How did new weapons affect the war? Weapons of World War I How did new weapons affect the war?

New Use of Technology Fighting in WW I was like no other war in world history The war featured “traditional” weapons of war like artillery cannons, grenade launchers & trench mortars However, new technology created more efficient weapons that had a purpose to inflict a maximum amount of casualties

The Machine Gun Invented by Hiram Maxim for German Army, but used by all sides Fired ammunition automatically Most commonly used during trench warfare Advantage: Take out waves of attackers, hard for troops to advance Disadvantage: Heavy, hot, main reason for bloody stalemates

Disadvantages: Very slow, hot & cramped The Tank Using ideas from Frederick Simms, Ernest Swinton of the British army developed an armored combat vehicle Moved on caterpillar-like chain tracks, could cross all types of terrain Advantages: major firepower including several machine guns and sometimes a cannon, hard to disable Disadvantages: Very slow, hot & cramped https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca0CZnXU2mY Discuss: Do you think the tank was an effective weapon?

The U-Boat (Submarine) Developed by and used almost exclusively by the Germans Was a warship that could dive underwater U-Boats used an underwater missile called a torpedo to destroy ships Advantages: Very hard to see or detect (sneak attacks) Disadvantages: cramped conditions & leaks

Attacks could now come from the sky Dropped bombs or shot at targets Aviation – Airplanes Attacks could now come from the sky Dropped bombs or shot at targets Bombers had 2 seats & Fighters had 1 seat Advantages: Quick & agile Disadvantages: little room & flimsy Aviation – Zeppelins “Death From Above” Developed in Germany, they were used to drop bombs Advantages: could carry more bombs, men, equipment and their size made them intimidating https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZqqWSUirls Disadvantages: not agile, big target

Battle of the Skies During World War I Discuss: Do you think the Zeppelin was an effective weapon? Describe how planes are used as a weapon and where did some pilots crash? Why do you think the Zeppelin was so intimidating and how did the Allies destroy one?

Poison Gas French first to used tear gas to disable an enemy Later, Germans develop mustard gas & ammonia based poison gas Because Germany used it, Allies start using it as well Advantage: fairly undetectable, enemy doesn’t see it coming Disadvantage: seen as a very unethical weapon causing blindness, choking, blisters, death, banned after WW I

Nearly 90K of the 9.7 million killed-in-action were due to poison gas Country Total KIAs Gas Deaths Austria-Hungary 1.2 million 3,000 British Empire 908,371 8,109 France 1.4 million 8,000 Germany 1.8 million 9,000 Italy 650,000 4,627 Russia 1.7 million 56,000 USA 116,708 1,462 Ottoman Empire 800,000 1,000 Discuss: Who suffered the most from poison gas and why?