World War I Chapter 23 Section 2 1914-1918

1914 to 1915: Illusions & Stalemate With the war going much longer than people originally anticipated, new efforts were made to involve everyone in the country in the war effort in one way or another. Propaganda, or ideas spread to influence the public were passed out by governments to gain support for the war. The war was fought in 2 main fronts during the early years. One side was the western front, where the Germans sent some of their troops to invade France as part of the Schlieffen plan. The other front was the eastern front, where the Germans planned to hold off the Russians, this was also part of the Schlieffen plan.

WWI Propaganda Irish Propaganda American Propaganda German Propaganda

The Western Front The Western front was located along the border between France and Germany. After the Germans made their way into France via Belgium, the 2 armies finally met at the battle of the Marne. The battle lasted 5 days. Their were very little gains made as trench warfare was the main method used by both sides. Soldiers from both sides had dug trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire. While this method was successful in maintaining your position, it did little to advance the troops.

The Western Front

The Eastern Front The war on the Eastern front was very different from that of the Western Front. There was more movement of soldiers and more confrontation. Early on, the Germans were able to defeat the Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg & the Battle of Masuran Lakes. After these defeats the Russian were no longer a threat to the Germans. Germany’s ally, Austria-Hungary, was not as successful fighting the Russians. Russia defeated the Austrians in Galicia (Russian-Austrio- Hungarian border). The Russians also defeated the Austrians in Bulgaria, forcing Austria-Hungary to lose that territory. Germany eventually came to the aid of their allies and helped Austria-Hungary defeat the Russians. Russia suffered 2.5 million casualties, pushing Russia to the brink of exiting the war.

The Eastern Front Also important is the fact that Italy switched sides early on. Italy had abandoned the triple alliance and joined the triple entente, which are now refereed to as the Allies, or the Allied Powers. Bulgaria soon joined the conflict on the side of the Germany and Austria-Hungary, allowing Germany to move their army to the Western front. After losing Italy and gaining Bulgaria, the triple alliance was remained the Axis Powers, or Central Powers.

The Eastern Front

The Great Slaughter On the western front, trench warfare turned into a system of defense. Trenches now stretched hundreds of miles. They were fortified with barbed wire and machine guns. Troops lived in their trenches and would eventually attack their enemies but this was not successful as advancing soldiers were shot by machine guns. The area between the trenches was refereed to as No Man’s Land. As both sides became frustrated with trench warfare desperate tactics were used which lead to the deaths of millions. The war now became a war of attrition, or a war based on wearing the other side down.

Trench Warfare

Christmas Day Truce Statue, Liverpool , England

Arial Warfare Another new technology that was adapted for military purposes is the airplane. Initially planes were only used to target ground targets, later on the planes were fighting in the air. Germans also adapted zeppelins for ware fare. Similar to blimps today, but without a pilot. These were used to bamb London and eastern England. These zeppelins were filled with hydrogen gas so when they were hit by enemy fire, they would blow up in the sky.

German Zeppelin

Widening the War As the war continued both sides sought new allies. The Ottoman Empire, the last remaining Muslim empire in the world joined in on the side of the Axis powers. The allies tried to invade the ottoman empire but were unsuccessful in the battle of Gallipoli. Great Britain sought to bring about the end of the Ottoman empire internally. Lawrence of Arabia, a british officer rallied the Arabs within the Ottoman Empire to revolt and gain their independence. This strategy proved successful and the Ottoman Empire falls apart.

Ottoman Empire at the beginning of WW!

Widening the War Italy which had switched sides, leaving the Axis powers and joining the Allies was promised a piece of Austrian territory if they would open up a front against Austria-Hungary. Australia, Japan, & New Zealand also joined the war effort on the side of the Allies. The war now began to expand into the Pacific. With Germany preoccupied in Europe, they had small forces in the Pacific. Germany would lose all of their colonial possessions in the pacific after a series of defeats.

Entry of the United States The U.S. declared their neutrality at the beginning of the war. As the war dragged on, it was clear that the U.S. would eventually have to enter the conflict. When the naval warfare began between Britain & Germany, American lives were put at risk for the 1st time. Britain set up a naval blockade to keep goods from entering Germany by sea. In retaliation Germany, set up a naval blockade of Great Britain. Germany called for unrestricted Submarine warfare, which put American lives in danger. On May 7, 1915, German U-boats (submarines) sank the Lusitania, a passenger ship with 100 Americans on board, all parished.

Sinking of the Lusitania

Entry of the United States American citizens were now calling for the U.S. to enter the War on the side of the Allies. Germany fearful that they would be at a disadvantage if the U.S. entered the war agreed to call of unrestricted submarine warfare. After Germany reinstates unrestricted submarine warfare, the United States officially joins the Allies in April 1917. American troops did not get to Europe until 1918, but the psychological boost that it gave their allies helped the m continue the fight.

The Impact of Total War As the war continued it became a total war or a complete mobilization of resources & allies. Everyone was now involved in the war effort either directly by joining the armed forces or indirectly but modifying their lifestyles at home. Government power began to increase during war time and many civil liberties in constitutions were no longer guaranteed. Increased government manipulation also increased via propaganda posters. Governments also changed the way that the economy functioned. Planned economies, or an economic system directed by the government was instituted in many countries.

Woodrow Wilson “ Remain to till the soil and man the factories are no less part of the Army than the men beneath the battle flags.”

Total War & Women Since so many males were fighting in the army, women's roles were changed to adapt to the war time climate. Because of this many women gained employment in factories. This would be the beginning of the Women's rights movements in many countries.. Because women were so important to the war effort, they would eventually gain the right to vote after WWI in many Western countries.