The War

Schlieffen Plan General Schlieffen believed Germany could reach Paris & defeat the French in 6 weeks Then move to the Eastern Front & fight the Russians Problems with his plan Troops went through an area that was too fortified Stronger resistance by the Belgians Russian army mobilized quicker than expected

1914-1915 Most people believed they had a just cause Western Front Believed it would be a short war Western Front First Battle of the Marne: Germans stopped before making it to Paris; saved Paris & boosted French morale War turned into a stalemate – both sides dug trenches from the English Channel to Switzerland; dug to protect themselves

Cabs carrying troops to the First Battle of the Marne

Eastern Front More mobile than the western Battle of Tannenberg: Russians defeated by the Germans; never really recovered Battle of Masurian Lakes: Russians defeated – no longer a threat to Germany Italy got out of the Triple Alliance Allied Powers: France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire

Western Front - 1916-1917 Trench warfare 5 ft. high barbed wire, 30 yds of no man’s land; 500 miles long; land mines No one knew how to fight this way Tried to breakthrough the lines – didn’t work, cost many lives Lived here for weeks at a time Endured cold, mud, rats, disease Soldiers went over the top of their trenches to attack the enemy Opponents then mowed them down with heavy artillery & machine guns Battle of Ypres Germans introduced poison gas; chlorine gas Caused blindness, choking, vomiting, torn lungs, & death

Battle of Verdun-1916 Battle of the Somme Surprise attack by the Germans Lasted 6 months-bloodiest battle of the war 700,000 men died – Germans lost to the French Battle of the Somme British introduced the tank; not an effective weapon during the battle Planes were introduced during; WWI First to spot the enemy Attacked ground targets Dogfights in the air

German Albatross

US DeHaviland DH-4

German Fokker DR – 1 Red Baron

German Fokker Eindecker

French Nieuport

British Handley Page 0/400

French Nieuport 17C

British SE5A Scout

British Sopwith Camel

Manfred von Richthofen Red Baron

Entry of the U.S. Tried to remain neutral Immediate cause: Germans sank the Lusitania – had over 100 Americans on it Zimmermann Telegram: German minister promised Mexico they would get their lands returned if they helped the Germans; telegram was discovered & printed; angered many Americans Germany stopped unrestricted submarine warfare 1917: Germans began unrestricted warfare again U.S. came into the war in April 2, 1917 on the Allied side Brought a psychological boost, money, & war goods

Total War WWI had turned into a total war Involved all citizens Price, wage, & rent controls Rationed food supplies Newspapers were censored Use of propaganda Women took over jobs when the men left

Pair Assignment Why did the U.S. enter WWI? How did the war turn into a war of attrition?