The Start of WWI The Great War Begins!

The New Powers Central Powers Central Powers Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria Allied Powers Allied Powers Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia Great Britain, France, Italy, and Russia United States attempts to stay neutral United States attempts to stay neutral US maintains Isolation Policy – European War US maintains Isolation Policy – European War

The Plan To Win The War By Christmas Schlieffen Plan Schlieffen Plan German Military Plan German Military Plan Try to avoid 2 fronts Try to avoid 2 fronts France was more industrialized than Russia France was more industrialized than Russia Russia has more people Russia has more people France is more immediate threat – can mobilize quicker France is more immediate threat – can mobilize quicker Russia is long term threat – longer to mobilize because of threat Russia is long term threat – longer to mobilize because of threat The Plan The Plan Defeat France quickly, then focus on Russia (avoid 2 fronts) Defeat France quickly, then focus on Russia (avoid 2 fronts) Germany attacks but Belgium resists Germany attacks but Belgium resists Screwed up the timing Screwed up the timing Enabled Russia to mobilize Enabled Russia to mobilize Effect Effect The plan failed – result = 2 front war The plan failed – result = 2 front war

The Battle of the Marne Sept. 5-10, 1914 Sept. 5-10, 1914 Germans are 25 miles from Paris Germans are 25 miles from Paris Part of the Schlieffen Plan Part of the Schlieffen Plan Germans almost have France defeated Germans almost have France defeated France – counter attacks France – counter attacks Taxi Cab Army Taxi Cab Army Germany retreats Germany retreats 500,000 casualties from both sides 500,000 casualties from both sides Made it a 2 front war (war of attrition) Made it a 2 front war (war of attrition) Russia attacks in late Sept. Russia attacks in late Sept.

Type of War Trench Warfare Trench Warfare System of fighting from ditches System of fighting from ditches Stretched from Switzerland to North Sea (400 miles) Stretched from Switzerland to North Sea (400 miles) 6 feet deep, 4 feet wide (Could sleep) 6 feet deep, 4 feet wide (Could sleep) Cold, wet, and dirty Cold, wet, and dirty Disease spread rapidly Disease spread rapidly eo eovid eovid eo No Man’s Land No Man’s Land Area between trenches Area between trenches Majority of fighting occurred in Majority of fighting occurred in no man’s land no man’s land

New Technology Machine Guns Machine Guns Fire rounds at a much faster rate Fire rounds at a much faster rate German U-boats German U-boats German submarines – Germany uses unrestricted submarine warfare and nearly wins the war. Also brings the United States into the war. German submarines – Germany uses unrestricted submarine warfare and nearly wins the war. Also brings the United States into the war. Riffles Riffles Can shoot accurately from 1000 yards Can shoot accurately from 1000 yards Poison Gas (Germany) Poison Gas (Germany) Mustard and Chlorine Mustard and Chlorine Tanks (British) Tanks (British) Mounted with machine guns Mounted with machine guns Designed to cross no man’s land Designed to cross no man’s land Turned the war Turned the war Airplanes Airplanes Mostly used for scouting, bombing later in the war, Mostly used for scouting, bombing later in the war, also used for dog fighting also used for dog fighting

US Entry into WWI Reasons for US entry into WWI Reasons for US entry into WWI Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Sinking of the Lusitania Sinking of the Lusitania Zimmerman Telegram Zimmerman Telegram German letter we intercepted and decoded asking Mexico to secretly attack us German letter we intercepted and decoded asking Mexico to secretly attack us Effects on WWI Effects on WWI Brings fresh American troops to replace Russian departure Brings fresh American troops to replace Russian departure Almost limitless American goods and manufacturing – Wartime Economy Almost limitless American goods and manufacturing – Wartime Economy