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H110: World War I – Train Wreck of Revolutions

H110: World War I – Train Wreck of Revolutions. Train Wreck of Revolutions. New Weapons Mass Production Rapid transportation and communication. INDUSTRIAL. National political mobilization Mass armies “Total War?”. MASS POLITICS. MANAGERIAL. Great War.

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H110: World War I – Train Wreck of Revolutions

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  1. H110: World War I – Train Wreck of Revolutions

  2. Train Wreck of Revolutions • New Weapons • Mass Production • Rapid transportation and communication INDUSTRIAL • National political • mobilization • Mass armies • “Total War?” MASS POLITICS MANAGERIAL Great War • Economic mobilization • Central gov’t control • Strategic leadership?

  3. Ground Rules • Nobody set out to be deliberately stupid • Not an option: declining to fight • Not an option: wait 30 years for the tank to be perfected

  4. Generals’ Assumptions 1914 • War is inevitable • War will be short • We can win • Victory will go to the attacker • Losses will be heavy

  5. Weapons Technology Evolution • Infantry • Bolt-action, magazine fed, metallic cartridge rifle • Machine gun • Artillery • Breech loading, recoil mechanism, rifled • Munitions • Cavalry?

  6. Cavalry Organization/Tactics • Mounted - steel • Spirit of offensive • Turn enemy retreat into rout • Survivability? • Dismounted - rifle • “Corps of maneuver” on huge battlefield • Elimination not an option • Most mobile element in era of declining mobility

  7. Schlieffen Plan Neth Germany Belgium France Paris Switzerland

  8. Schlieffen Plan • Only German war plan • Based on “win-hold-win” strategy • Aimed to destroy French Army in 6 weeks • Violating Belgian neutrality, ensured British intervention • Demanded heroic marching performance from the right-wing armies • Severely strained C3 and logistics

  9. Schlieffen Plan Assumptions • Belgian rail network will be captured largely intact • Belgians will put up only token resistance • Russians will be unable to attack until their mobilization is complete • Right wing will be able to sustain a high speed of advance • French will be unable to switch forces from Alsace- Lorraine to counter the right wing

  10. March of the German 35th Fusiliers • September • 18.8 miles (Viller-Cotterets) • 8.8 miles • 20.6 miles • 18.8 miles (Montmirail) • 25.6 miles • None (Marne) • 23.1 miles • 20.6 (Marne) • None (Marne) • 20.0 miles • 18.1 miles • 7.5 miles (Aisne) • Total: 403 miles • Days: 27 • Battle Days: 11 • Average March: 15.1 miles • August • 13.1 miles • 25.0 miles • 6.2 miles (Gette) • 21.9 miles • 6.2 miles • 7.5 miles • 28.1 miles • 10.0 miles • 18.7 miles • 12.5 miles (Le Cateau) • 21.9 miles • 23.8 miles • 5.0 miles (Somme) • 15.6 miles • 20.6 miles

  11. Why Stalemate in 1914? • Exhaustion of ammunition • Limited heavy artillery • Lethality of weapons • Exhaustion of armies • Density of forces • No assailable flanks • All war plans failed

  12. Casualties 1914 • France 950,000 • Britain 64,000 • Germany (west) 700,000 • Germany (east) 200,000 • Austria-Hungary 750,000 • Russia 1,000,000

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