Schlieffen Plan Stalls & Stalemate Germany was not able to
sweep through the west and fight on the east as quickly as they
planned they were defeated in the Battle of the Marne on the
Western Front (border of France and Germany where most of the
fighting took place). Germany was forced to split their troops and
fight on two fronts. This led to a stalemate where neither side was
winning.
Slide 3
Trench Warfare Starting in 1915 along the Western Front troops
dug trenches or ditches to protect themselves while fighting.
Trenches created an even worse stalemate and made the soldiers
fight and live in miserable conditions. It was difficult to gain
land, and many lives were lost.
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Trench Foot
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Machine Guns The machine guns of WWI required 4 6 men to shoot
and had to be on a flat surface. They had the fire power of 100
regular guns. Large field guns were also used, and they fired
shells which would explode on impact. They could fire over a longer
range but needed 12 men to operate.
Slide 9
Poison Gas Germans first used chlorine gas in the battle of
Ypres (1915). This worked by burning out the lungs of people who
inhaled it. Mustard gas was used later on, and it would be fired
into the trenches. It took a while to work and caused blistering,
vomiting, sore eyes and bleeding. It could take up to a month to
die as a result of mustard gas.
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Airplanes This was the first time planes were used in battle.
They were first used to deliver supplies and for spying. It was
quickly discovered that guns could be affixed to airplanes as well
as bombs and cannons and they could fight in the sky.
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The Flying Aces of World War I Eddie Rickenbacher, US Francesco
Barraco, It. Rene Pauk Fonck, Fr. Manfred von Richtoffen, Ger. [The
Red Baron] Willy Coppens de Holthust, Belg. Eddie Mick Mannoch,
Br.
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Zeppelins Zeppelins were flying aircraft that were used by
Germans at the beginning of the war to drop bombs. They were
quickly abandoned because it was way too easy to shoot them
down.
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Submarines/ nterseeboot At the beginning of WWI most navies had
submarines but were hesitant about their uses. Germans tend to be
known most for their use of submarines/torpedoes but at the
beginning of the war the British sank 17 German submarines with
their own.
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Torpedoes Torpedoes were used by Germans on their submarines.
Unrestricted submarine warfare was a major issue in the war, and
the Germans sunk many US ships that were carrying supplies to
Britain, including the Lusitania.
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Tanks! The first tanks were used in WWI at the battle of Somme.
Tanks at first could not exceed 3mph, could only hold 3 men, and
could not handle trenches. By the end of the war a tank could carry
10 men, had a revolving turret and could travel at 4 mph!
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flamethrower different sizes for different circumstances
MISCELLANEOUS WEAPONS
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grenade detonate two different ways: impact or timed-fuse
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bayonet had more of a psychological use
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mortar could be fired from inside a trench
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World War I The Total War Experience
Slide 22
The Eastern Front At the beginning of the war Russia had
launched an attack on both Austria and Germany. For a while Germany
was occupied with France so Russia was able to push Austria back
quite a bit. Eventually Germany returned and pushed the Russians
out of Austria.
Slide 23
Russia Struggles Unlike most of Europe Russia had not yet
industrialized. They were not able to produce supplies quickly
enough. Russias one advantage was their large numbers. They lost 2
million soldiers by 1915 and were able to keep going.
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The Total War Hits Home World War I was a total war which meant
it touched every aspect of life. The whole government was devoted
to winning the war. In a total war the government controls the
economy to benefit the war effort. People were even recruited from
other countries to come help in the war effort. Germans forced
people from France and Belgium to work in their factories. The
French and British recruited people from their colonies to
help.
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Everybody Pitched In!
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Rationing Since many goods were in short supply governments
turned to rationing which is when people could only buy small
amounts of certain goods that were needed for the war effort.
People were encouraged to have their own gardens so theyd take less
food away from the soldiers.
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Rationing
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Censoring and Propaganda Governments attempted to suppress anti
war activity to keep morale high. Leaders also censored news about
the war so people only heard the positive news. Governments also
used propaganda one sided information designed to persuade someone.
War posters portraying the enemy in a negative light became very
popular.
