The Great War: New Technology of WWI

1. The Great War:NewTechnology of WWI

2. Introduction Assembly Line Fast & efficient production of new weapons • WWI – First large scale modern war Improved Hygiene & Living Standards Increasing population Carnage & Death on Unprecedented Level

3. Trenches • What other technologies are used with the trenches?

4. Trench Warfare

5. Trenches(cont’d) • How a Trench was supposed to look • How a Trench actually looked

6. Trench Warfare “No Man’s Land” The space between the two trenches.

7. Tanks • Most innovative technological development of war • Why were they developed? • To try to break the stalemate • 1st Use – January 1916 • British Mark I • Crew of 6, Speed 3mph • French Renault • ¼ the weight, 2x as fast as British tanks

8. Tanks(cont’d) • Video • Why is the tread the key to the tank? • What was it like to be inside a WWI tank? • How did the crew on the French Renault communicate? • What was the key feature of the French tank? • Impact • Very little – Tank useless in defensive war • Germans lagged behind in tank tech but it didn’t matter • Would be major weapon in 2nd World War

9. Air Power • WWI – • 1st war where air power played a tactical role • Types • Observation Balloons • Zeppelins • Air Planes

10. Air Power (cont’d) • Video • Observation Balloons • How far could they see? • How did they communicate information back to the ground? • Zeppelins • What were they filled with? • What capabilities did they have? • What were they used for? • Drawbacks?

11. Air Planes • Relatively New Technology • 10 years old • Great Amount of Development During WWI • Beginning – flimsy, slow, low flying, fall apart, basically motorized kites • End – Bigger planes w/ bigger engines, more weapons • Greatest Contribution to War Effort=Reconnaissance • Video • How did engineers overcome obstacles to arming planes? • Who had the best aircraft?

12. The Flying Aces of World War I • Dogfights – close range aerial combat • Aces – an aviator who shoots down 5 or more enemy aircraft Eddie Rickenbacher, US Manfred vonRichtoffen, Ger.[The “RedBaron”]

13. Machine Gun • Most Effective Weapon - Why? • Perfect defensive weapon • Video • What was the range of WWI machine guns? • How many rounds per minute could they fire? • Why was the swivel ability important? • Impact • What effects would the use of this weapon have? • Generals – slow to change strategies (Battle of the Somme)

14. What is artillery? Big guns, larger shells Types(Video) Line of sight – Howitzers – Mortars – Effects in Belgium What did the German “Big Berthas” do to the fortifications in Belgium? Paris Gun What was it purpose? Range? What were its drawbacks? From a defensive position, how could machine guns be used in conjunction with mortars? Artillery

15. Poison Gas • WWI – 1st use of chemical warfare • Previous international agreement • Cannot use shell w/ sole purpose of disseminating toxic gas • Tear Gas – nonfatal, irritant • Video • Chlorine Gas – What happens to those affected? • What were the drawbacks to the gas masks that were created in response to gas attacks? • Mustard Gas – What is it? What are its effects? • Impact • not decisive, made life miserable

16. U-Boats • Undersea Boats • Mainly used by Germans • Video • Who is the father of the modern submarine? • For what purpose did the Germans use their U-boats? • What weapons were U-Boats equipped with? • What was the U-Boats key to success? • How did the use of U-boats both help and hurt the Germans?

17. Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats • How effective were the German U-Boats in accomplishing their mission?

18. Other WWI Technologies • Flame Throwers • Grenade Launchers • Barb Wire • Other Failed Technology