The First World War: Fronts and Homefront World History

Effects of the War on the Home Front Consider the following questions and be prepared to discuss your answers. 1. What do you see here? 2. What are the women doing? 3. Why are women needed to work in factories? 4. How might this affect the traditional role of women?

Patriotic Fervor  In the summer of 1914 many Europeans eagerly anticipated the coming of war  Celebrations accompanied the send-off of troops  Great excitement and even festive conditions surrounded the reporting of war news

Mobilizing for Total War  World War I was called a “total war” because the countries involved committed everything for the war effort and no one or no place was safe from attack  Foods and materials like rubber, fuel, and metal were rationed  Citizens in England were encouraged to grow “victory gardens”  In Germany, all men between the ages of 17 and 60, not in the war, were expected to work wherever the government felt they were needed  1916, Britain started a draft (conscription)

America Enters the War  President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality four days war broke out in  Wilson offered to help negotiate the differences between the sides.

America Enters the War  In 1915 A German U-boat sunk a British passenger ship called the Lusitania. On it was 128 Americans.  The Germans promised the US they would no longer sink passenger ships.  In 1917 the Germans resumed unrestricted submarine warfare and sunk 3 more passenger ships.

Zimmermann Note  February Britain intercepted a telegram from Germany’s foreign secretary to Arthur Zimmermann the German Ambassador in Mexico.  The telegram asked Mexico to join Germany in return they could recapture their “lost territory”

America Enters the War  The United States entered the war on April 6, 1917 on the side of the Allies  The American Expeditionary Force was sent to France under the leadership of General John J. Pershing  American soldiers were fresh and ready to fight. Helped turn the tide of war.

The Western Front  Germany, France, Britain and Belgium fought along the Western Front – 475 miles long – Schlieffen Plan- Germany Races to the west defeating France then return to fight Russia in the East…this may have worked BUT….. – Germany made several tactical mistakes—Crosses through neutral Belgium which brings Britain in to the war – The French regrouped – They raced for the sea

Battles Along the Western Front  Fighting on the Western Front was characterized by – Long battles – Hundreds of thousands dead – Almost no ground gained by either side  1915 – Little offensive action  1916 – Two major offensives The Battle of Verdun –Six months and 680,000 deaths The Battle of the Somme –Six months and over 1 million deaths

Battles Along the Western Front (continued)  1917 – Marked by German retreat to the Hindenburg Line US entry in the war (April) Russian Revolution in November, pulling Russia out of the war  1918 – Allied naval blockade created dramatic shortages of food and raw materials in Germany and Austria – Final German offensive fails – August 8 th the German lines were finally broken

The Eastern Front  In 1914 Russia sent its armies against Germany and Austria, along the Eastern Front from the Baltic to the Black Sea  The Russians experienced early victories, but it quickly turned into victory after victory by Germany  Russia’s lack of modern technology meant its troops were under-supplied and poorly equipped  ¼ of Russian troops went to battle without weapons – Instructed to follow their comrades and pick up their guns after they were killed  In November of 1917, Vladimir Lenin led a revolution that overthrew the government and took Russia out of the war  Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers – Russia lost ¼ of its land and population

The Balkan Front  In November of 1914, Russia’s old rival, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers  In April, British troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula – The hope was to open a supply route to Russia and attack Austria from the south – The campaign was a failure  In September, 1915 Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and easily defeated Serbia

The Italian Front  In May, 1915, Italy joined the Allies after it was promised Austrian lands  Italy fought against the Austrians  After the Battle of Caporetto, the Central Powers came within 50 miles of Venice before the French and British stopped their advance

The War Ends  Though the outcome of the war on the Western Front was still in question until the end, the war ended quickly in 1918  Revolts in Germany and Austria-Hungary led to a push to end the war – Bulgaria signed an armistice in September – The Ottoman Empire in October – Austria-Hungary on November 4 th – Germany signed the armistice on November 11 th