1. Lesson 7 WW I: 1916 – Attrition Warfare

2. 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. 2

3. 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

4. Phases of World War I 1914 - Maneuver and Frustration 1915 - Search for New Solutions 1916 - Attrition

5. The War in 1916 Battle of Verdun Feb - Dec 1916 German attempt to force French capitulation by inflicting massive casualties * Targeted key position French could/would not surrender (Verdun) * Controversial interpretation French generals had all but abandoned Verdun Preferred to defend in plains to west Politicians said “Hold at all cost!” (Attrition Warfare)

6. Why Verdun? Traditional “Gateway to France” Vulnerable from three sides Close to German railhead French had reduced garrison, weak logistics prospects Relied on single 75 km road for supply

7. Battle of Verdun La Voie Sacrée 21 February - 18 December 1916 Initial Forces: France: 30,000 Germany: 150,000 (The Sacred Way) French convoy on La Voie Sacrée (1916)

8. Battle of Verdun Battle began with huge artillery attack Germans made initial gains but condition of battlefield stalled advance 21 February - 18 December 1916 Initial Forces: France: 30,000 Germany: 150,000 1,000,000 rounds in nine hours

9. No Man’s Land Verdun 1916

10. Battle of Verdun Battle began with huge artillery attack Germans made initial gains but condition of battlefield stalled advance French able to re-enforce Bloody battle of attrition followed for both sides 21 February - 18 December 1916 Initial Forces: France: 30,000 Germany: 150,000 1,000,000 rounds in nine hours Battle of Somme (July) relieved pressure on French

11. Battle of Verdun Final French offensive 11 December Germans driven back to initial starting point Horrific casualties: French: 163,000 dead 215,000 wounded & missing 21 February - 18 December 1916 Initial Forces: France: 30,000 Germany: 150,000 German: 143,000 dead 190,000 wounded & missing

12. Battle of Verdun 21 February - 18 December 1916 Significance German losses were more telling Fighting two-front war Fighting alone on Western Front Germany realized unrestricted submarine warfare might be the only hope for ending the war The Battle of Verdun exhausted our forces like a wound that never heals. Field Marshall Paul von Hindenburg

13. Battle of Verdun 21 February - 18 December 1916 Significance Verdun became a rallying point for French people They shall not pass General Robert Nivelle Commander, Second French Army at Verdun Ils ne passeront pas

14. Battle of Verdun 21 February - 18 December 1916 Sidelights Air superiority became a key factor in denying opponent reconnaissance capability Germans had air superiority: the “Fokker scourge” Fokker E.1 “Eindecker”

15. Fokker’s Synchronizer Gear Anthony Fokker 1912 First confirmed victory 1 August 1915 Fokker E.1 “Eindecker”

16. Battle of Verdun 21 February - 18 December 1916 Sidelights Crucible of Future French Leadership Marshall Phillippe Pétain Charles de Gaulle

17. Battle of the Somme 1 July - 18 November 1916 Initial Forces: British Empire: 15 divisions France: 11 divisions Germany: 10 1/2 divisions Became an attempt to take pressure off French at Verdun Frontal assault across 25 mile front Planned as a major offensive to retake Channel ports A

18. Battle of the Somme 1 July - 18 November 1916 Initial Forces: British Empire: 15 divisions France: 11 divisions Germany: 10 1/2 divisions Battle began with five-day artillery preparation 1.7 million shells 17 mines under German positions Barrage was ineffective Germans had dug in Too few heavy guns 2/3 of shells were fragmentation British first-day losses very heavy 19,240 dead 38,230 wounded, missing, POW Hawthorn Ridge

19. Battle of the Somme 1 July - 18 November 1916 Initial Forces: British Empire: 15 divisions France: 11 divisions Germany: 10 1/2 divisions First two weeks: French advanced 10 km south of Somme River British advances minimal Poor organization & communications Germans halted Verdun offensive (July 12th) Developed into battle of attrition Final Forces: British Empire: 51 divisions France: 48 divisions Germany: 50 divisions

20. Battle of the Somme 1 July - 18 November 1916 Final Forces: British Empire: 51 divisions France: 48 divisions Germany: 50 divisions First use of tanks British: Battle of Flers-Courcelette 15 September 1916 Not decisive (no follow-up) British Mark I tank Animated Map of Somme & Flers-Courcette

21. Battle of the Somme 1 July - 18 November 1916 Final Forces: British Empire: 51 divisions France: 48 divisions Germany: 50 divisions General Paul von Hindenburg became German Army Chief of Staff (Aug 1916) General Erich Ludendorff operational commander Von Hindenburg (l) & Ludendorff

22. The Cost of 1916 VERDUN France UK Germany Total Casualties Killed 378,000 163,000 330,000 143,000 SOMME Total Casualties Killed Total Casualties Killed 204,000 50,000 420,000 96,000 465,000 164,000 582,000 213,000 420,000 96,000 995,000 307,000 2,000,000 Casualties* - 616,000 Dead * Casualties = killed, wounded, missing, sometimes POWs

23. No Man’s Land Somme 1916

24. The Battle of the Somme The Movie Released 1916

25. The Battle of the Somme Movie Excerpt "The Circle of Modern War" and logo © Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013 The Battle of the Somme – YouTube – 3:14

26. Germany’s Dilemma Hindenburg realized Germany could not win the war German chancellor, Bethmann, appointed Hindenburg in hope the field marshal would back peace Advocated unrestricted submarine warfare as only hope Bethmann feared this would bring US into war Hindenburg advocated strong defense Hoped to wear down, knock out one of the Allied Powers Prestige of Hindenburg prevailed over chancellor

27. Von Hindenberg’s Strategy Germany needed to drive Britain from the war to have any chance against France Proposed to initiate unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain to starve population, weaken military  Realized this risked bringing US into the war  Gambled that Britain could be defeated (6-12 months) before US intervention would become effective Built, then withdraw to strong defensive positions (Hindenberg Line) to hold along Western Front until sub blockade become effective

28. Hindenburg Line Allowed for prepared defenses in depth Shortened German lines by 50 km Freed 13 divisions for a reserve Germans decimated vacated land Construction began September 1916

29. Western Front – December 1916 December 1914

30. 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

31. Review of the War Battle of Verdun (German Offensive) Feb - Dec 1916 Battle of the Somme (Allied Offensive) Jul - Nov 1916 German announces decision for unrestricted sub warfare 1 Feb 1917 Germans withdraw to Hindenburg LineMar 1917 2 Sep 1916Germany begins construction of Hindenberg Line

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

33. Lesson 8 WW I: 1917 Desperation & Anticipation - America Enters The War

34. Lesson Objectives Understand the role of the US in the war to 1916. Understand the concept of unrestricted submarine warfare and discuss its impact on the war. Understand how and why the U.S. entered World War I. Understand the impact of the war on British and U.S. society. Be able to describe the efforts made to mobilize the American public in World War I.

35. End

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