The First World War Part 3: Weapons of WWI A “New Kind of War” Adams 2009

Warfare in the Trenches Three years of misery Three years of misery Frightening danger Frightening danger Horrifying death tolls Horrifying death tolls

A “new” kind of war Germans introduced a new weapon Germans introduced a new weapon Chlorine gas Chlorine gas Attacked eyes and throat Attacked eyes and throat

Chlorine Gas Symptoms: Burning pain in eyes, throat Symptoms: Burning pain in eyes, throat Sense of suffocation, severe pain Sense of suffocation, severe pain Difficulty breathing, coughing Difficulty breathing, coughing Dry mouth, tongue covered by thick dry fur Dry mouth, tongue covered by thick dry fur

Chlorine Gas Severe headache, weakness in legs, lie down Severe headache, weakness in legs, lie down Face turns pale greenish yellow Face turns pale greenish yellow If continues to live, face turns bright red, fingernails and ears turn blue If continues to live, face turns bright red, fingernails and ears turn blue Usually takes about hours to die Usually takes about hours to die

Chlorine Gas Soldiers carried gas masks Soldiers carried gas masks Invented by African American, Garrett A. Morgan Invented by African American, Garrett A. Morgan

Poison Gas Came in assorted varieties Came in assorted varieties Tear gas, chlorine gas (Germans) Tear gas, chlorine gas (Germans) White star gas (phosphine and chlorine), mustard gas (France, Britain) White star gas (phosphine and chlorine), mustard gas (France, Britain) Bromine and chloropicmin (less often used) Bromine and chloropicmin (less often used) Chlorine, phosgene and mustard – most often used Chlorine, phosgene and mustard – most often used

Protections from gas attacks At first: wads of cotton pads dipped in bicarbonate of soda and held over face At first: wads of cotton pads dipped in bicarbonate of soda and held over face In emergency: urine soaked cloth held over face In emergency: urine soaked cloth held over face Later, gas masks Later, gas masks Use of poison gas outlawed in 1925 Use of poison gas outlawed in 1925 Ban holds to today Ban holds to today

Bayonets Used in close combat Used in close combat Different types developed by Germans Different types developed by Germans Used in many ways Used in many ways

Flamethrowers Used by Germans in early part of war Used by Germans in early part of war Spread fire by launching burning fuel Spread fire by launching burning fuel Lengthy tubes filled with sulphur, coal Lengthy tubes filled with sulphur, coal Launched by a type of blow gun Launched by a type of blow gun

Grenades Date back to the 15 th century Date back to the 15 th century Used to bomb trenches in WWI Used to bomb trenches in WWI British developed the hand grenade British developed the hand grenade Could detonate either by fuse or by impact Could detonate either by fuse or by impact

Pistols Different types Different types Typically issued to all officers, military police, airmen, tank operators Typically issued to all officers, military police, airmen, tank operators Better than a rifle in cramped places like airplanes and tanks Better than a rifle in cramped places like airplanes and tanks

Bayonets Toasting bread Toasting bread Opening cans Opening cans Scrape mud off uniform Scrape mud off uniform Dig the latrines Dig the latrines And, oh yeah: And, oh yeah: Kill others Kill others

1914: Machine Guns On a tripod On a tripod Required crew of 4 to 6 soldiers to fire Required crew of 4 to 6 soldiers to fire Tendency to rapidly overheat – used water to cool it off Tendency to rapidly overheat – used water to cool it off Jammed frequently, especially in hot weather Jammed frequently, especially in hot weather

Machine Guns By 1918, newer better versions used By 1918, newer better versions used One person gun used One person gun used Not entirely portable, very heavy Not entirely portable, very heavy Lighter ones designed later in war Lighter ones designed later in war

Rifles Number one choice of weapon Number one choice of weapon Weight of gun and ammunition = difficult to carry, use Weight of gun and ammunition = difficult to carry, use With training, very efficient to use With training, very efficient to use Sniper’s friend, especially in trenches Sniper’s friend, especially in trenches

Tanks Many years in development, beginning in the 1700s Many years in development, beginning in the 1700s Caterpillar tracks help get through rough terrain Caterpillar tracks help get through rough terrain Bullet-proof casing Bullet-proof casing Revolving machine guns attached Revolving machine guns attached First called a “motor-war car” First called a “motor-war car”

Tanks First called “tank” in 1915 First called “tank” in 1915 Designed for Designed for Minimum speed 4 mph Minimum speed 4 mph Had to be able to climb a five-foot high obstacle Had to be able to climb a five-foot high obstacle Span a five-foot trench Span a five-foot trench Be immune to gunfire from outside Be immune to gunfire from outside

Trench Mortars Old weapon used in new way during WWI Old weapon used in new way during WWI Short stubby tube used to fire a projectile Short stubby tube used to fire a projectile At a steep angle At a steep angle So it falls directly down on the enemy So it falls directly down on the enemy

Trench Mortars Soldiers strained ears to listen for “plop” sound Soldiers strained ears to listen for “plop” sound Indicated that enemy was firing mortar Indicated that enemy was firing mortar Quickly ran for cover Quickly ran for cover

Just made life in the trenches that much more interesting…

Next: The US enters the war