World War I Notes

1. World War I Notes

2. Causes of World War I: MAIN • Militarism • Refers to the tendency to identify national success with military success • Refers to the desire to build up strong armies and navies • Armies • Germany vs. France and Russia (two largest armies in Europe • Navies • Germany vs. Britain (largest navy in the world)

3. MAIN 2. Alliances • Refers to agreements between countries to stick together • Defensive alliances—most common that an alliance means that a second country will come help if a first country is attacked. • Triple Entente • “Entente Cordiale” between Russia and France (to guard against Germany) since the Franco-Prussian War • Britain and France have a non-aggression pact (one will not attack the other) • Until the actual outbreak of WWI, this is a very SHAKY alliance

4. MAIN • Triple Alliance • Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Italy • Later in the war, Italy will switch sides and the Ottoman Empire will become the third member. • Ethnic Sympathies between Russia and Serbia • Both are “slavic” nations—similar culture, religion and language • Serbia has access to the sea that Russia would like to use!

6. MAIN • Imperialism • Obtaining colonies for resources and grandeur • Africa and Asia are prime targets • British: everywhere! (“The sun never sets on the British Empire”) • French: southeast Asia and Africa • USA: Pacific Islands\ • Germany: a relatively “NEW” power... WANTS COLONIES to fuel its industrial growth and increase its prestige • Problem: brings them into conflict with British and French

8. MAIN • Nationalism • Two types: • Desire for an independent country (ie Serbia) separate from the Empire controlled by others • Deep loyalty to, and pride in, one’s own country • The desire for Serbia (and other countries too!) to create their own nations upset the power of empires. • Serbia tries to free Bosnia from Austrian control • The “Empires” prefer to maintain their control • Germany wants to expand its empire

9. “The Spark” • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand • June 1914, in Sarajevo Bosnia • Assassinated at a parade... A show of “Empire” on the part of Austria Hungary • By GavriloPrincip—member of the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group

10. The Chain of Events • Repercussions • Austria blames Serbia and issues ultimatum: • Put down nationalist hatred of Austria Hungary • Punish the terrorists • Allow Austria-Hungary to enter Serbia to crush the Black Hand • Serbia refuses the 3rd item • Austria declares war on Serbia on July 26 (after getting permission from Germany, its ally) • Russia mobilizes to support Serbia, so does France • Germany demands they stand down, they do not

11. The Chain of Events • Germany declares war on Russia on Aug 1 and France on Aug 2 • They respond. • Germany begins Schlieffen Plan • This means attack France by going through Belgium to avoid heavy French border defenses. • Britain has guaranteed Belgian neutrality and so declares war on Germany. • Britain is at war, so Canada is at war!

12. Schlieffen Plan • Goal: Avoid a two-front war!!! • Invade France and conquer it quickly so that Germany can then turn and face Russia. • To accomplish this: • Attack through Belgium • Capture Paris

13. Canada Goes To War • Britain declares war on August 4, 1914 • Canada is automatically at war—although Gov. Gen. Announces Canada’s state of war the next day • Prime Minister Borden establishes Canadian Expeditionary Force—25 000 men • Militia (part-time soldiers) was 60 000 strong • Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia, recruited volunteers • Believed a dedicated volunteer would be a better soldier than a paid professional. Why? • Patriotism • Sense of adventure • Unemployment (Economic Recession) • Prairie Drought • 10 000 volunteers in a single week!

14. Mobilizing the Troops • Valcartier Camp • 30 000 trained • Ross Rifle • Canadian made, sharp-shooting rifle • An excellent sniper rifle but not suited to damp, muddy conditions—would often jam! • Canadians would often take the Lee Enfield rifles from fallen British soldiers • Hughes (who purchased and championed the gun) would later be fired (1916) and Canadians would be issued new guns • Salisbury • Lots of physical training in England under British leadership • Frankly, lots of waiting around to be useful!

15. The Schlieffen Plan • German plan to win a war on two fronts (France and Russia) • Attack France first because Russia will be slow to mobilize • Pass through neutral Belgium to cut AROUND Paris and surround it • When France surrenders, turn and face Russia full on!

16. Failure • The Plan Fails • Belgians put up a good fight for a little country—one month! • French and British prevent the wide path necessary to surround Paris and so Germany comes up short • German army does not carry out part of the plan that would draw troops away from Paris

17. Race to the Sea • Result of Schlieffen Plan failure • Series of battles in Fall of 1914 called “Race to the Sea” • An effort to “outflank”... • Both sides “dig in” and face each other in a series of trenches • Line of trenches stretches to the sea in the north • No way to “outflank” each other • STALEMATE

18. Trench Warfare • Tunnels and ditches in the dirt to provide “cover” from the enemy • Separated by “No Man’s Land” • An area between the two opposing trenches • A VERY dangerous place to be! • Filled with barbed wire, shell craters, and sometimes snipers.

19. Trench Warfare • Trench Systems • Series of tunnels connecting rows of trenches • Some are the “front line”, some are for resupply, some for communication, some for “rest” and reinforcements

20. Trench Warfare • Trenches • Flood, cold, mud, disease, dead soldiers, rats, lice, etc. • Trench Foot • Wet and rotted feet from standing in water all the time • Trench Mouth • Infections of the gums • Shell Shock • Stress/nervous breakdown from constant noise, danger, sleep deprivation, fear, etc.

