The Great War Continues… World War I The Great War Continues…

Quick Recap… Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Romania, and Greece Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria Germany’s Von Schlieffen plan has collapsed due to: a loss at the Battle of the Marne on the Western Front quick Russian mobilization on the Eastern Front

The Eastern Front: The Battle of Tannenberg August 26-30,1914 Russians kept their word to France and attacked before they were fully ready Disastrous defeat for the Russians. Germany’s greatest victory in the war. Russia never fully recovers.

The War Continues… Italy remains neutral until May of 1915 The Allies promise Italy land in return for support, and the Italians become part of the Allied powers Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Romania, and Greece

Trench Warfare After the Battle of the Marne, both sides settle into their trenches, and the war becomes a stalemate 2 main trenches, 500 miles long, each protected by barbed wire and land mines Men were in trenches for weeks Attacks were made in the middle, which was “no man’s land”

Trench Warfare

War of Attrition The war becomes a war of attrition, both sides continually try to wear the other side down through constant attack WW I is now a TOTAL WAR- the countries are putting ALL of their resources into the war effort Women take the place of men in factories, farms, shops, etc Propaganda is used to elicit harsh feelings against the enemy. Rumors, posters, and ideas are spread that portray the enemy as a beast.

Battle at Gallipoli The Allies wanted the Ottomans out of the war Churchill opens 3rd front Allies wanted control of Constantinople and the Dardanelles to supply Serbia and Russia

British Defeat at Gallipoli Allies attack the Gallipoli peninsula Turks outnumber the Allies ( mostly Aussies) Turks win one of the bloodiest battles of World War I Campaign is a disaster for the Allies and they withdrew in Jan. 1916 (Actual trenches in Gallipoli)

Battle of Verdun: February 1916 Germans make a surprise attack on the French Fortress Verdun Attack lasts for 5 months, each side loses 300,000 men The French are led by General Henri-Philippe Petain: “They shall not pass.” Germany gained 4 miles, and then abandoned the attack.

Battle of the Somme: July 1916 British attack Germans 400,000 British die, 500,000 Germans, and 200,000 French Britain gained 5 miles Introduced tanks into warfare Tanks were slow and clumsy; make very little difference Generals did not know how to best use this new weapon

American Entrance into WWI American opinion was divided Wilson urges neutrality (isolationism) Germany resumes unrestricted sub warfare; attack civilian ships Remember:1915-Germans attacked Lusitania, a British trade ship, 128 Americans die

“The Yanks are coming…” The Zimmerman Note Feb. of 1917- Britain intercepts a telegram from Germany to Mexico Germans promise to help Mexico regain territory in the U.S. if Mexico helps the Germans Result: April 2, 1917- Wilson asks Congress for a declaration of war

Why US entered into the War on the Allied side Public outrage from the very beginning against Germany for violating Belgian neutrality The sinking of the passenger ship Lusitania Propaganda campaign by Allied sympathizers showing the “Horrible Hun”, “Poor little Belgium” etc. Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare The Zimmerman Telegram Allied Propaganda from WWI

Significance of American Entrance into WW I Turned the tide of battle in favor of the Allies Broke traditional isolationist policy America emerged as a world power