A New Kind of Warfare and the War’s Outcome WWI: Part II A New Kind of Warfare and the War’s Outcome

America Turns the Tide What America brings to the war Enthusiasm Numbers The idea of the Convoy System Heavy guard of destroyers that escorted merchant ships back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean in groups Prevented German U-boat attacks

A New Kind of Warfare Trench Warfare Trench warfare = fighting from trenches (ditches in the ground) It was an old strategy that had been used in Africa, Asia, and previously in America (during the Civil War) However, its use during WWI was different because it was of a much greater scale Its use would create a stalemate (deadlock) between the Allies and Central Powers because neither one was able to make significant advances

Trench Warfare: The Scene “No Man’s Land” : The area between opposing trenches. 1,000s were shot down here Trench Warfare: The Scene The Trench: where soldiers lived, surrounded by machine gun fire, flying grenades, and exploding artillery shells

Trench Warfare: The Scene Opposing forces had machine guns and other weapons pointed at enemy trenches at all times, firing whenever a helmet or rifle appeared over the top Trench Warfare: The Scene

Trench Warfare: The Scene Life in the trenches was miserable. The soldiers stood in deep mud as rats ran across their feet. Enemy planes dropped bombs, artillery shells exploded nearby, and clouds of poisonous gas floated nearby One solider: “No one know what was going to happen next”

A New Kind of War Fare New Weapons of War Poisonous Gas German military scientists experimented with gas as a weapon. Gas in battle was risky: Soldiers didn’t know how much to use, and wind changes could backfire the gas. Then Germans threw canisters of gas into the Allies’ trenches. Many regretted using gas, but British and French forces began using it too, to keep things even. Tanks When soldiers began to carry gas masks, they still faced a stalemate. British forces soon developed armored tanks to move into no-man’s-land. These tanks had limited success because many got stuck in the mud. Germans soon found ways to destroy the tanks with artillery fire. Airplanes Both sides used planes to map and to attack trenches from above. Planes first dropped brinks and heavy objects on enemy troops. Soon they mounted guns and bombs on planes. Skilled pilots sought in air battles called dogfights. The German Red Baron downed 80 Allied planes, until he was shot down.

New Warfare leads to New Hazards Men were surrounded by filth, lice, rats and polluted water Lack of sleep Inhaling of poisonous gas “Shell Shock” Emotional collapse from which many never recovered Term coined during WWI Trench foot Caused by standing in wet, cold trenches for long periods of time

Outcome of the War An allied victory shortly after America joined the war There was momentary victory after the war ended However, there were many war tragedies: More than 8.5 million people had been killed European nations had lost almost an entire generation of young men The war left some 7 million men permanently disabled Most of Europe lay in ruins and in back economic shape

Outcomes of the War The Fourteen Points A plan for peace outlined / created by Woodrow Wilson As WWI drew to a close, the scale of destruction and massive loss of life was shocking Wilson’s Fourteen Points was his way of trying to ensure a “just and lasting peace” Some of what the plan called for: Open diplomacy (negotiations) Freedom of the seas The removal of trade barriers Reduction of military arms Self-determination The right of the people to decide their own political status The League of Nations: an organization of nations that would work together to settle disputes and prevent future wars

Outcomes of the War Paris Peace Conference The Paris Peace Conference began on January 12, 1919, with leaders representing 32 nations in attendance President Wilson led the group of American negotiators The leaders of the Allies dominated the negotiations Germany and the other Central Power nations, however, were not invited to participate

Outcomes of the War The Treaty of Versailles The treaty that officially ended WWI It was created at the Paris Peace Conference, specifically at Versailles (a town in France), hence its name

Outcomes of the War The Treaty of Versailles: Some of its terms called for: Germany to pay the Allies reparations Reparations = payments for damages and expenses caused by the war This amount far exceeded what the German government could actually afford to pay The League of Nations Self-determination The surrender of Central Power colonies to the Allies