BATTLES OF WORLD WAR I

Fact or Factoid? WW1 was the bloodiest war in history at the time that it started.

First Battle of the Marne September 5 -10, 1914 German plans for the Western Front began to fall apart in September of 1914. As the German right flank drove deeper, it was separated from the rest of the invading German force. This made it vulnerable and forced the Germans pulled up twenty-five miles short of Paris. This was France’s chance to attack. What followed was the First Battle of the Marne where the German advance was stopped

Major Battles and Events Marne – 1914- The French stop the German advance and ruins the Schlieffen Plan. After this point the war becomes a stalemate and they dig into the Trenches. The front lines change little for the rest of the war. 263,000 casualties (dead or wounded soldiers) Lasted ~one week Verdun- 1916- Place of Legendary battles German offensive goal to kill enough soldiers to get other side to surrender. Started with a heavy artillery attack Lasted 10 months 1 million dead or wounded (casualties)

Somme - 1916- The British try to break the German lines. Fought at same time as Verdun in attempt to relieve pressure. Artillery bombardment for 7 days believed to destroy Germans. When the British advances across no mans land they are cut down. 20,000 in one day. 1 million dead or wounded in six months, 6 miles changed hands

Battle of the Marne Sept.-Nov. 1914 Germans encounter heavy resistance at the Marne River French & Germans dig defensive trenches Halts German offensive

Battles on the Western Front While people on the home front supported their troops, the war in Western Europe was going badly for the Allied Powers. Believed French would defend fortress at all costs Battle of Verdun meant to kill, injure as many French soldiers as possible 400,000 French casualties in 10 months of fighting, almost as many for Germany The Battle of Verdun

Verdun Battles of Attrition --German attack opened by most massive military bombardment in history --longest single battle of the war ~600,000 men died

The Battle of Verdun February 21. 1916 – Dec. 18 1916 The Allies had planned to launch a joint French and British assault in the region of the Somme. The target date was the middle of 1916. However, in February the Allied plan was upset when the Germans began an assault on the fortress-ringed city of Verdun. The belief was that Verdun was essential to the French that France would fight to the death. On February 21, the German artillery barrage began and, for the next several months both sides unleashed soldiers and shells at each By Christmas, when the battle finally ended, 800,000 men had lost their lives. One hundred and twenty-five miles northwest of Verdun, the British and French armies joined at the Somme river. A French-British offensive was planned here for 1916 to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun.

The Battle of the Somme July 1,1916 –November 1916 The Allies had planned to launch a joint French and British assault in the region of the Somme. The target date was the middle of 1916. However, in February the Allied plan was upset when the Germans began an assault on the fortress-ringed city of Verdun. The belief was that Verdun was essential to the French that France would fight to the death. On February 21, the German artillery barrage began and, for the next several months both sides unleashed soldiers and shells at each By Christmas, when the battle finally ended, 800,000 men had lost their lives.   During this horrendous fighting, the French sent frantic appeals to Sir Douglas Haig, the new British commander, to hasten the Somme offensive and to take the pressure off Verdun.

Battle of the Somme July-Nov. 1916 British & French felt a massive assault on German forces would turn tide of war. After a week of constant bombardment, the British came out of their trenches. By the end of the first day, British casualties were 110, 000 (19,000 dead).

BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1 July 1916 British suffered 57,470 casualties 19,240 deaths.

Battle of the Somme 1916 Britain lost 420,000 France-200,000; Germany-650,000. More British soldiers died in the first three days at the Somme than Americans in WWI, Korea & Vietnam combined. Ends in a Stalemate