WWI Trench Warfare

Stalemate in the Trenches When war began most people assumed it would be over in a few months. The German army invaded Belgium with the intention of getting to France. They were able to reach the Marne River, which was 40 miles outside of Paris. When war began most people assumed it would be over in a few months. The German army invaded Belgium with the intention of getting to France. They were able to reach the Marne River, which was 40 miles outside of Paris.

Here the French supported by the British met the Germans. The First Battle of the Marne, in September of 1914 stopped the German advance. Instead of one side quickly defeating the other, the two sides stayed stuck in the mud for three years. Here the French supported by the British met the Germans. The First Battle of the Marne, in September of 1914 stopped the German advance. Instead of one side quickly defeating the other, the two sides stayed stuck in the mud for three years.

Troops huddled in the bottom of rat-infested trenches. They fired artillery and machine guns at each other. Lines of trenches stretched across France For more than three years the battle lines remained almost unchanged. Troops huddled in the bottom of rat-infested trenches. They fired artillery and machine guns at each other. Lines of trenches stretched across France For more than three years the battle lines remained almost unchanged.

Neither side could win a clear victory. In trenches soldiers faced the constant threat of sniper fire. Artillery shelling turned the area between the trenches into a “no man’s land” too dangerous to occupy. Neither side could win a clear victory. In trenches soldiers faced the constant threat of sniper fire. Artillery shelling turned the area between the trenches into a “no man’s land” too dangerous to occupy.

Battles cost thousands of lives, often without gaining an inch for either side. The Battle of the Somme, between July and November 1916, resulted in more than 1.2 million casualties, and the allies only gained about seven miles. When soldiers left their trenches to attack enemy lines they rushed into a hail of bullets and clouds of poison gas. Battles cost thousands of lives, often without gaining an inch for either side. The Battle of the Somme, between July and November 1916, resulted in more than 1.2 million casualties, and the allies only gained about seven miles. When soldiers left their trenches to attack enemy lines they rushed into a hail of bullets and clouds of poison gas.

New Technology Powerful new technology greatly increased causalities in WWI Poison gas Tanks Machine guns Fighter planes U-boats Powerful new technology greatly increased causalities in WWI Poison gas Tanks Machine guns Fighter planes U-boats

Poison Gas Poison gas was first used by the Germans It caused 1 million causalities during the war Effects: choking, blistering, attacking oxygen in the blood, attacking the nervous system Poison gas was first used by the Germans It caused 1 million causalities during the war Effects: choking, blistering, attacking oxygen in the blood, attacking the nervous system

Tanks The British invented the tank Called the “iron monster” Tanks could smash through barbed wire, cross trenches, and clear paths through no man’s land. The British invented the tank Called the “iron monster” Tanks could smash through barbed wire, cross trenches, and clear paths through no man’s land.

Machine Guns Soldiers had machine guns that fired 600 bullets a minute. Machine guns were mostly used in the trenches as defense Soldiers had machine guns that fired 600 bullets a minute. Machine guns were mostly used in the trenches as defense

Fighter Planes This was the first war in which airplanes were used in combat Planes were used to drop bombs on the front lines Allowed both sides to view opposing trenches This was the first war in which airplanes were used in combat Planes were used to drop bombs on the front lines Allowed both sides to view opposing trenches

U-Boats At sea the Germans used submarines which they called U- boats, to block trade. They were equipped with guns and torpedoes. German U-boats sank over 11 million tons of Allied shipping. At sea the Germans used submarines which they called U- boats, to block trade. They were equipped with guns and torpedoes. German U-boats sank over 11 million tons of Allied shipping.