Trench Warfare & The War at Sea World War I Trench Warfare & The War at Sea

Trench Warfare Stalemate at Ypres Casualties high New weapons of war Soldiers “dig-in” Casualties high New technology vs. old tactics New weapons of war Machine guns Tanks Airplanes Flame throwers Bayonets Grenades Pistols Poison Gas

Balloon reconnaissance of trenches British 55th Division troops blinded by tear gas during the Battle of Estaires (April 10, 1918). Balloon reconnaissance of trenches Soldier with mustard gas burns (1917/1918)

Flame thrower

Trench Horrors Trench Rats Decomposing bodies attracted thousands One pair produce 880 offspring in one year Big as cats Would sleep under blankets with the men “The rats were huge. They were so big they would eat a wounded man if he couldn’t defend himself. These rats became very bold and would attempt to take food from the pockets of sleeping men. Two or three rats would always be found on a dead body. They usually went for the eyes first and then they burrowed their way right into the corpse.”

Trench Horrors Trench Foot Trenches were waterlogged and constantly muddy Only way to prevent was to keep feet dry Cure: amputation “Your feet swell to two or three times their normal size and go completely dead. You could stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing.”

Amputations Gangrene: rot “Day after day we cut down stinking bandages and exposed wounds that destroyed the whole original plan of the body.” “…I saw that tiny bags, containing pure salt, are sometimes deposited into the open wound and bandaged tightly into place. These bags of salt – must inflict excruciating pain. It is certainly a purifier, but surely a very harsh one.” American soldiers who lost limbs during a WWI battle. Recovering at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.

1917 aerial reconnaissance picture of German and British trenches. Trench Warfare Verdun, France In 10 months, 700,000 killed over just a few miles of land War of attrition: war based on wearing the other side down by constant attacks and heavy loses 1917 aerial reconnaissance picture of German and British trenches.

The War at Sea German U-boats British Blockade U.S. Attack without provocation, commercial or military British Blockade Cut supplies to Germany Germany responds with war zone around British Isles ¼ British fleet destroyed 1 million tons of shipping lost U.S. Wish to remain neutral – trades with everyone

The War at Sea Sinking of the Lusitania – May 7, 1915 Killed 128 Americans Wilson demands: apology, money, no more subs Gets: all but sub promise – U.S. begins arms build-up Sussex – March 1916, more Americans lost Sussex Pledge: will not sink merchant ships without warning and attempt to save human lives February, 1917 – Germans resume sub warfare Violate Sussex pledge U.S. begins policy of “armed neutrality” Lusitania Sussex after attack