Bloody Conflict 7-3 Lesson Objectives: Understand how new technologies of warfare effected military tactics and casualties

Combat in WWI  Europe devastated by fighting ( )  1917 – the US enters the war – 2 million US troops Fresh troops & supplies help the Allies  Allies fighting on 2 fronts Western front – Germans fighting French, British, and Belgium forces Eastern front – Central Powers & Russia st_survey/resources/htmls/animations/ah23_ anim_westfrnt.html

Trench Warfare Europe had been fighting for 3 years in a stalemate A deadlock where neither side was strong enough to beat the other Old fashioned strategies & new technologies = terrible destruction Powerful artillery guns placed far behind the frontlines hurled huge explosive shells on to the battlefield. Both sides dug in creating a maze of trenches to protect themselves Shallow ditches to elaborate tunnels “no man’s land” Long and deadly offensives oks/amer_hist_survey/resource s/htmls/animations/trench_anim /ah23_anim_trenchwar.html

No Man’s Land

New Technology Both sides used new technology to attack more soldiers from greater distances. Artillery field guns Used to shoot airplanes out of the sky Poison gas (Chlorine & mustard) Yellow-green chlorine fog sickened, suffocated, burned, and blinded its victims. Gas masks became standard use. Machine Guns 600 rounds per minute Airplanes Front mounted with machine guns or loaded with bombs Submarines Attack from under water – did not see until too late Tanks and armored cars “mowed down” barbed wire or soldiers Barbed Wire Placed between opposing trenches

Trench Life Trench Foot Trench Mouth Trench Fever – Lice / Ticks Rats Frogs Horrible smells

The Americans Arrive John J Pershing – General commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) Insists Americans operate as a separate unit Independent role in shaping the peace Harlem Hell Fighters African American infantry unit Attached to French Army French were glad to fight side by side Spent more time under fire than any other unit Croix de Guerre – highest French military honor Welcomed home with huge parade in NY US “doughboys” arrive inexperienced but eager to fight on the Western front

Winning at Sea Merchant ships & troop transports traveled in groups = convoys Small maneuverable warships (destroyers) protected convoys Convoys reduced shipping losses and ensured American troops arrived safely

Flu Epidemic 1918 – 1919 deaths from epidemic – rapid spreading of contagious disease among large numbers of people. 500,000 Americans 30 million worldwide Believed to be spread by traveling soldiers US could not keep up with building coffins

Russia Leaves the War 3/1917 Riots break out Czar Nicholas II, leader of Russian Empire abdicated his throne – Russian Revolution begins. Temporary government established that tries to remain in the war 11/1917 Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Party seized power and establishes Communist government Lenin pulled Russia out of the war Treaty of Brest-Litovsky Russia gives up Ukraine, Polish and Baltic Territory and Finland **Germany can concentrate all its forces on the Western front

Battles Belleau Wood – 3 weeks French General – prepare trenches in rear in case you are needed. “We dig no trenches to fall back on. The marines will hold where they stand” US stop Germans on their way to Paris Argonne Forest – 47 days Final Allied Offensive High casualties – 100,000+ Germans forced to retreat Great War finally nearing its end Alvin York - hero

Armistice Treaty of Versailles officially ends the war 1919 Germans request armistice – an agreement to stop fighting The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month World War I ended

Armistice Day becomes Veteran’s Day

President Wilson’s 14 Points Wilson believes in no winners and no losers Treat Central Powers fairly Fourteen Points End secret alliances End secret alliances Freedom of the seas Freedom of the seas Free international trade Free international trade Limit on arms (weaponry) Limit on arms (weaponry) Self-determination- nations have the right to their own territory Self-determination- nations have the right to their own territory League of Nations (this was the most important) League of Nations (this was the most important)

The Paris Peace Conference Diplomats from 30 different nations met in Paris and Versailles to discuss peace. Great Britain, France and Italy wanted to punish Germany France – invaded 2x by Germany – does not want this to happen again France and Great Britain – war reparations ($)

STOP~THINK~DISCUSS Make your own “14 Points” Come up with at least 6 points on your own to bring to the Treaty of Versailles. Must include points that aim to prevent a future war. Use sharpies to write your points. Make them look NICE AND NEAT. Decorate if you have time. Due at the end of class!

The Treaty of Versailles Germany wasn’t even invited to peace talks. Germany accept full responsibility Germany pays $33 million in reparations Germany could keep a small army and navy 9 new nations created from Central Powers League of Nations created

Effects of the Treaty Germany felt humiliated League of Nations is established to prevent future wars The U.S. did not join the league…why do you think? The U.S. wanted to practice isolationism

The Cost of the War 8-9 million people died in battle More than all the wars in the past 100 years combined 4 million Russia, French, and British 2 million Germans 100,000 Americans TOTAL – 20 million injured on both sides Many died of disease, starvation and other war related causes Homeless and orphaned children Europe (mostly northern France) was in ruins

Terms & People to Know Convoy Armistice National-self determination Reparations Stalemate No Mans Land Doughboys Treaty of Versailles Fourteen Points Big Four Flu Epidemic