Unit IV: 1915 “A War to End All Wars” -H.G. Wells 1

Unit IV 1915: LEARNING TARGETS: 1. I can explain how even though the war begins in Europe it evolves into a World War with some very strange outcomes in strange places. 2. I understand why the alliance between the Central Powers and the Ottoman Empire is seen as an opportunity for France and Britain to carve it up. 3. I understand and can explain how trench warfare created a lifestyle and a reality that no volunteer and no General had planned for or could react well to. 4. I understand and can explain how the new technology made war 3-dimensional and why neither the air above or the sea below were safe. 2

Unit IV: 1915 I. The War at Sea: A. January 24 Another German bombardment of the English Coast occurs, and on the way back, the raiders are intercepted by the British Fleet (Dogger Bank) Admiral Hipper escapes but not without loss. B. January 30, U-boats begin to torpedo without warning. C. Feb 4 German Government announces unrestricted submarine warfare against any ship sailing into British waters. The US protests and warns the Germans. D. March 1 England begins full blockade of Germany. E. April 17: British submarines make it through the Dardenelles and into the Black Sea. F. May 1: The first American merchant ship, the Gulflight is sunk by a U- boat near England. G. May 7: The Lusitania is sunk with 124 American civilians on board. H. After more sinkings, the Germans agree on August 26 to warn merchant vessels and liners before sinking them. 3

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Lusitania 5

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Unit IV: 1915 II. The Western Front: A. March The Artois Offensive. British attempt to break through the German trench lines. They lose 11,300 men. They capture very little. Conclusion is that heavy artillery is the answer. B. April 5 The French launch a massive attack against German trenches. Mud and rain make progress impossible. C. April 22, through May: the Second Battle of Ypres begins with the Germans firing 4000 gas cylinders at the British. Soldiers without masks run away and the Germans capture part of the line. A few days later the 2 nd gas attack is held off against the Canadians who soak gauze in urine and hold it over their face. D. April 26 the Italians go to war against Austria and therefore become part of the Allies. E. May and June: Continual British attacks to take back lost trenches cause three British generals to be replaced. The French and British attacks and German counterattacks continue throughout the summer. F. June 23 to July 7: The Battle of Isonzo: 200,000 Italians attack through the Alps. G. July 17: Bulgaria joins the Central Powers. H. September the 25 th, French attacks gain 4,000 yards. The fight continues until October. 48,000 French casualties, 30,000 German. Fighting continues into October when casualties will grow to 144,000 by October and 85,000 Germans. I. October 6, Germany Austria and Serbia attack Serbia from three directions. J. October 13 and 14: The Battle of Loos. The British lose 26,000 men trying to take a hilltop position. 7

Unit IV: 1915 III. The Air War: A. January: The Germans launch their first zeppelin Air Raid. The L3 and L9 bomb eastern England. There are 20 casualties but panic and paranoia are rampant. B. Feb 12: The Kaiser issues orders regarding the air war against Britain. Royal palaces and civilians are off limits but factories and dockyards are not. C. March 10: The RAF develops five new jobs for the Air Corps. The Clock System to describe spotting aircraft; Coordinating bombing attacks with ground attacks; Recon Patrols to watch the German rear lines; Photo-mapping missions; Protective patrols of rear areas. D. April 19: The mechanical interrupter is invented. E. June 6-7: Major Zeppelin raids on London. British fight back by dropping bombs on the zeppelins. F. October 13: Heaviest night raid of Zeppelins over London. 200 casualties. 8

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ZEPPELIN RAIDS 10

ZEPPELIN! 11

Unit IV: 1915 IV. The Russian Campaign: A. January 31: German counterattack in Poland against Russia. 18,000 poison gas shells fired but cold weather and lack of wind causes almost no effect. Russians fail to warn the allies. They also have no masks. B. February 7-22: The Battle of the Masurian Lakes. The Russian Army is beaten and pushed back 70 miles. C. April 13 the Kaiser decides to hold in France and attack in Russia, thus reversing the von Schlieffen Plan. D. May 1 The Germans and Austrians push east into Russia. E. August 21: Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the army. 12