The Great War: New Technology of WWI

Improved Hygiene & Living Standards Introduction WWI – First large scale modern war Assembly Line Fast & efficient production of new weapons Improved Hygiene & Living Standards Increasing population Carnage & Death on Unprecedented Level

Trenches What other technologies are used with the trenches?

Trench Warfare

Trenches (cont’d) How a Trench was supposed to look How a Trench actually looked

The space between the two trenches. Trench Warfare “No Man’s Land” The space between the two trenches.

Tanks Most innovative technological development of war Why were they developed? To try to break the stalemate 1st Use – January 1916 British Mark I Crew of 6, Speed 3mph French Renault ¼ the weight, 2x as fast as British tanks

Tanks (cont’d) Video Impact Why is the tread the key to the tank? What was it like to be inside a WWI tank? How did the crew on the French Renault communicate? What was the key feature of the French tank? Impact Very little – Tank useless in defensive war Germans lagged behind in tank tech but it didn’t matter Would be major weapon in 2nd World War

Air Power WWI – Types 1st war where air power played a tactical role Observation Balloons Zeppelins Air Planes

Air Power (cont’d) Video Observation Balloons Zeppelins How far could they see? How did they communicate information back to the ground? Zeppelins What were they filled with? What capabilities did they have? What were they used for? Drawbacks?

Air Planes Relatively New Technology 10 years old Great Amount of Development During WWI Beginning – flimsy, slow, low flying, fall apart, basically motorized kites End – Bigger planes w/ bigger engines, more weapons Greatest Contribution to War Effort = Reconnaissance Video How did engineers overcome obstacles to arming planes? Who had the best aircraft?

The Flying Aces of World War I Dogfights – close range aerial combat Aces – an aviator who shoots down 5 or more enemy aircraft Eddie Rickenbacher, US Manfred von Richtoffen, Ger. [The “Red Baron”]

Machine Gun Most Effective Weapon - Why? Video Impact Perfect defensive weapon Video What was the range of WWI machine guns? How many rounds per minute could they fire? Why was the swivel ability important? Impact What effects would the use of this weapon have? Generals – slow to change strategies (Battle of the Somme)

Artillery What is artillery? Types (Video) Effects in Belgium Big guns, larger shells Types (Video) Line of sight – Howitzers – Mortars – Effects in Belgium What did the German “Big Berthas” do to the fortifications in Belgium? Paris Gun What was it purpose? Range? What were its drawbacks? From a defensive position, how could machine guns be used in conjunction with mortars?

Poison Gas WWI – 1st use of chemical warfare Previous international agreement Cannot use shell w/ sole purpose of disseminating toxic gas Tear Gas – nonfatal, irritant Video Chlorine Gas – What happens to those affected? What were the drawbacks to the gas masks that were created in response to gas attacks? Mustard Gas – What is it? What are its effects? Impact not decisive, made life miserable

U-Boats Undersea Boats Video Mainly used by Germans Who is the father of the modern submarine? For what purpose did the Germans use their U-boats? What weapons were U-Boats equipped with? What was the U-Boats key to success? How did the use of U-boats both help and hurt the Germans?

Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats How effective were the German U-Boats in accomplishing their mission?

Other WWI Technologies Flame Throwers Grenade Launchers Barb Wire Other Failed Technology