Fighting World War I

Weapons ♦ Rifles and pistols ♦ Machine guns ♦ Artillery ♦ Bayonets ♦ Torpedoes ♦ Flame throwers ♦ Mustard and chlorine gases ♦ Smokeless gunpowder During WWI, the soldiers in the trenches used a wide variety of weapons, these included:

In the trenches, British soldiers carried bolt action rifles. They could kill someone about a mile away. Machine guns were large in 1914 and needed 4-6 men for operation.

This war was the first to use chlorine and mustard gas. The German army was the first to use chlorine in French soldiers assumed it was smoke and only realized they were being gassed when they started to have chest pains and a burning sensation in their throats. Mustard gas was the most deadly biological weapon used. It was odorless, took 12 hours to take effect, and it remained active for several weeks when it landed in the soil. Mustard gas made the skin blister, eyes sore and the victim vomit. It would cause internal and external bleeding. It could take up to 5 weeks to die.

The first tank needed a crew of 3. Its maximum speed was 3 mph and it was unable to cross trenches. The tank design improved over the course of the war. Planes started to be used to deliver bombs and became fighter aircraft armed with machine guns. They were also used for reconnaissance work.

Soldiers fought from within the trenches It was usually tight quarters

Fighting Sometimes an easy target

Dangers of Trench life

Trenchfoot From having wet feet most of the time and nowhere to dry them out

Dead bodies…. Left to rot in the trenches because of the machine gun fire that kept the soldiers in the trenches An easy food source for rats and a place to breed disease

Bring rats

Soldiers of all nations hunted the rats– sometimes rations were short and meat was added to their diet

Causes of Shell Shock Horrors of War Death Over the Top Killing people Day after day of heavy artillery Any one of these could cause soldiers to develop a psychological disorder.

Symptoms of Shell Shock Uncomfortable Diarrhoea Anxiety Hics Stomach cramps Nightmares Unable to eat or sleep Re-living nightmares Losing sight Dizziness and disorientation Stammering

Battles on the Western Front Battle of Verdun – France, Central Powers attempt to defeat France quickly and get Britain to seek agreement. Almost a year later, virtually no change in battle lines, but half-a-million casualties. Battle of The Somme – France, Allies attack in attempt to drain Germans who launched battle of Verdun. 60,000 British troops die the first day. One million die and plan is called off.

The Eastern Front Battle of Tannenberg – East Prussia, German troops devastate poorly equipped Russian troops and 250,000 Russians die.

British troops landing at the Dardanelles Battle of Gallipoli The Ottoman Turks join the Central Powers in late They cut off Allied supply lines to Russia at the Dardenelles. In 1915, the Allies send a force of British, Indian, Australian and New Zealander troops to open lines. Turkish troops trap the Allies who withdraw with 200,000 casualties.

The war resulted in mass devastation in Europe million men mobilized - 9 million died - 19 million were wounded - In proportion to population, France suffered the worst lost with half of young men dying in war - This was the greatest tragedy in world history at the time

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