The Spark… Princip
The Chain Reaction Austria issues Serbia with an ultimatum, but decides to declare war even when Serbia accepts all the points but one; Russia declares war on Austria. Germany declares war on Russia; Germany also declares war on France and marches through Belgium. Britain declares war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality. Italy declares its neutrality
Today’s Questions How was World War I fought? What were 5 new technologies that changed warfare during the Great War?
Trenches and Technology Warfare in the Great War (World War I)
Trenches
Trenches Jane Addams said Allied soldiers were given stimulants (alcohol, drugs) before they would or could charge with their bayonets.
Trenches “Lice, rats, barbed wire, fleas, shells, bombs, underground caves, corpses, blood, liquor, mice, cats, artillery, filth, bullets, mortars, fire, steel: that is what war is” – Otto Dix, German soldier
Trenches Trench foot Caused by feet staying wet 24 hours a day Feet swell, become numb, turn blue Change socks 3 times a day to avoid
Trenches Poison Gas Germans used it first against the Russians in 1915 Mustard gas Skin blistered Eyes became very sore Vomiting Internal and external bleeding Attacked the bronchial tubes, stripping off the mucous membrane Usually 4-5 weeks to die after being poisoned
British Gas Casualties: 1914-1918 Deaths Survivors Chlorine 1,976 164,457 Mustard Gas 4,086 16,526
Mustard Gas “Great mustard-coloured blisters, blind eyes, all sticky and stuck together, always fighting for breath, with voices a mere whisper, saying that their throats are closing and they know they will choke." – Nurse Vera Brittain
Victims of Mustard Gas
Technology Tank British invention Mobile killing machine Designed to overcome trenches, wire, and landmines Dangerous to people inside
Technology Machine Guns Maxim gun Deadliest weapon of war 600 bullets a minute (10 bullets a second) One machine gun=80 men with rifles
Technology Airplanes Little effect = Clumsy bombers + small bombs Used mainly to observe enemy
Airplanes Aces (pilots with 5+ downed enemy planes) engaged in “dogfights” Most famous Germany’s Red Baron (Manfred von Richtofen) 80 victories America’s Eddie Rickenbacker 26 victories
Technology Unterseeboot (U-Boat) Submarines with guns and torpedoes Used to block trade Sank over 11 million tons of Allied shipping