Stalemate Continues DO YOUR VOCAB!!!!!

Italy joins the war Italy previously had an alliance with Germany because it feared France. During the Great War, Britain and France convinced Italy that Austria- Hungary was a bigger threat, and Italy joined the Allies in late spring. Due to this, the Austria-Hungary was attacking Italy along the Isonzo River, which was the borer of the two empires. In October, at the Battle of Caporetto, German reinforcements helped and defeated Italy.

New Weapons Germany began using poison gas. It blinded or choked its victims, causing agonizing burns and blisters and sometimes was fatal. Though soldier were eventually given gas masks, it remained one of the most dreaded hazards of the war.

Why did the Ottoman Empire join really? The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers in hopes of regaining lost territories. In the Caucus Mountains, Turkey was fighting Russia. In Turkey resided Ottoman Muslims and Armenian Christians. The Armenian’s were under Ottoman rule, and some chose to help the Russian army.

Armenian Holocaust The Ottomans government used this as an excuse deport the entire Armenia population, which led the Armenian Genocide. Almost 1.5 million Armenians died.

Battle of Dardanelles Attempting to stop the stalemate, Allied forces led by Britain launched a land invasion on the Gallipoli Peninsula in April. This invasion failed, and in January of 1916 the Allies had to retreat after suffering 250,000 casualties at Dardanelles.

More weapons! Britain introduced the first armored tank. It was mounted with machine guns, but still failed to break the stalemate. They also imposed universal military conscription, or “the draft”, which required all young men to be ready for military or other service. Lastly, they began to confiscate contraband, or military supplies and raw materials needed to make military supplies, going to Germany.

Battle of Jutland Fighting was not just on land. The most significant naval engagement was the Battle of Jutland on May 31st. It featured gunfire between German and British scouting forces. Germany had been timid to have an altercation with Britain at sea, as they should have been. There were two major parts to this battle. First, the forces dueled at Denmark’s North Sea coast. Germany, led by Franz Hipper, won this battle, while Britain lost three battle cruises. The Admiral David Beatty then lured the Germans onto the Grand Fleet. While the main warships met, British Admiral John Jellicoe maneuvered his boat to take advantage of the daylight that was fading. He cut the German’s off from their home base and executed seventy direct hits to the German warship. Forcing Admiral Reinhard Scheer to retreat. Both sides claimed victory. Britain lost more men, but Germany was forced to retreat. Britain retained control of the North Sea.

“Your King and Country Need You!” There was also war through propaganda, which is the spreading of ideas to promote cause or to damage an opposing cause. For example, British and French press circulated tales of atrocities, horrible acts committed against innocent people.

Atrocities