WWI An Expanded Look

Conscription 1916- Troops/civilians were aware of the reality of war Disease in the Trenches Cramped Conditions Fallen Soldiers Poison Gas Attacks High Losses from Artillery Intense Close Combat

Conscription PM Borden promised 500 000 men for the War effort 200 000 soldiers short and needed reinforcements Conscription- mandatory military service 100 000 men are selected, only 24 000 would see action Quebec opposed Conscription- Not our fight Election on the issue divided the country- English vs French War ended before Conscription could take full effect

The Schlieffen Plan Germany- France was the main threat, Russia not as strong Assumption: Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize France could be defeated in 6 weeks Belgium would not resist Britain would remain neutral Reality Belgium Army resisted British force arrived quickly Russia mobilized in 10 days, German troops required on the Eastern Front Germans fail to attack Paris

The Schlieffen Plan Failure of German advance creates deadlock at Western Front

Trench Warfare superior firepower made opposing forces to “dig in” sacrifice mobility for protection Machine Guns & Artillery Fire created a “Defensive War” Germans Trenches superior to Allies cement, electricity, running water Consisted of two or more parallel lines running dug in a zigzag to prevent enemy from firing long distances each main line connected by communications trenches

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare Western Front Trenches- from Belgian coast to Switzerland

Trench Warfare Attack Strategy: Bombard Enemy Trenches with Artillery Fire Send troops “Over the Top”, across “No Man’s Land” to attack Opposing troops would retreat, reinforce, prepare to be attacked Creeping Barrage: Allies would fire artillery just in front of advancing troops. Artillery created cover and forced the enemy to remain underground until Allied troops were on top of them

Creeping Barrage

Trench Warfare 1918- increased us of tanks brought an end to Trench warfare

France Majority of the War fought on French-German border 1 in 20 of French Population is killed 52% of mobilized men are either killed or wounded 36% of soldiers aged 19-22 killed 1914- avg. 2200 Frenchmen killed per day The Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI, signed in France

Russia Pre-WWI Russia wants to expand borders Germany are biggest threat Joins Triple Entente is response to Central Powers Germans and Russian fought on the Eastern Front Major shortages in ammunition, rifles, and food 1/3 of able bodied men are fighting in Army Creates further shortages in food and supplies

Russia Vladimir Lenin & Bolshevicks create Social Revolution Russian Government is overthrown, Russia signs peace treaty with Germany & Austria WWI- 15 million served in Army, 1.8 million killed

The Role of Women Women entered the workforce to deal with shortage 30 000 women worked in factories Worked as Bus driver, banker, Police, Civil Services Kept farms running Unsuitable for women prior to 1914 Wanted the vote, input in how country was run ‘Wartime Elections Act’ Women related to solider can vote Vote in favour of anything to help end war End of the War, all women over 21 could vote

Halifax Explosion

Halifax Explosion

Halifax Explosion (1917) Halifax- massive Wartime Port- troops and supplies well-defended in case of a German attack Two ships collide, one carrying munitions fire starts, few people understand the danger One of the largest man-made explosions prior to WW2 A-bomb 2000 Dead, 9000 injured, 25 000 homeless, $35 million in damages

Halifax Explosion (1917) The blast crushed internal organs, exploding lungs and eardrums of those standing closest to the ship, most of whom died instantly. It picked up others, only to thrash them against trees, walls, and lampposts with enough force to kill them. Roofs and ceilings collapsed on top of their owners. Floors dropped into the basement and trapped families under timber, beams and furniture. glass shattered, sending out a shower of arrow-shaped slivers that cut their way through curtains, wallpaper and walls. Some people were beheaded where they stood. Many others awoke to find themselves unable to see.

Halifax Explosion (1917) People were also blown through the sky. Where and how they landed largely determined whether they lived or died. Charles Mayers was picked up and dropped nearly 1 km from his ship. "I was wet when I came down, I had no clothes on except my boots.” Anchor of the ship was thrown 4km away, it is still there