1. The War Years
Part 2

2. War broke out August 1914
expected to be short
Central Powers - Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire
Italy declared neutrality
Allied Powers - France,Britain, Russia
Eventually 20 other nations joined allies
First Canadians sailed Oct. 3

3. Stalemate on the Western Front
Early months, war fought on western front
southern Belgium and Northern France
Germans stalled early Sept at Marne River
French and British took a stand
ended German hope for quick victory
Autumn series of battles known as “race to the sea”
Ypres - British stopped German attack

4. November 1914 - no side could deal final blow
Trench Warfare - next 3 years produced only a stalemate
“no man’s land” between trenches
days of shelling - “over the top”
most resulted in high casualties and little gain

5. New Weapons Staggering death toll due in part to new weapons
machine guns
poison gas [Germans, then allies] unpredictable
British introduced tank, used by both sides at end of war
Aircraft - first for observation, then equipped with machine guns
“dogfights” spectacular but little effect on war

6. Zeppelins (airships) used to bomb British coast
Submarine used effectively by Germany
British blockade, German navy no match but subs inflicted heavy damage
Allies organized convoys protected by warships

7. The Eastern Front Front much larger than western front
Black Sea to Baltic Sea
Russia - largest reserve of manpower but suffered from lack of supplies and poor leadership
with Serbia, battled Germans, Austrians, Turks
1915 Bulgaria joined central powers -with German aid overran Serbia
As in west, heavy casualties but little results

8. Revolution in Russia
Czar Nicholas II took command of armies - poor results
March bread riots in St.. Petersburg led to revolution and downfall of Czar
Provisional government vowed to continue war effort - morale was low
soldiers left to go home, desire for peace

9. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Support for provisional govt.faded as war continued
Radical revolutionaries, [Lenin] promised peace
November second revolution
Negotiated treaty with Germany - signed March 1918
Harsh terms - lost 25% of land/population
concern among allies-Germans concentrate on west