Death, Destruction and Dismemberment World War One: A War of Attrition 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918

The Western and Eastern Fronts

Illusions and Stalemate 1914 “A Quick War?” General consensus was that the “boys would be home be Christmas” Feeling that the war was a Great Adventure! The Schlieffen Plan – See HANDOUT/MAP Illusions and Stalemate

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Christmas 1914 The Christmas Truce http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf---13Q0g

1915 “What are we doing?” Germany is entrenched in North Eastern France. Problem #1: How can the allies push the German Army out of France? THOUGHTS? Trench warfare baffled military leaders who had been trained to fight wars of movement and maneuver Problem #2: How can Great Britain coordinate efforts with eastern ally, Russia? LOOK AT THE MAP – WHAT DO YOU THINK?

COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective? Gallipoli COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective? EPIC FAIL

Propaganda Posters

General Overview Essentially involved British, French, and untested Australian and New Zealand forces (Anzacs) Initially viewed as purely only a naval battle to win the Dardanelles Straits, to supply Russia in the Eastern Front, and better coordinate allied war programs Rough dates: February 1915-January 1916

Why do this at all? The Straits were viewed as strategically important geographically… and have been for a long time! (Continuity & Change) The Straits linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Sea of Marmora, giving Entente powers access to Constantinople and a lane into the Black Sea Access to the Black Sea would give Britain and France a supply route to their eastern ally, Russia

The Difficulty of the Straits Because of its huge tactical and strategic value, it was heavily defended, mainly by natural geography To the north they were protected by the Gallipoli Peninsula; to the south by the shore of Ottoman Asia. As well, fortresses were well positioned on cliff-tops overlooking shipping lanes

Lack of Success on Western Front Both Britain and France were receiving sobering news from the campaign on the Western Front, and much of the resources were consumed there Both governments came to look at the opening up of another front in the Mediterranean, one that offered better prospects of success, as a good change

Allied Command Opinions…. "for this trench warfare no great technical knowledge is required. A high moral standard and a healthy stomach these are the best. . . for he who aspires to fight his way to the front at the Dardanelles." General Ian Hamilton to Winston Churchill, early 1915

Reinforecments, Landings, and Failed Attacks 18, 000 French Colonial troops were added, as well as a force of 75, 000 largely untested Australian and New Zealand troops – training in Egypt 84, 000 enemy troops were brought in and were dispersed to strategic locations around Gallipoli On April 25, two landings occurred, one at Helles and the other at Anzac Cove, establishing two beachheads Heavy casualties were taken because of positioning

What did British Commanders think of their colonial allies?

ANZAC Soldiers in the trenches

The Highlight-the Evacuation! The British government finally sanctioned a formal evacuation that began on December 7 The evacuation was easily viewed as the most successful element of the entire campaign British casualties: 205, 000 French casualties: 47, 000 Turkish casualties: 250, 000

Waltzing Matilda and Anzac Day http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPFjToKuZQM ANZAC DAY – National Memorial Day, April 25th

1916 “The Deadliest Year of the War” After a year and a half of factories working around the clock on the home front, the allies finally had stockpiles of munitions. Feeling that by 1916, a major breakthrough was imminent on the Western Front, allied leaders strategized huge artillery barrages and waves of foot soldier assaults – all for what?  Seen at Verdun and the Somme

The Roots of Verdun On Christmas day 1915, a letter is sent to Kaiser Wilhelm II The letter outlines that the key to winning the war was not to be found on the Eastern Front, but on the Western Front Rationalization: If France could be defeated, Britain would also seek terms, or be defeated as well

Britain is Key Germany believed that Britain formed the foundation of the Allied effort, and must be removed Began implementing a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against British shipping in an attempt to starve Britain out Problem: This ran the risk of bringing the U.S. into the war

Significance of Place Verdun, itself, held specific meaning to the French It was the last fortress to fall during the Franco- Prussian war, and it had been improved since Hence, it was of great symbolic significance and maintained a psychological hold on the minds of the French people Germany knew this… and counted on it!

