The Widening War

The Western Front ”a jolly little war” ”the boys will be home by Christmas” Schlieffen plan fails. Why? 1.More Belgian resistance than expected. 2.Russian attacks in east earlier than expected 3.Underestimated GB – Belgian alliance. 4.French forces transferred quicker than expected from Alsace-Lorraine. 5.Logistical problems – long supply lines 6.Diversion of German First Army to the southeast split her forces in two, increasing vulnerability.

War of Attrition September German advance is halted at Battle of the Marne, 40 miles from Paris. Stalemate ensued. Taxicabs rush French and British forces to battle. Ypres, Belgium: four major battles during the ”race to the sea”. February 1916 – Germans attempt to break stalemate at Battle of Verdun. No change in position. Nearly ½ million dead on both sides. July 1916 – Battle of the Somme. A pyrrhic victory for the allies. Only a few square miles gained. 600,000 dead.

The Eastern Front Germany inflicts major defeat on the Russians at Battle of Tannenberg and Battle of Masurian Lakes in August and September Battle of Galicia 1914: Early victory for Russians over Austria-Hungary, but in May following year are pushed out by German offensive. On Austrian front - Serbia humiliates A-H twice. Need Germany’s help to push back Russians. By 1915 Russian’s advance is severely weakened. 2.5 million Russians are killed, wounded or captured in Eastern Front is thereafter determined by the Germans. May 1916 last Russian offensive against A-H; Russian army collapses in 1917 due to revolution.

Also in 1915 Italy changes sides. Joins the Entente with hopes to gain territory from Austria. Italy remains bogged down in South Tyrol for next 2½ years. Both sides suffer enormous losses. Italy is finally defeated in Battle of Caporetto Bulgaria chooses to side with the Ottomans in order to settle scores with Serbia. Disaster for Serbia: German and A-H attack from the north. Bulgaria from the south-east. The Serbian army, its monarchy and many of its people flee over the mountains to Albania.

Ottoman Turks join war 1914 War is extended to the Middle East. Allied with Germany and A-H, they hope to restore empire. Battle lines seesaw back and forth between Turks and Russians. Britain doesn’t regard the Ottoman Empire as a serious opponent British invasion of Gallipoli. Aim is to take the Dardenelles and Constantinople. – French, British, Irish and Anzac (Australia New Zealand Army Corp) contingents are dealt severe defeat. Evacuation one year later. – First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, was dismissed.

A two-front war for Britain Second struggle between the British and the Turks takes place in Mesopotamia. Aim is to control oil fields which GB accomplishes already in British advances up the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are halted 20 miles from Baghdad where the Turks force them to retreat. British troops under siege for 5 months and they surrender in April Heavy blow for Great Britain.

Global warfare due to colonies British hope to lead Arab revolts against the Turks. British armies with contingents from Egypt, India, Australia and New Zealand fight the Ottoman Turks. Colonial subjects of British and French supported their foreign masters. Helped to seize Germany’s colonies. Japan seizes German colonies in the Pacific and on Chinese mainland. More than 1 million Africans served in the various armies. Here is a picture of two African soldiers in France.

The war at sea Ambitions to control the world’s waterways were significant reasons that the war spread so quickly. Mines, submarines, torpedoes made great warships vulnerable. Naval power used to maintain control of trade routes around the globe.

Submarine warfare Britain and France naval blockade of Germany early in war. No neutral ship allowed to sail to Germany with cargo. Germany launched counter-blockade with its new weapon – the submarine sinking of British passenger ship the Lusitania. USA, under Woodrow Wilson, protests. Germany relaxes its submarine warfare.

German domestic situation 1916 Germany realizes that military success alone cannot win the war. Full mobilization of homefront Socialist opposition in Germany starts to press for compromise peace. In November/December 1916 President Wilson tries to broker a diplomatic solution. Germany positive but France and England reject initiative. German high command under Generals von Hindenburg and Ludendorff are determined to gain victories before peace. Want hegemony in Europe.

Unrestricted submarine warfare draws US into war Germany launches unrestricted submarine warfare at end of Sink all ships providing aid to the Allies. USA is neutral but supplies GB and France. Germany hopes that they can knock out Britain and France before the US can mobilize. Zimmermann telegram February 1917 shifts public opinion away from isolationism. USA declares war on Germany in April First combat in Europe with Americans starts in November.

Beginning of the end War weariness among soldiers and civilians. Italian and Russian armies collapse in Strikes common in German cities. German moderates in Reichstag call for peace without territorial gains! German High Command under Ludendorff push for one last great offensive in France. March – July 1918 Second Battle of the Marne. Allies hold firm. Submarine warfare fails. US troops and supplies crossing Atlantic tip the scales in favor of Allied victory

Armistice (suspension of hostilities) August 1918 – Ludendorff approaches Wilson for lenient armistice terms. Rejected by the Allies. Demand complete surrender and overthrow of monarchy. Negotiations over armistice drag on…. German people rise up, army discipline collapses. Revolutionary councils of soldiers and workers appear. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates. A-H surrenders November 9, 1918 A republic is proclaimed in Berlin and its leaders agree to armistice terms. Goes into effect on November 11, 1918.