1. COS Standard 4
Describe causes, events and the impact of military involvement of the US in WWI, including mobilization and economic and political changes.

2. Combat
Many Europeans had lost their lives, but Americans thought their soldiers could bring a quick end to the war.
World War I saw a major use in trench warfare, especially on the western front

3. Trench Warfare
Type of fighting where both sides build deep trenches as a defense against the enemy
WWI- the western front in France saw the use of trench warfare
Neither side saw much gain from Oct Mar. 1918

4. Combat continued

5. Trench Warfare cont…. Trenches were dug by solders Methods- (3)
Entrenching-digging straight into the ground (New ground)
Sapping-extending trenches on one end only
Tunneling-once finished just remove the top.(Safest but most difficult)
Dug typically around 12 feet deep into the ground.
Reinforced with woods beams and sandbags.
Bottom of trenches were covered with boards called duckboards.
Helped keep feet above the water.

6. No Man’s Land
This was the area of land located between two enemy trench lines.
Full of barbed wire and land mines.
Enemy trenches were generally around yards apart.

7. Combat continued

8. Combat continued New Technology Machine guns Poison gas Tanks
Airplanes drop small bombs

9. New Weapons
Artillery- Improved during WWI including anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy planes.
Caused majority of casualties
Shells launched up to 80 miles
Machine Guns- made much lighter during WWI making them more mobile

10. Artillery

11. Machine Guns

12. New Weapons cont…
Flame Throwers- used mostly by Germans on the western front . Used to force enemies out of their trenches
Chemical Weapons- WWI first war to use chemical weapons.
Chlorine Gas, Mustard Gas
Gas masked used/issued by end of the war which made the weapons less effective

13. Flamethrowers

15. Chemical Warfare

16. New Weapons cont… Airplanes-WWI first war to use planes.
Initially used for reconnaissance.
Used to drop bombs by the end of the war and had mounted machine guns
Tanks-first introduced in WWI
Used to cross “No Man’s Land”
Had mounted machine guns and cannon
Very slow, but became more effective throughout the war

18. WWI Tanks

20. Combat continued
Doughboys: nickname for inexperienced American soldiers
Convoy: merchant ships and troops were gathered into groups and brought across the Atlantic by warships
Reduces loss of ships and goods
Ensures that troops and supplies get their safely

21. Coming to an end
Russia cannot handle the major problems with their government and have to pull Russia out of the war.
Communist
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Russia leaves war and Germany removes army from Russia, exchange territory. Closes Eastern front.
Germany focuses on Western front.
American and French troops hold ground.
General Pershing puts together an attack against Germany and German positions falls one after another.
An armistice was signed that ended the war.