1. The Schlieffen Plan
L.I.: To understand how the German plan to invade France and end the war in 6 weeks failed.
Starter
Stick in the A5 Schlieffen Plan diagram sheet. Analyse the map- what were the intentions of the German armies?

3. The Schlieffen plan was designed to take France out of the war
The Schlieffen plan was designed to take France out of the war. The Germans planned the attack in 1905 and put it in to action as soon as the war started in August By attacking France quickly the Germans hoped to take control of Paris and capture the French government and army commanders.

4. The Schlieffen Plan - Summary
Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia.
“Knock out blow” aimed at France first.
Avoid French defences by invasion of Belgium.
Germans thought Britain would not intervene.
France defeated within 6 weeks
G.B. defeated in 6 months.

5. How do you win a war?
Work as a group to write down ideas and tactics in the back of your book.

6. New tactics and technology

7. Key words
Creeping barrage – The tactic used by gunners to protect their infantry in open ground.
Trench system– Long, interlinked holes in the ground used by soldiers for shelter.
Artillery – Large guns that fired shells long distances behind enemy lines.

8. A Vickers 303 Machine Gun

9. How the Vickers 303 Machine Gun was fired.

10. Tanks on the Battle Field

12. A Gas Attack as seen from the air

13. The Bell was rung as a warning of a gas attack

14. What was Gas all about?
The Germans used a horrifying new weapon at the second battle of Ypres in April 1915.
This weapon was poison (Chlorine) gas
The gas attack caused panic in the Allied trenches
The Germans started to advance, but the wind changed direction and blew the gas towards the German lines, causing more casualties amongst the Germans than amongst the Allies
Soon both sides were using gas

15. Germans fleeing the battle field from the gas that was been blown in their direction

16. Chlorine Gas irritated the lungs and many of those affected died of suffocation.
The Germans later used Phosgene, which was more powerful than the Chlorine
Phosgene is a colourless poisonous gas
In 1917 Mustard Gas started to be used
Mustard Gas had no smell
This gas temporarily blinded its victims, burned their skin and poisoned their lungs

17. Soldiers blinded in a gas attack waiting for medical help

18. Gas, however, was not a war-winning weapon.
It became largely ineffective when gas masks were introduced to protect the soldiers against it
Soldiers on both sides hated the gas.
Gas had the effect of panicking the soldiers
Attacking troops also feared the gas being blown back into their own trenches

19. An early gas mask

20. Early styles of gas masks

21. Even the horses were provided with gas masks

22. A machine gun crew wearing their gas masks

23. A later style of gas mask

24. Task
Use Big Ideas pages to complete the A4 new technologies sheet.
Research the new technologies.
Rank them in order of importance in terms of winning the war- YOUR opinion.