The Nature of the First World War

Schlieffen Plan Avoid a two front war Attack one at a time 6 weeks to take France Austria will hold off Russia Attack north through Belgium and circle around Paris Trap the French against the Alps

Early Battles of WW1 Battle of the Marne – stops the Schlieffen Plan in it’s tracks. Will cause the German Army to retreat to a defensive position. Trench Warfare will ensue Battle of Ypres – Germans will try to drive the British back to seize the port of Calais. Famous for Flanders Fields, and gas attacks from both sides Battle of Tannenberg – Eastern Front. An outnumbered German Army will capture two Russian armies with little trouble (Bad news for Russia

Gallipoli Gallipoli (1915) – b\c of stalemate on the Western Front the British will try to open a front in the Balkans. Will suffer massive casualties and lead to the firing of the British Minister of Defense, Winston Churchill.

Trench Warfare Machine guns and Heavy artillery require soldiers to take cover miles of trenches will be dug on a 750 mile front The area between them would be referred to as No Mans Land Western Front would be known as a war with out Flanks

Trenches The Front line would be made up of 4 lines of defenses with communication trenches connecting them Barbed wire would be lined in front of them Dugouts were dug into them Sappers would dig tunnels into no mans land and set off massive explosions

Technology and the Change in Warfare Mass production (could supply million man armies) Trains and steamships could mass transport soldiers and goods Communication – Radio(still relied on wires) and telephone Machine guns, rifles that fire 1000 yards, heavy artillery (rifled miles) creates a death zone between enemy lines. War needs to take on a defensive posture. The weapons are too good

More Trenches

Sappers

New Weapons The Machine GunHeavy Artillery

U-BoatsAirplanes

Dreadnaughts Poison Gas (Mustard and Chlorine)

Total War All these European powers went all in Losing could not be an option b\c it would mean ruin The Stalemate on the Western Front meant no one could win a decisive victory Governments turned to their populations Total War means the total resources of society are committed to the fighting effort Gov’t would ration and conscript/draft soldiers into military service Income tax was introduced in Canada to help pay the cost of the war 6 million went to war in 1914, and 65 million by the end

Propaganda- systematic effort to spread opinions or beliefs especially by distorting the truth

Promises and Deception 1915 the secret Treaty of London promised Austrian territory (Balkans) to Italy if they switched sides 1917 Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine to win Jewish support Britain coaxed Arab leaders into revolt by promising to liberate them from the Turks 1917 – Germany sneaks Vladimir Lenin into Russia to start a Revolution

Unrestricted Naval Warfare United States industrial might was supplying the British and French war effort British navy defeated the German navy at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and was choking off German supply lines German high command declares the Waters around Europe a battle ground and any ship carry supplies to England or France is to be sunk The United States will declare war on Germany

Late Battles 1916 – Jutland: the show down between the German and British navies. Germany realized how quickly they could have lost their fleet that cost billions of dollars. They will resort to their U-Boats 1916 – Verdun: Symbol of French military glory. 1 million German shells bombing seven French forts Ger. And French and the Germans gain 7 km.

The Battle of the Somme 1916 – Counter the Ger. Offensive July 1 st 748 of the Newfoundland Reg. will be lost at Beaumont Hamel British Casualties on the first day Ger. And British Casualties for 10 km of ground

Vimy April 9 th 1917 – first offensive lead and fought by Canadians Arthur Currie (School Teacher) commands Creeping Barrage – Use the artillery as a shield to protect infantry Every one knew their job and was on a strict time line Counter Battery took German Artillery out of the game (Sound ranging and flash spotting)

More Vimy

1918 Russia pulls out of the War because of Communist take over Treaty of Brest-Litovsk gives the Ukraine to Germany Spring sees a German offensive to make the final push to take Paris The French and British stop them at the Marne River for a second time

Last Two Months Sept. 27 th 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II is forced to step down Bread riots break out in the Streets of Berlin German Banks efuse to loan any more money to fight the War November 11 th, 1918 Germany offically surrenders Jan. to July 1919 – Paris Peace talks present Germany with the terms of Surrender. The Treaty of Versailles