Start Finish

German Strategy Subject Verdun to intense bombardment to draw in and divert French troops from all over the Western Front “bleed France white” until it can stand no longer Formidable opposition: 1 million Germans vs. 200, 000 defenders Battle begins: 07:15 on February 21st

The Beginning 1,400 guns packed along the eight mile front, served by nearby railway facilities 100, 000 shells poured into Verdun every hour Intention? Kill as many French defenders as you can before an infantry advance By the end of the first day, German forces had only captured front line trenches

Artillery at Verdun

French Sentiment Upon losing Douaumont, the French sentiment was one of unwavering resolve: > Popular sentiment demanded its recapture, making a withdrawal from Verdun impossible The French commanding officer, Joffre, issued a warning stating that anyone leaving would be court- martialed

French Soldier killed at Verdun Controversial: Staged or true?

Change of Course For the remainder of the next few months, German attacks were met with counter attacks, with casualties mounting on both sides By the time the battle ended almost 1 million casualties were tallied in roughly equal numbers for both side Longest continuous battle of WWI : February- December , 1916

Death in the trenches at Verdun

Continued French Losses French forts could only hold out for so long, reserves of water were gone, and the forts themselves begin to crumble New chemical warfare: Germany, at this point, began unveiling phosgene gas, which was acted by forming hydrochloric acid once in the lungs

*A Fundamental Shift In an attempt to drain German manpower from Verdun, a major offensive was staged elsewhere at the Battle of the Somme Originally planned to begin August 1, it was moved to July 1 to help divert German resources elsewhere Fortune comes: a sudden drain in German resources to the Eastern Front provides a sense of vindication

Final Results of Verdun By the time it ends casualties were listed at 550, 000 French losses and 434, 000 German losses The only impact? Loss of Life on both sides is unprecedented!

The Battle of the Somme Remembered primarily for the unparalleled loss of life 58, 000 British troops killed on the first morning, July 1, 1916 Primary scope of the battle was to drain the German forces of reserves, take pressure off of Verdun and also to gain territory Attack actually began on June 24 with an eight day bombardment of German lines

The Somme – North Eastern France

View from Elevated trenches

The hope? The expectation of this was that German defenses would be destroyed, enabling British troops to walk across no man’s land 1,500 British guns were employed 750, 000 men went into the attack One problem: many of the advance artillery munitions were ‘duds’ –poorly made and ineffective

British Trenches – “Over the Top”

No Surprise! The attack was of no surprise to the Germans, in fact the eight day bombardment served merely to alert Germans of an imminent attack. HOW CAN THE ALLIES EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE AN ATTACK? The majority of soldiers who went over the top were killed instantly, or forced back into their trenches by machine gun fire By the end, poor weather had brought a halt to the Somme on November 18

Stretcher bearers

Final Results: the Somme-- 1916 British and French had gained 12 kilometers of ground British casualties were estimated at 420, 000 French casualties were 200, 000 German casualties were around 500, 000 Critics argue that an inflexible approach was a main issue, or that the British were compelled into battle to relieve the French at Verdun

1917 – “A year of change” The United States enters the War Russia drops out of the war – Civil War and Revolution Canada gets a chance! – VIMY RIDGE

The American Entrance America practicing an Isolationist Policy – a “European Problem” It will take a more direct attack on American citizens to force American government – Woodrow Wilson

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

A Crime?

American Propaganda Poster

1918 Disillusionment Increased levels of suicides in the trenches, mutinies, and desertion Resources dwindling on ALL sides, however, Germany has now been cut off from American supplies, particularly, OIL Suffering on the home front, particularly German civilians

Tomorrow: Trench Life “Suicide in the Trenches” Siegfried Sassoon: “Suicide in the Trenches” “You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by Sneak home and pray you’ll never know The hell where youth and laughter go.”