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I. THE CONDUCT OF THE GREAT WAR

I. THE CONDUCT OF THE GREAT WAR. The Guns of August 1914 to 1916. 1. The Western Front. Schlieffen plan initially successful French plans fall apart (plan 17) German armies move rapidly across Belgium Changes made by Moltke eventually led to failure Did not follow original plan

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I. THE CONDUCT OF THE GREAT WAR

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  1. I. THE CONDUCT OF THE GREAT WAR The Guns of August 1914 to 1916

  2. 1. The Western Front • Schlieffen plan initially successful • French plans fall apart (plan 17) • German armies move rapidly across Belgium • Changes made by Moltke eventually led to failure • Did not follow original plan • French counter-attack at Battle of Marne(Sept. 5-12) directed by Joffre • Stop German advance in northern France • Stalemate of trench warfare begins

  3. Eastern front • Russia mobilizes faster than expected • Causes Moltke to transfer troops from western front • Germans defeat Russians at Battle of Tannenburg(August 25-30) and Masurian Lakes(September 4-10) • Additional troops not needed • Hindenburg and Ludendorff become heroes • Russia successful against A-H • Germans forced to send troops to protect A-H

  4. The Balkans • Three invasions of Serbia by Austria-Hungary unsuccessful: 1914 • Turkey moves over to Central Powers • In 1915 after Bulgarians join Central Powers Serbia felled by General von Mackensen • Dardennelles campaign of the British fails (1915-1916) - so Black Sea is still cut off • Gallipoli – Churchill’s brainchild

  5. Italy • 1915 (early) joins Allies - promised Trentino and Trieste • Little military importance - few resources, bad army • Trench warfare on Italian-Austro-Hungarian frontier

  6. Naval War • British navy blockade cut communication and shipping • Battle of Jutland – German Navy driven back by Royal navy • This situation drove Germany in desperation to submarine which brought in the U.S.A. • Fleet bottled up - so use submarine • "war zone" around the British Isles (1915) - will sink all merchant vessels • Lusitania is sunk in May 1915: Sussex is sunk in April 1916: both drove US closer to Allies

  7. Protection of supplies and soldiers from Canada and the U.S. to Europe • Convoy system and advent of ASDIC/SONAR neutralize sub threat • Resumption of unrestricted Submarine warfare in 1917 key reason for US entry into war.

  8. THE WAR: 1916 • Germans attempt to bleed France to death by capturing Verdun (February - July) • Germans are beaten back by Pétain • British attack on the Somme (July - November) • Losses for two battles: Allies - 950,000 + Germans - 785,000 = 1,735,000 • The result was a war of attrition

  9. THE WAR: 1917 - The Critical Year Western Front • Nivelle offensive to break through trenches: great loss of life; open mutiny in places • Defeatism in England, France and Germany - no decision; economic hardship

  10. Eastern front – Russia v Germany • Terrible military defeats for Russia since 1914 by Germans. • Corruption and incompetence of Tsar's bureaucracy • March Revolution - Kerensky tries to carry on the war • Army is disintegrating • November Revolution - Bolsheviks seize power under Lenin • "No annexations and no indemnities" - policy of new government • Crushing Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918)

  11. Entrance of the U.S.A. in April 1917 • German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare February 1 • Zimmermann Telegram • U.S. economy involved in Allied cause • Security of U.S. and civilization threatened - "make the world safe for democracy" - Wilson • Germany: great spring offensive in 1918 • Yet, U.S. entrance the great turning point of the war

  12. THE WAR AND THE ARMISTICE: 1918 • The Final German Effort • March - July - create pockets in allied lines • 800,000 casualties for French and British • Ludendorff destroys the German army and the Allies hold on • Americans tilt the balance - bring in 100,000 troops - second Battle of the Marne - Chateau Thierry • Unity of command under Foch

  13. Other problems for Germany • German Allies crumble • Turks forced out of Asia Minor in 1918 • Allied forces move up from Salonika against Bulgaria in September 1918 - surrender follows • Whole German southeast began to crumble • Austria-Hungary on the brink of revolution • Domestic problems • Shortage of food and fuel • Foch drives German army back in the West • German soldiers on the Eastern Front infected with Bolshevism • Fourteen Points of President Wilson convince Germans that the war is lost and that peace had to be made

  14. Armistice • September 29, 1918: army informs the government that the war is lost and demands an armistice • Allied conditions made resumption of the war impossible : surrender of military supplies; evacuation west - Rhine territory; food blockade to continue • Armistice accepted on November 11 (11:00 am) at Compiègne

  15. Things to consider • With few exceptions, Leadership on both sides was poor • Germany was allied with weakest of 5 great powers • German military strategy had adverse political effects throughout war • Technology invented during the war had little impact on outcome. • Civilian participation was unprecedented and for the most part very supportive – except Russia

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