1. World War 1
Weapons & Battles

2. “It was the machine gun that froze the front”
Industrialization produced new killing machines of terrible efficiency
Generals, unaccustomed to new weapons, were confused
In one 1916 battle, the British suffered 60,000 casualties in a single day
Battle stalemated, morale sank

3. Casualties Great Britain 1,000,000 France 1,300,000 Russia 1,700,000
Germany and allies 3,500,000
America 50,000
At least 5,500 people died per day during the War

4. Machine Guns Invented in 1884 by Hiram Maxim
High rate of fire (> 450 rds/min)
Dominated the battlefield
Mounted on wheels, on tanks, in aircraft, or hand carried

5. Tanks Developed 1915 to overcome stalemate on the Western Front
Originally called “landships,” renamed “tank” to preserve secrecy
Produce by British, German, French

6. Chemical Weapons First systematic use in this war
Effective against troops in trenches or bunkers
1.3 million casualties due to chemical weapons
Included phosgene, tear gas, chlorasines, mustard gas

7. Aircraft Primitive aircraft
“Dogfights,” strategic bombing, aerial reconnaissance
Usually ineffective

8. Artillery Industrialization led to larger, more powerful guns
Fired hundreds of shells daily
Shell Crisis of 1915

9. Trenches Stretched for hundreds of miles Multiple lines
Used by all sides
Difficult to overcome
Led to development of the tank
Often dangerous to occupants

10. Notable Battles Battles of the Marne Ypres Somme Cambrai
Lasted 4 years, hundreds of thousands casualties, zero movement
Ypres
First use of poison gas
Somme
“Big Push,” horrific failure, one of the worst slaughters in history
Cambrai
First large-scale tank offensive, both sides surprised by British success