21. Canadian Battles of World War I • Ypres (Belgium, 1915) • First action for Canadians • Hold a 3.5 km line against Germans • First use of Chlorine Gas by Germans • Canadian Medic recognized the gas and found a solution: • Soak a handkerchief in urine and hold over face—ammonia neutralizes chlorine • Canadians manage to hold their line AND counter-attack while others are failing • Canada makes its mark as a talented, committed and brave fighting force

22. Canadian Battles of World War I • The Somme (France, beginning July 1, 1916) • Commanded by British General Haig • First Day: 57 470 casualties (highest ever in a single day) • British Artillery FAILS to • take out German barbed wire in No Man’s Land • take out German Machine Gun Nests • RESULT: HUGE CASUALTIES • 90% of Newfoundland’s Regiment is wiped out!

23. Canadian Battles of World War I • The Somme (cont’d) • General Haig presses on for 141 more days!!! • 1.25 million casualties (24 000 Canadians) • Gain 11 km of land • This will be a war of attrition! The side that throws the most men on the problem will eventually win. • Canadians gain a reputation as fierce fighters “whenever the Germans found the Canadian Corps coming into their line, they prepared for the worst.” British PM Lloyd George

29. Canadian Battles of World War I • Vimy Ridge (France, April 9, 1917) • High ridge overlooking the surrounding area • CANADIAN General Sir Arthur Currie commanding the assault • PLANNING, PLANNING, PLANNING!!! • “Neglect nothing.”—the lesson learned by Currie from studying the Somme and Verdun • Lots of reconnaissance, preparation, practice, supply lines, tunnels, etc. • Firsts: • Canadians fight together as a single corps • Rolling Barrage combined with Vimy Glide—new tactic • Major victory for the Entente (turning point of the war!) • Capture more ground, guns and prisoners than in the first 2.5 years of the war!!! • MODERN techniques for modern war! • MAJOR boost to Canadian nationalism and prestige

30. Canadian Battles of World War I • Passchendaele (Belgium, October 1917) • Area is below sea level—flooded and waterlogged most of the time! • Arthur Currie in charge again • Canadians win 7km of mud only to lose it back to the Germans later • 16 000 Canadians lost

35. Canadian Battles of World War I • Other Battles: • St. Eloi, Festubert, Mt. Sorrel, Courcelette, The Scarpe, Amiens, Arras, Canal du Nord, Cambrai, Hill 70

36. War in the Air "The airplane … will never play any part in such a serious business as the defence of a nation." ~Colonel Sam Hughes, 1914.

37. In the beginning… 1914 • Airplanes were relatively new and unproven • Canada does not have an air force of it's own • (The Royal Canadian Air Force will not be formed until the 1920s) • Canadians who want to fly join the British Flying Corps.

38. Allies Britain 156 planes France 113 planes Brits develop the Sopwith Camel by 1917 Eventually use airships also Germany 400 planes By 1915 the Fokker is equipped with a Machine gun that will not shoot the plane's propeller Zeppelins to engage in quiet reconnaissance and bombing raids The Match-up…

39. The Equipment… (early years) • Planes were FRAGILE • Stretched fabric over wooden frames • Flew 95-125 km/h • Could only fly for about one hour • Used for scouting • Pilots defended themselves with pistols, rifles and shot guns • Chains and bricks would be dropped out of the plane to "bomb" other planes

40. The Equipment…(the later years) • Machine Guns mounted on the plane so the pilot could shoot and fly at the same time. • Timing mechanism prevented the gun from shooting the plane's propellers

41. The Equipment… (the later years) • The German Fokker dominated until the British Camel came into production. • The Camel was the most manoeuvrable plane yet. Could turn sharply, speed to 182km/h and fly up to 5800m in altitude.

42. The Glorious… To be a pilot was a far more romantic notion than to be a trench soldier Off-time was significantly more luxurious Warm beds, better pay, better food, etc. "Aces" were real heroes The "Glory"…

43. And the not-so glorious… • Average life-span of a pilot was 3 weeks • Planes often referred to as "flying coffins" • Air Service sometimes called the "Suicide Service"

44. Canadian Airmen at War… • Canadians prove to be formidable fighters • Four of the top 7, and 10 of Britain's 27 top "Aces" are Canadians • By 1918, 40% of Britain's pilots are Canadian

45. Canada's Aces… Billy Bishop • Canada's top Ace is Billy Bishop (72 kills) • exceeded only by 1 Brit, 1 Frenchman and 1 German (The infamous "Red Baron")

46. Canada's Aces… Roy Brown • Roy Brown is credited with taking down the "Red Baron"—Germany's top Ace • Australians also take credit for this, saying that Von Richthofen was shot down by anti-aircraft fire

47. Canada's Contribution… • By the end of the war, Canada has… • Contributed a disproportionate share of pilots to the Royal Air Service • Shot down 438 enemy aircraft • Gained a reputation for skill and bravery • Canada will create its own Air Force in 1924

48. The War at Sea

49. The scene… • Germany's surface Navy was no match for Britain • Britain controls the Atlantic and the North Sea • Britain has blockaded the German coast • No supplies by sea!

50. The New Weapon… • BUT… Germany has a new, and more deadly weapon… The U-Boat (Unterseeboot) • Could stay submerged for 2.5 hours • Used these submarines to attack British shipping lanes and bust the blockade.