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WWI. In the beginning, the armies on the western front became almost immobile. The basic soldier was a man on foot (motor transportation was still new) Machine gun most deadly weapon The result was a long military stalemate Hence, trench warfare intensifies.
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WWI • In the beginning, the armies on the western front became almost immobile. • The basic soldier was a man on foot (motor transportation was still new) • Machine gun most deadly weapon • The result was a long military stalemate • Hence, trench warfare intensifies
Overview of the War: Western Front • A-H opened fire on Serbia • Russia mobilized its troops • Britain prepared its British Expeditionary Forces • Germany puts its Schlieffen Plan to action
Failure of Schlieffen Plan • Belgian resistance was unexpectedly strong • The attack on Belgian brought Britain into the war • The German delay in getting through Belgium • German forces marching to Paris were weakened by the deployment of some of their troops to the east • In Paris, reservists were sent out to meet Germans
Statlemate • The Germans were driven back from Ypres in April 1915 • 2nd battle of Ypres that poisonous gas was used by the Germans • The attacks halt
1914 • Schlieffen plan is stopped by a counterattack by the French and small British contingent • Battle of Marne (September 5-12)-changed the whole character of war • The hope of knocking France out in one blow was ended • The Germans failed to gain control of the Channel Ports
1915 and 1916 • The Germans and the Austro-Hungarians put their effort into knocking out Russia • They pressed hard into Russia/tsarist Russia-2 million, captured and wounded in 1915 • The British tried to open tried to open communications launched naval attack on Turkey-Battle of Gallipoli-the allies lose after a year
1916 • In 1916, both sides turned to the western front to end the deadlock • The allies planned a great offensive along the Somme river in France, while the Germans planned an offensive in Verdun
Verdun • The Germans attack Verdun in February • General Petain holds troops for the upcoming offensive on Somme, so he is limited • The battle of Verdun lasted 10 months and became a legend for determined French resistance • Each side sustained 330,000-350,000 casualities
Somme • While Verdun was taking place, the allies opened their offensive on the Somme in July • During a week long bombardment , the Brits lost 60,000 men on the first day • General Douglas Haig made bad decisions • In a wk they had advanced only 1 mile on a 6 mile front. • The battle lasted 4 months • The battle cost the Germans about 500,000, the Brits 400,000, and the French 200,000
Results of the Battle of Somme and Verdun • Nothing of real value was gained in these battles • In one and half months the British advanced only two and half miles • Huge causalities • At the battle of Somme, the Brits fired more than 1.5 million shells in 5 days
War at Sea page 691 • The land armies were helpless-they look to the sea • The Brits imposed a strict naval blockade • Contraband and noncontraband (make a T chart)
Page 692 • Purpose was to prevent the Brits from starving out other countries • The allies announced a new international law-NO MORE NICE GUY!=Total war
continued • Germans counter with a blockade of England • Germans rely on sub, but the sub is unrefined weapon
Total War • A war in which a state uses all its human and material resources to fight
WWI is Total War • Both sides fight for total victory • Gov’ts used all weaponry that they had; they also developed new technology • It involve all people in society . Civilians are targeted and they suffered from the economic warfare. • The state becomes an efficient war-making machine
War at Sea Continued • The Brits stop all goods in route for Germany-stop distinguishing between contraband and noncontraband • At first the USA protested this action and defended the neutrality of the seas-they upheld “freedom of the seas” • Then, the sinking of Lusitania in May 1915
Unrestricted sub warfare p.698 • Germans announce unrestricted sub warfare to resume on Feb 1, 1917 • Countermeasures were developed by the Brits to offset the blockade such as: mine barges, hydrophones, depth charges, airplane reconnaissance, and the convoy
hydrophone • Water/ Sound Underwater microphone
Reasons for Germany’s defeat • Schlieffen Plan failed • Britain comes in the war • Verdun was a failure • High-risk strategy of unrestricted submarine warfare brought USA in the war • Germany had weak allies • Germany’s dire economic conditions
