1. Lesson 6 WW I: 1915 - Search for New Solutions

2. Lesson Objectives Understand the tactics employed in the opening months of the war and their incompatibility with the weapon technology of the period. Understand and be able to discuss the efforts to break the stalemate on the Western Front. Be able to list and discuss the impact of the new technology employed during the war. 2

3. Phases of World War I 1914 - Maneuver and Frustration 1915 - Search for New Solutions 1916 - Attrition 1917 - Desperation and Anticipation 1918 - Dénouement Preview

4. Review of the War August 3, 1914Germany invades Belgium; war begins “Miracle of the Marne”; German invasion halted Sept 5-10, 1914 October 1914 Race to the Sea ends; Stalemate on Western Front 1

5. Western Front September – October 1914 BBC Stalemate!

6. Western Front They Dug In Excavating Machine … and they got good at it

7. Western Front Trench System, Loos, 1917

8. Phases of World War I 1914 - Maneuver and Frustration

9. Western Front What caused the stalemate? Machine gun Heavy artillery Firepower

10. Western Front What caused the stalemate? Machine gun Heavy artillery Firepower Outmoded Tactics

11. Meanwhile … Muskets were replaced by machine guns!

12. Western Front What caused the stalemate? Machine gun Heavy artillery Inability to Innovate Firepower Outmoded Tactics

13. Phases of World War I 1914 - Maneuver and Frustration 1915 - Search for New Solutions

14. Breaking the Stalemate What attempts were made to break the impasse? Technology Poison gas Tank Light Machine Gun

15. Poison Gas First used by the Germans (Ypres, April 1915) Initially chlorine gas Later mustard, phosgene Violated Geneva Conventions of 1899 and 1907 Total War: A war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the laws of war are disregarded. US Military Dictionary

16. Poison Gas First used by the Germans (Ypres, April 1915) Initially chlorine gas Later mustard, phosgene Violated Geneva Conventions of 1899 and 1907 Total War: A war that is unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the laws of war are disregarded. US Military Dictionary

17. Poison Gas

18. Dispensed directly from cylinders

19. Poison Gas British Livens bomb projectors (mortars) (12 gal.oil cans buried in the ground) Loading Livens projectors (chlorine gas canisters)

20. Poison Gas

22. First use by Germans had a devastating effect Significant gap in British line Germans not prepared to exploit breakthrough

23. Poison Gas Early French gas mask

24. Poison Gas Gas mask drill

25. Poison Gas Gas mask for horses

26. Poison Gas Soldiers in full chemical gear

27. Poison Gas Casualties In perspective: Total Casualties (both sides): 30,900,000 Wounded: 21,200,000 Dead: 9,700,000 4.2% due to poison gas

28. Tanks Attempt to create a mobile “pill box” Initially carried machine guns Later small cannon British Mk IV “Male” tank

29. Tanks First significant use at Cambrai (November 1917) 400+ tanks Breakthrough achieved but … No exploitation !

30. Tanks Imperial War Museum, Art 3539 Learning Curve http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/g3/cs1/g3cs1s6b.htm

31. British Tanks Mk V Tank Female (machine guns) Male (6-pdr cannon) Battlefield 1918 http://ww.battlefield1918.de/history/sct/hisdbfahr/

32. British Tanks Mk I Tank Male (6-pdr cannon) BBC

33. British Tanks Whippet Medium Tank

34. French Tank Schneider CA1 Tank

35. French Tank Renault FT-17 First tank with a traversing turret (AEF markings)

36. German Tanks German A7V Tank

37. Anti-Tank Weapons 3.7 cm TAK Rheinmetall AT gun 1918

38. Anti-Tank Weapons 13 mm (top) vs..50 cal8 mm vs. 13 mm Mauser Tankgewehr 1918 13 mm AT Rifle

39. Light Machine Guns First light machine gun? Danish Madsen LMG First produced in 1897 Probert Encyclopedia http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/FMJ.HTM

40. Light Machine Gun French Chaucet British Lewis Gun

41. Light Machine Guns U.S. Browning Automatic Rifle – BAR – M1918

42. Breaking the Stalemate What attempts were made to break the impasse? Technology Tactics Strumtruppen (Stormtroopers) (late in war)

43. Strumtruppen Stormtroopers Lightly equipped, specially trained shock troops Special weapons & tactics Used small units, bursts of movement to overwhelm objectives Bypassed strong points to attack from rear

44. Strumtruppen Stormtroopers Bypassed strong points to attack from rear Blitzkrieg http://www.bellum.nu/basics/concepts/blitzkrieg.htm Strumtruppen http://www.worldwar1.com/arm011.htm

45. Strumtruppen Stormtroopers Special weapons & equipment Body Armor Machinegewehr 18 MG18 Schmeiser

46. Strumtruppen Stormtroopers Major impact during Offensive of 1918 but … Too little, too late! A

47. Breaking the Stalemate What attempts were made to break the impasse? Technology Strategy Dardanelles Campaign ( Gallipoli ) Tactics

48. Breaking the Stalemate A Strategic Flanking 48 (attempt)

49. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli

50. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli

51. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli

52. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli

53. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli 1915-1916 British Commonwealth Operation Amphibious landings Attempted to force the Dardanelles, open passage to reinforce Russia

54. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli Landing operations, Sulva Bay

55. Dardanelles Campaign Gallipoli British force Achieved tactical surprise (April 1915) Allowed Turks to reinforce Stalemate developed on the beaches British withdrew (Dec 1915 - Jan 1916) Heavy casualties Allies: 180,000 Turks: 220,000 Predominantly Australian & New Zealand (ANZAC)

56. Dardanelles Campaign 1915-16 "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013 Living & Dying in WW I -YouTube: 0-2:48

57. Breaking the Stalemate What attempts were made to break the impasse? Technology Strategy Dardanelles Campaign ( Gallipoli ) Tactics Maritime Blockade Strategic Distraction ( both sides ) * ( Germany ) * * Future Lessons

58. Breaking the Stalemate What attempts were made to break the impasse? Technology Tactics Strategy

59. Review of the War August 3, 1914Germany invades Belgium; war begins “Miracle of the Marne”; German invasion halted Sept 5-10, 1914 October 1914 Race to the Sea ends; Stalemate on Western Front 1915 Sea blockades established around UK and Germany Feb 1915-Jan 1916 Dardanelles Campaign (Gallipoli) Beginning of 1916 Germans accept futility of breakthrough on Western Front, adopt attrition strategy against French at Verdun 1

60. Lesson 7 WW I: 1916 – Attrition Warfare

61. Lesson Objectives Understand the issues involved with the shift in prospects from a short war to a long war. Understand the rationale for each side to move to attrition warfare on the Western Front. Describe the outlooks for each of the Allied and Central powers as a consequences of the 1916 Western Front battles of attrition. 61

62. End

63. Video Title "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013

64. Artillery in WW I "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013 (6:50)

65. Tanks Video Clip British Mark V tank