Arms Race

AIRPLANE More useful by the end of the warMore useful by the end of the war Beginning of war: used for spying, gathering informationBeginning of war: used for spying, gathering information Middle of war: pilots brought bricks and dropped them over the sideMiddle of war: pilots brought bricks and dropped them over the side End of war: equipped with machine guns End of war: equipped with machine guns

Artillery (bombs, shells) Launches large projectilesLaunches large projectiles Able to take out many men in one shotAble to take out many men in one shot Strong & fast fire powerStrong & fast fire power Able to clear obstacles (i.e. barbed wire) through “No Man’s Land” landAble to clear obstacles (i.e. barbed wire) through “No Man’s Land” land Caused a lot of destructionCaused a lot of destruction

Cavalry Soldiers on horsebackSoldiers on horseback Useless because most horses could not function in the mud/trenchesUseless because most horses could not function in the mud/trenches German trench system was so sophisticated it had stables to house horsesGerman trench system was so sophisticated it had stables to house horses

Chlorine gas  First used by the Germans on April 22, 1915 at Battle of Ypres  Destroyed the respiratory organs of its victims and this led to a slow death by asphyxiation (not being able to breathe)  The first defence against gas were mainly rags soaked in water or urine. Later, relatively effective gas masks were developed, and these greatly reduced the effectiveness of gas.  Deadly, BUT dependent on wind direction because if the wind shifted it could kill your own troops  It is believed that poisonous gas caused approximately 1 million causalities (dead and injured)

Dreadnought Used for bringing supplies overseas.Used for bringing supplies overseas. It was an easy target for U-boats (submarines)It was an easy target for U-boats (submarines) Usually travelled in convoys, groups of ships for protectionUsually travelled in convoys, groups of ships for protection

Flame Thrower Only projected a few metres, so practically useless in trenchesOnly projected a few metres, so practically useless in trenches Only useful when enemy attacked your trenchOnly useful when enemy attacked your trench First used by GermansFirst used by Germans

machine gun  Most important weapon in trench warfare  Fast, easy to reload, fired at long range  The machine gun changed warfare with its quick destruction of many soldiers – for example, it fired up to 600 bullets per minute  The machine gun led to seemingly endless war in the trenches  At the time, machine guns were called “weapons of mass destruction”

Tank Useless at start because they would often get stuck in mudUseless at start because they would often get stuck in mud Well developed by end of warWell developed by end of war First used in Battle of Somme, scaring the Germans who had never seen a tankFirst used in Battle of Somme, scaring the Germans who had never seen a tank Could be used as shieldCould be used as shield

Repeating rifle It shot long distancesIt shot long distances Very hard to reload in the trenches due to the mud, which would cause the rifle to jamVery hard to reload in the trenches due to the mud, which would cause the rifle to jam Canadian soldiers used the Ross Rifle, which was excellent for sharp shooting, but jammed easilyCanadian soldiers used the Ross Rifle, which was excellent for sharp shooting, but jammed easily They began taking the Lee Enfield Rifle from the British because it would not jam as often.They began taking the Lee Enfield Rifle from the British because it would not jam as often.

Submarine (u-boat)  Very effective at destroying supply ships crossing the Atlantic.  Initially, the Germans used submarines to blockade Britain – i.e., to stop Britain (an island) from receiving shipments of food  In 1917, the Germans introduced Unrestricted Submarine Warfare against the allies and neutral ships  The sinking of neutral ships, such as the American “Lusitania” in 1915, led the U.S. to join the war on the side of the allies