Life on the Front Lines Machine caused the need for trenches to be dug for protection Tanks (armored vehicles) were used to move across trenches Loss of life was high but land gains were few Trenches were bombed at times during the war and would be filled with earth and dead soldiers Poison gas was used to force soldiers from the trenches War of attrition (fighting designed to wear down the opposition)

Women at War On the home front women filled jobs formerly held by men – railroad workers, bus drivers, police officers, and factory workers Women’s pay was not equal to men’s Women fill important role as military nurses serving on the front lines Women’s war efforts push the suffrage movement forward and leading to the women’s vote in western industrialized nations UK – 1918, Belgium & Netherlands – 1919, US – 1920, Sweden – 1921, Ireland – 1922

The Western Front 400 miles of trenches dug from the Swiss border to the North Sea Germany advanced through elgium seeking a level coastal plain on which their army could advance more easily German advance was halted 20 miles from Paris (Marne) resulting in stalemate – neither side could make advances – both sides dug into trenches for shelter Horrors of war depicted in “All Quiet on the Western Front” a book by Erich Maria Remarque

The Eastern Front Theater of war in the east between Germany and Russia Marked by more mobility than the Western Front Russia’s army first invaded Germany but was defeated at Tannenberg Russia’s losses were many

Military Technology Machine guns, poison gas, tanks and bombs were used and made the war more deadly than any other The war was not fast moving but stuck in a stalemate or draw The Zeppelin was used for reconnaissance and to bomb the enemy Planes were used mostly in ‘dogfights’ with the enemy The Red Barron, a German pilot, became infamous for his success in shooting down enemy planes

The War’s End Germany, having lost it’s two major allies, agreed to an armistice with the Allies Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points tried to bring about a peace without victory, looking to address the causes of the war in its terms and not looking to punish Versailles Treaty (1919) ended the war. Its terms blamed the Central Powers for the war. The war guilt clause (Article 231) required the CP to admit their fault in causing all the pain, suffering and losses of the war

World War I’s Legacy Military technology had advances Men suffered from PTSD, known as ‘shell shock’ at the time Europe’s economy suffers while the US economy remains fairly strong The Geneva Conventions are signed which create international laws on the legality of actions during war People become disillusioned with the institutions (democracy) which allowed the war to become a reality Estimates of dead were 17 million (military personnel 10 million, and civilians 7 million) and wounded another 20 million