world war i life on the battlefront the nature of warfare

World War IWorld War I

Life on the BattlefrontLife on the Battlefront

The Nature of WarfareThe Nature of Warfare

The War on LandThe War on Land

►Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan Germany’s plan to quickly invade France, via Germany’s plan to quickly invade France, via

Belgium, and capture ParisBelgium, and capture Paris Then turn attention to RussiaThen turn attention to Russia By August 1914, Germans 35km from Paris, but By August 1914, Germans 35km from Paris, but

pushed into N. France by French and Britishpushed into N. France by French and British Stalemate – both sides dig defensive trenchesStalemate – both sides dig defensive trenches

►Eventually stretch from English Channel to Eventually stretch from English Channel to SwitzerlandSwitzerland


►Trench WarfareTrench Warfare Before WWI, cavalry would charge each other Before WWI, cavalry would charge each other

on open fields with rifles and bayonetson open fields with rifles and bayonets In WWI, new weapons (i.e. machine guns, In WWI, new weapons (i.e. machine guns,

artillery, landmines) made open charges artillery, landmines) made open charges suicidalsuicidal

Commanders stuck in old-fashioned mindsetCommanders stuck in old-fashioned mindset►Led soldiers to slaughterLed soldiers to slaughter►War of attrition – repeatedly attack until one side War of attrition – repeatedly attack until one side

unable to continue (exhaustion, not enough unable to continue (exhaustion, not enough soldiers)soldiers)

The War on LandThe War on Land►TechnologyTechnology

Machine gunsMachine guns Artillery (ex. Big Bertha)Artillery (ex. Big Bertha)

►BatteriesBatteries fired fired shellsshells filled with explosives and filled with explosives and shrapnelshrapnel

TanksTanks►Developed by 1916 to crush barbed wire and Developed by 1916 to crush barbed wire and

protect soldiers while crossing no man’s landprotect soldiers while crossing no man’s land►Often stuck in mud, but improvedOften stuck in mud, but improved

Poison GasPoison Gas►First used by Germans at Ypres in 1915First used by Germans at Ypres in 1915►Chlorine, phosgene, or mustard gasChlorine, phosgene, or mustard gas

Life in the TrenchesLife in the Trenches

►Cold and damp, often flooded and muddyCold and damp, often flooded and muddy Trench footTrench foot

►Overrun by rats and liceOverrun by rats and lice► Injuries often get infectedInjuries often get infected

If injured in no man’s land, usually left to die, If injured in no man’s land, usually left to die, too dangerous to be taken backtoo dangerous to be taken back

►Constant threat of snipers and artillery Constant threat of snipers and artillery shellsshells

Life in the TrenchesLife in the Trenches

The War in the AirThe War in the Air

►At beginning, mostly aerial At beginning, mostly aerial reconnaissancereconnaissance

►Soon, fighter aircraft with machine gunsSoon, fighter aircraft with machine guns ““dogfights”: air battles between planesdogfights”: air battles between planes Fighter pilots: glamourous, better living Fighter pilots: glamourous, better living

conditionsconditions 1917, average life expectancy of a fighter 1917, average life expectancy of a fighter

pilot was three weeks (no parachutes)pilot was three weeks (no parachutes) No Canadian air force; joined Royal Flying No Canadian air force; joined Royal Flying

Corps (RFC), part of Royal Air Force (RAF)Corps (RFC), part of Royal Air Force (RAF) Several Canadian “aces” – Billy Bishop; Roy Several Canadian “aces” – Billy Bishop; Roy

Brown (shot down Red Baron)Brown (shot down Red Baron)


►TechnologyTechnology German dirigibles (aka blimps, Zeppelins)German dirigibles (aka blimps, Zeppelins)

►Reconnaissance and bombing missionsReconnaissance and bombing missions►Britain used small ones to protect ships from Britain used small ones to protect ships from

submarinessubmarines

Fighter PlanesFighter Planes

The War at SeaThe War at Sea

►Britain and Germany had the strongest Britain and Germany had the strongest naviesnavies

►German U-boats (aka submarines), German U-boats (aka submarines), armed with torpedoes, hunted British armed with torpedoes, hunted British warships and merchant shipswarships and merchant ships Britain had no defense at first, then Britain had no defense at first, then

developed developed convoy systemconvoy system (travelling in (travelling in groups) and sonargroups) and sonar

►Canada’s merchant marine – transported Canada’s merchant marine – transported supplies to Britain, departing from Halifaxsupplies to Britain, departing from Halifax


►The Sinking of the The Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania In 1915, German U-boat sank British passenger In 1915, German U-boat sank British passenger

liner liner LusitaniaLusitania off the coast of Ireland off the coast of Ireland►1200 passengers died, many Canadians and Americans1200 passengers died, many Canadians and Americans►Germany felt justified because of ammunition onboardGermany felt justified because of ammunition onboard►United States outraged; Germans agree to stop targeting United States outraged; Germans agree to stop targeting

“neutral” ships“neutral” ships►In 1917, Germans had resumed targeting American shipsIn 1917, Germans had resumed targeting American ships►United States declares war on Germany April 6, 1917United States declares war on Germany April 6, 1917

world war i life on the battlefront the nature of warfare

Documents

airthe war

seathe war

switzerlandthe war

soldiersthe war

halifaxthe war

trenchesthe war

red baronthe war

mustard gasthe war