New Technologies of WWI, Eastern Front vs. Western Front, Total War 1. How did natural geographic location, access to technology, and position during the war (Which front were you on) play a role in in casualty numbers?

New Technologies  Weapons  machine guns  Airplane (1 st war in history to appear in battle)  Tear gas  Zepplins-German airships (blimps)—not very effective b/c they were filled hydrogen gas & would blow

WWI Tanks

Early models of the tank went about 4 mph… Russia attempted their own model called the Tsar Tank. They placed the tank on wheels vs. track & made them large enough to go over rough terrain quickly! 30 feet in diameter Front wheel

TSAR TANK

Failed Technology  First time tested the tank got stuck in the mud…. They could NOT get it out.  After a number of years it was cut up for scrap from the same spot it had gotten stuck.

WWI Planes

Western Front vs. Eastern Front

Western Front= Trench Warfare  On the Western Front…the trenches dug became elaborate systems of defense.  5ft high by 27 miles of barbed wire  Concrete machine gun nests  Troops lived in holes in the ground separated by a strip of territory known as no mans land.  Very little movement  Between these two years millions of soldiers died trying to breakthrough enemy lines.  EX: Verdun; 10 months=700,000 lives  WWI became a war of attrition- a war based on wearing the other side down by constant attacks and heavy losses.

Verdun

Trench Foot Also known as immersion foot or jungle rot Caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary and cold conditions. If untreated, usually results in gangrene and amputation

Eastern Front  VERY different then Western Front…  Lots of mobility & movement  HEAVY casualties  Italy changes sides 1915 joining the Allied powers and attacks Austria  Russian casualties are high due to poor industrialization.  Bulgaria joins war in 1915 on side of the Central Powers  Germany on the offensive on the eastern front.

Late to the Game….  United States will join the Allied Powers in 1917 over issues with Germany & unrestricted submarine warfare…  Ottoman Empire will join the Central Powers as well….  At this point WWI has become a TOTAL WAR….

Total War & Women  WWI became a TOTAL war that involved the complete mobilization of resources and people.  Leads to increased government power & manipulation of public opinion.  Ordinary citizens subject to rationing, propaganda, the draft, and loss of free speech.  WWI created many new jobs for women. Why?  So many men away at war women were asked to take over jobs that were not available to them before. (chimney sweeps, truck drivers, factory workers, farm laborers)  With the end of the war women were expected to resume their traditional roles.