Fighting World War I A Bloody Conflict

The Response to the Assassination Austria wants to declare war on Serbia but is afraid that Russia will come to the aid of Serbia. Germany gives Austria a “blank check” when it assures Austria that Germany will support it if Russia declares war on Austria.

What happened next???? July 28 – Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia July 28 – Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia July 28 – Tsar Nicholas II began mobilization July 28 – Tsar Nicholas II began mobilization

Russia Mobilizes Russia mobilized its forces – not just along its border with Austria – but with its border with Germany. Germany demanded that the Russians removed their troops from its border. – –Russia refused August 1 Germany declared war on Russia.

Germany Mobilizes Schlieffen Plan Schlieffen Plan –two-front war (France and Russia) holding pattern with Russia holding pattern with Russia rapid invasion of France (must declare war) rapid invasion of France (must declare war) Demanded Belgium allow German troops to pass through Belgian territory Demanded Belgium allow German troops to pass through Belgian territory –Great Britain declared war on Germany on Aug 4 (had promised Belgian neutrality) “Belgium is a country, not a highway.”

What about Italy? Despite its treaty with Austria, Italy tried to remain neutral. Italy soon switched sides and joined Great Britain and France.

The Two Sides The Allied PowersThe Central Powers Great Britain France Italy Russia United States (1917) Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria

Trench Warfare The Western Front The Western Front –A series of trenches from the English Channel to the Swiss border No Man’s Land No Man’s Land –The space between opposing trenches –Rough barren landscape –craters from artillery –Barbed wire to protect the trenches

Fighting in the Trenches To break through enemy lines, soldiers would: To break through enemy lines, soldiers would: –Heavy artillery bombardment –“Over the top” –Race across no man’s land –Hurl grenades into enemy trenches Problems with this tactic Problems with this tactic –Artillery bombardment not effective –Easy targets –High casualties

New Technology was needed to break through enemy lines. Poison Gas Poison Gas Tanks Tanks Airplanes Airplanes Machine Guns Machine Guns

Poison Gas Germans first Germans first Types of gas: Types of gas: –Chlorine gas –Phosgene gas –Mustard gas Gas masks necessary for all soldiers Gas masks necessary for all soldiers

Tanks British first British first Early tanks - easy to destroy Early tanks - easy to destroy –rolled over barbed wire still experimental at the end of WWI still experimental at the end of WWI

Airplanes first used for surveillance first used for surveillance later both sides used them to drop small bombs later both sides used them to drop small bombs Machine guns were added too Machine guns were added too

Zeppelins Giant air ships used by Germans to bomb England Giant air ships used by Germans to bomb England –little damage –frightened many people filled with hydrogen gas filled with hydrogen gas –became raging infernos when hit by antiaircraft guns

Machine Guns Germans first Germans first Early machine guns - heavy and not portable Early machine guns - heavy and not portable end of the war - used on the battlefield, tanks and airplanes end of the war - used on the battlefield, tanks and airplanes