s land” and attack the enemy.
The Battle of Verdun lasted 10 months - German losses = 400,000 men. The French lost even more.
Gallipoli Campaign BeginsGallipoli Campaign Begins
February 1915
What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign??To take over Constantinople, TurkeyCreate a supply line to Russia
Failed attempt by Allies – abandoned at the end of the year
Battle of VerdunBattle of Verdun
Feb. 21–Dec. 18, 1916
Verdun, France, 120 miles east of Paris
Demoralized both sides
First extensive use of the flamethrower
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Transportation of troops during Battle of Verdun, France
Losses on the Eastern FrontLosses on the Eastern Front
Stalemate and trench warfare brought mounting tolls on the eastern Front as well.
The vast armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary faced those of Russia and Serbia.
By mid 1916, the Russians had lost over 1 million soldiers.
Neither side could win a decisive victory.
Battle of the SommeBattle of the Somme July 1–Nov. 18,
1916 Somme River,
France Drew Germans
away from Verdun Tactics became
more sophisticated and supply lines became more efficient
First use of tanks (British)
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British troops on the front line, Somme area, 1916
American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality
In 1914, Americans were determined to avoid being dragged into the European war.
President Woodrow Wilson had called upon Americans to “be neutral in fact as well as in name.”
Officially, America was neutral - but public opinion was divided.
Most Americans favored the Allies as we had long standing ties with Britain, spoke the same language & shared traditions
American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality
On the other hand - 8 million Americans were of German descent and felt ties to the Central Powers.
Millions of Irish also supported the Central Powers - they hated being under British rule
Many American Jews favored Germany over Russia - they had fled Russia fearing for their lives.
Freedom of the SeasFreedom of the Seas
Allied propaganda did less to change American opinion than the issue of freedom of the seas.
The U.S. argued that as a neutral nation it had the right to trade with either side.
BUT - Britain blockaded German ports & Germany blockaded Britain.
Germany had warned the U.S. and other neutral nations to keep their ships out of the blockade zone.
President Wilson rejected this limit on neutral shipping.
He vowed to hold Germany responsible if its subs caused American to die or lose property.
Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare
Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare
Under international law, a country at war can stop and search a neutral ship suspected of carrying war goods.
January 1917 – Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare for a 2nd time
Vowed to sink any ship sailing near Britain without warning
Sinking of the Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitaniaMay 7, 1915:
Passenger ship sunk by German submarine
More than 1000 civilian deaths, including 128 Americans
Germany claimed the ship was carrying munitions
Incident put the U.S. one step closer to entering the war
Wilson called it murder on the high seas
Torpedoing of the Lusitania
Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman TelegramSent January 1917 by the
German Foreign Secretary
Proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S.
Telegram intercepted by the British and made public
Added to the American public’s desire to enter the war
17Coded copy of the Zimmerman Telegram
The U.S. Enters the WarThe U.S. Enters the War April 6, 1917:
U.S. officially declares war against Germany
Propaganda, submarine warfare, Zimmerman telegram erode neutrality
“Peace without victory”
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The DraftThe Draft U.S. needed massive
military force June 5, 1917 – Draft
implemented Selective Service Act
1917 – Required men ages 21-30 to register for the draft
24 million men registered; 6,400,000 actually called into service
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New York City men wait to register for the draft
Liberty BondsLiberty Bonds
Intended to finance the war, increase public support for the war effort
Patriotic appeal Over $20 billion
raised from bonds
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Anti-German SentimentAnti-German Sentiment Committee of
Public Information
Eliminating German names
Attacks on people of German descent
Limit freedoms (freedom of speech) & allow government to arrest opponents of the war. (Espionage & Sedition Acts)
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Changing Roles of WomenChanging Roles of Women 1 million women
joined the American workforce during the war
About 25,000 volunteered as nurses, telephone operators, and ambulance drivers in Europe
Some women spoke out against the war – ex. Jane Addams
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French women assemble American airplanes
Labor & the WarLabor & the War
New job opportunities encouraged Mexican-Americans & African Americans to move to Northern industrial centers.
Union members increased
National War Labor Board– April 1918 – helped workers and management reach agreements without strikes.