Western, Eastern and Home Fronts of WWI The “Fronts” Western, Eastern and Home Fronts of WWI

Western Front Characterized by trench warfare Generals were used to fighting by movement War of Attrition: Attempting to wear down the other side by constant attacks and heavy losses Airplanes, tanks and chemical warfare (Mustard gas) used for the first time in war

“Going Over The Top” Rifle Bayonet Grenades 170 rounds of ammunition Gas Mask Shovel Wire cutters Full water bottle Food rations Extra clothing Medical supplies Cooking stove/fuel

Eastern Front Primarily just Russia fighting against the Central Powers As of 1916, Russia had not industrialized Lack of: Food Guns Ammunition Clothes Boots Blankets Blockades of the Baltic and Black seas prevented assistance More than 2 million soldiers killed, wounded or captured in 1915

Home Front Wounded soldiers were brought home late at night to not draw attention to the amount of soldiers being hurt Inflation: Food prices rose Government implemented rationing sugar, meat, butter, cheese, margarine Bombing raids by the Germans Round the clock factories

Influence of Industrial Revolution on War Railroads were able to supply the troops more quickly than before Railroads could replace worn out/wounded soldiers Factories were able to produce munitions in large amounts Soldiers were maimed and disfigured due to the new way of fighting

Major Battles Battle of the Marne 1 (1914): First major battle of WWI ending in Allied victory Destroyed the Schlieffen Plan Battle of Tannenburg (1914): German victory over Russia Regained East Prussia Battle of the Somme (1916): Allied Victory in France Battle of the Marne 2 (1918): Fresh American troops Victory for the Allied leading to end of war

The Entry of the U.S. United States tried to remain neutral Britain and Germany set up naval blockades to prevent war materials and other goods from getting to their enemies Germany enforced their blockade by sinking passenger liners 1915: British ship Lusitania was sunk by German forces. Over 100 Americans were aboard that ship Zimmermann Note: Message from Germany to Mexico, 1917 United States officially entered the war in April 1917 and was a major source of money and war goods

U.S. Home Front College students joined student Army training corps Curriculum emphasized America’s superiority over Germany Children were taught to sing patriotic songs Women volunteered with the Army Nursing Corps Worked in factories, on Navy ships, and in charitable organizations such as the Red Cross