World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924) Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War

World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924) Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War Learning Objectives Understand how trench warfare led to a stalemate on the Western Front. Identify and describe the impact of modern military technology on the fighting. Outline the course of the war on multiple European fronts. Explain how World War I was a global conflict.

World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924) Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War Key Terms stalemate, zeppelins U-boats, convoys, Dardanelles, T. E. Lawrence

A New Kind of War World War I—known at the time as the “Great War”—was the largest conflict in history up to that time. The French mobilized almost 8.5 million men, the British nearly 9 million, the Russians 12 million, and the Germans 11 million. For those who fought, the statistics were more personal. “One out of every four men who went out to the World War did not come back again,” recalled a survivor, “and of those who came back, many are maimed and blind and some are mad.”

A New Kind of War Stalemate on the Western Front Schlieffen Plan failed Belgium resisted German advance Russia mobilized faster than expected Battle of the Marne- GB and France counter attacked and stopped the offensive Stalemate- Trench Warfare Trench systems? High Casualty Rates Old tactics, new technology Massive offensives against Machine guns Barb wire Land mines Better artillery Verdun- 11 month battle- half million casualties Battle of the Somme- 5 month battle, over a million casualties, 60,000 British casualties in one day

A New Kind of War Analyze Maps Who do you think was in a better strategic position at the start of the war, the Allies or the Central Powers? Why?

A New Kind of War This German soldier was one of the many casualties of the fighting during World War I. Massive offenses and new military technology combined to produce extremely high casualty rates.

Modern Military Technology The enormous casualties suffered on the Western Front were due in part to the destructive power of modern weapons. Two significant weapons were the rapid-fire machine gun and the long-range artillery gun. Machine guns mowed down waves of soldiers. Artillery allowed troops to shell the enemy from more than 10 miles away. The shrapnel, or flying debris from artillery shells, killed or wounded even more soldiers than the guns.

Modern Military Technology Poison Gas Wasn’t very effective, but terrifying Germans used first Mustard gas Chlorine gas Blinded and suffocated Tanks, Airplanes, and Submarines Tanks- invented to break stalemate Zeppelins- better direct battles, eventually drop bombs Airplanes- at first scouts- then used in battle Red Barron U-boats- German submarines Sank thousands of ships Convoys- at sea, to protect ships

Modern Military Technology Poison gas and machine guns are two examples of the military technology that killed and wounded so many. These British machine gunners wear gas masks during the Battle of the Somme, in July 1916.

Other European Fronts From the outset of World War I, Germany and Austria-Hungary battled Russia on the Eastern Front. There, battle lines shifted back and forth, sometimes over large areas. Even though the armies were not mired in trench warfare, casualties rose even higher than on the Western Front. The results were just as indecisive.

Other European Fronts Mounting Russian Losses in the East After initial gains, ill-equipped and ill-led Russian troops are slaughtered by Germans Germans used rail system to move troops around Tannenberg- Germans destroyed two Russian armies War in Southern Europe Bulgaria joins Central Powers Romania joins Allies Italy declares war on AH

Other European Fronts Austrian soldiers advance into Russian Poland during the winter of 1915.

A Global Conflict Though most of the fighting took place in Europe, World War I was a global conflict. In 1914, Japan joined the Allies by declaring war on Germany. Japan used the war as an excuse to seize German outposts in China and islands in the Pacific. Japan’s advances in East Asia and the Pacific would have far-reaching consequences in the years ahead as ambitious Japanese leaders set out to expand their footholds in China.

A Global Conflict The Ottoman Empire Joins the War Japan joined the allies Ottomans on fence, eventually join central powers Cut off Dardanelles- allies couldn’t supply Russia anymore Gallipoi- 10 months, British and Australian troops suffer 200,000 casualties and withdraw T.E. Lawrence- organizes Arab forces to fight Ottomans by promising and Trans-Arab country- turned war against the Ottomans Deportation and Mass Murder of Armenians Ottomans worried about Armenians rebelling 600,000 to 1.5 million slaughtered European Colonies and the War All of British Empire participated Fighting in German colonies French Colonies participated as well Colonies hope to get independence with contributions

A Global Conflict Analyze Maps How did the Arab revolt against the Ottoman empire affect the Allied cause?

A Global Conflict These Armenian refugee children were forced from their homes by the Ottoman government’s deportation campaign. They are waiting to receive their daily ration of food, provided by American relief workers.

Quiz: A New Kind of War What was one effect of the failure of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan to quickly defeat France? A. Germany had to fight the war on both the Eastern and the Western Front. B. Germany was not able to bring Austria-Hungary into the war as its ally. C. Germany was able to concentrate only on the Eastern Front. D. Germany had to make an alliance with France.

Quiz: Modern Military Technology What was the most significant effect of U-boat attacks on the fighting on land? A. They killed many soldiers. B. They kept soldiers from the front lines. C. They destroyed vital supplies. D. They created a stalemate.

Quiz: Other European Fronts What is one way the Eastern Front was different from the Western Front? A. The Eastern Front was fought with more military technology than the Western Front. B. The Western Front provided the Central Powers with their most decisive victories. C. The Western Front suffered more casualties than the Eastern Front. D. The Eastern Front had front lines that moved widely, while the Western Front did not.

Quiz: A Global Conflict Why did the Ottoman empire suffer important losses in the Middle East? A. The Arabs revolted against their Ottoman rulers. B. The Armenian army fought well in the Middle East. C. The French did not provide the Ottomans with enough support. D. The Ottomans were weakened by the Allied success at Gallipoli.