1. HOW WAS WWI FOUGHT?
WESTERN FRONT
It was the most important front because of its size and the time it was operational. Also because the fighting there had a significant impact on the ideas about the attitude towards war.

2. TRENCHES AND STALEMATE
Trenches were created in order to hold positions and keep out of the line of fire.
However, as it became clear that they were to become permanent, they evolved into complex defensive systems. (see page 49)
The land between the trenches lines was called “no-man’s land”.
Trenches were deadlier for attackers than for defenders.
Major attacks would begin with an artillery barrage, then the attacking troops would go “over the top” and would attempt to reach and capture the enemy trenches.
Soldiers had to walk or run into the direct firing line of the defenders, while mines and barbed wire slowed them down.
The aim was to destroy or wear down the opposing army and break their morale.

5. DEVELOPMENT OF WEAPONRY
WEAPONS
Main weapon British soldier: .303in, bolt-action Lee-Enfield rifle which fires rounds a minute.
Machine guns used against mass targets and fire 600 rounds a minute.
GRENADES
British: pineapple-shaped Mills bomb.
Germans: stick-shaped grenades / potato-mashers.

6. HEAVY ARTILLERY
Artillery inflicted 70% of all casualties.
Every major attack was preceded by a prolonged artillery barrage.
However, it wasn’t mobile, accurate or effective enough against trenches.
Its use also gave notice to the enemy of the upcoming attack.
Caused brain damage, bleeding ears and filled the land with craters.
It evolved into creeping barrage and artillery ambush.

9. Poison gas – first used at Ypres by Germans in April 1915.
CHEMICAL WARFARE
Poison gas – first used at Ypres by Germans in April 1915.
Chlorine gas disabled 6.5 km of trenches.
Phosgene gas – 18 times stronger than chlorine.
Mustard gas – most feared, burned, blinded or slowly killed victims over several weeks.
The gases didn’t play a key role because they depended on the wind for the distribution and could blow back towards the side using it.
Gas masks were developed quickly.

10. TANKS
Developed by the British and French.
The tanks advanced ahead of the infantry, crushing barbed wire fences and attacking the enemy with machine-gun and cannon fire.
They were slow and unreliable and broke down before they reached the German trenches.
Their armor didn’t resist artillery, the heat inside was tremendous and fumes from the engine and guns nearly choked the men inside.

12. IMPORTANCE OF NAVAL WARFARE IN WWI
WAR AT SEA
IMPORTANCE OF NAVAL WARFARE IN WWI
Britain had to be able to transport men (even from Australia and Canada), and supplies to battlefields.
Britain needed the navy to supply itself of food and industrial supplies from other countries.
Germany didn’t need naval routes to supply and help its allies, but needed supplies and food from overseas.
Britain was able to block Germany’s supplies routes by sending Royal Navy vessels against German units stationed abroad and destroyed one of the main squadrons at the Falkland Islands in 1914.
Allies also started blockading German ports and Britain searched on neutral shipping to make sure Germany was not getting supplies through other countries.