The Schlieffen Plan L.I.: To understand how the German plan to invade France and end the war in 6 weeks failed. Starter Stick in the A5 Schlieffen Plan diagram sheet. Analyse the map- what were the intentions of the German armies?

The Schlieffen plan was designed to take France out of the war The Schlieffen plan was designed to take France out of the war. The Germans planned the attack in 1905 and put it in to action as soon as the war started in August 1914. By attacking France quickly the Germans hoped to take control of Paris and capture the French government and army commanders.

The Schlieffen Plan - Summary Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia. “Knock out blow” aimed at France first. Avoid French defences by invasion of Belgium. Germans thought Britain would not intervene. France defeated within 6 weeks G.B. defeated in 6 months.

How do you win a war? Work as a group to write down ideas and tactics in the back of your book.

New tactics and technology

Key words Creeping barrage – The tactic used by gunners to protect their infantry in open ground. Trench system– Long, interlinked holes in the ground used by soldiers for shelter. Artillery – Large guns that fired shells long distances behind enemy lines.

A Vickers 303 Machine Gun

How the Vickers 303 Machine Gun was fired.

Tanks on the Battle Field

A Gas Attack as seen from the air

The Bell was rung as a warning of a gas attack

What was Gas all about? The Germans used a horrifying new weapon at the second battle of Ypres in April 1915. This weapon was poison (Chlorine) gas The gas attack caused panic in the Allied trenches The Germans started to advance, but the wind changed direction and blew the gas towards the German lines, causing more casualties amongst the Germans than amongst the Allies Soon both sides were using gas

Germans fleeing the battle field from the gas that was been blown in their direction

Chlorine Gas irritated the lungs and many of those affected died of suffocation. The Germans later used Phosgene, which was more powerful than the Chlorine Phosgene is a colourless poisonous gas In 1917 Mustard Gas started to be used Mustard Gas had no smell This gas temporarily blinded its victims, burned their skin and poisoned their lungs

Soldiers blinded in a gas attack waiting for medical help

Gas, however, was not a war-winning weapon. It became largely ineffective when gas masks were introduced to protect the soldiers against it Soldiers on both sides hated the gas. Gas had the effect of panicking the soldiers Attacking troops also feared the gas being blown back into their own trenches

An early gas mask

Early styles of gas masks

Even the horses were provided with gas masks

A machine gun crew wearing their gas masks

A later style of gas mask

Task Use Big Ideas pages 244-246 to complete the A4 new technologies sheet. Research the new technologies. Rank them in order of importance in terms of winning the war- YOUR opinion.