Tactics & Battles During World War I How and where were the major battles of World War I fought?

Schlieffen Plan (Shlee-fun) Germany developed the Schlieffen Plan to avoid fighting on two fronts 1) Attack and defeat France first on the western front Reason: Already beaten France before (Franco-Prussian War) 2) Attack Russia later on the eastern front Reason: Russia not able to mobilize troops & supply them due to slow industrialization (few railroads, factories), A-H can hold them off Germany must invade neutral Belgium to get to France British upset & enter war. Germans are within a few miles of Paris

Western Front – Battle of the Marne Allies regroup and counterattack Germany NE of Paris in the Marne River Valley When more soldiers were needed, 600 taxicabs rushed soldiers from Paris to the fighting front Battle of Marne is significant because Germans now realize that the Schlieffen Plan will not work – no quick & easy victory in France! Four days later, the Germans retreat German troops near ParisTaxis rush soldiers to the front

The Western Front – Trench Warfare Soldiers fought, lived & slept in the trenches Soldiers dealt with artillery fire, rats, lice, disease, smell, contamination, collapsing trenches and boredom Soldiers typically said “the trench and mud became your life” After the Battle of Marne, each side began to dig a series of trenches in Northern France Trench life stinks, time to dream mud

Bloody Stalemates – Verdun & Battle of the Somme “No Man’s Land” was the space above and in between the trenches. It was filled with barbed wire and land mines Soldiers leaving the trenches were met by machine gun fire Little territory was gained, each side suffered huge losses making these battles bloody stalemates During the Battle of Verdun, each side lost 300K The bloodiest was the Battle of the Somme, 20K killed in one day & overall 600K wounded/killed for the Allies and 450K for CP Christmas truce: December 1914 each side stopped fighting for one day and came out of the trenches to celebrate the holidays together

The Eastern Front Fighting starts in late August when Russia attacks both Germany & Austria-Hungary Germany counterattacks in the Battle of Tannenberg forcing Russia to retreat - 30,000 Russian soldiers are killed Russia does better vs A-H, but by December, A-H starts winning Russia’s slow industrialization causes shortages of weapons & supplies. German & Ottoman control of nearby seas cuts Russia off Due to lack of supplies/clothing – many soldiers freeze to death on the “frozen front” Russia’s only advantage was a large population allowing them to constantly “rebuild” their army Czar Nicholas II decides to take personal command of the troops, worsening the war for Russia