1. Characteristics of WW I

2. The Western Front The Schleiffen Plan called for a massive invasion by Germany through Belgium. A quick defeat of France would prevent a war on two fronts (Russia).

3. Static Warfare When the Germans were halted at the Battle of Marne, both sides dug trenches from the North Sea to the Swiss border.

4. Trench Warfare

7. Life in the Trenches https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvYIIuxh2kY

8. Important Battles on the western Front
Ypres (Flanders) Oct – Nov Initial advance of the German army halted.
Ypres April May 1915 Germans used gas for the first time Canadian casualties.
Vimmy Ridge April - May Four divisions of Canadian infantry. Victory at the cost of 13,000 Allied casualties.
Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres) June – Nov ,000 Allied casualties.
Total Allied and German casulties 850,000

9. WWI Aerial Warfare Initially planes were used mostly for reconnaissance but gradually they evolved into fighter planes and crude bombers.
Link on website for students who are interested

10. Pilots such as Canada’s Billy Bishop (72 kills) and Germany’s Baron Von Richtofen, the Red Baron (80 kills) were used as propaganda.

12. Snoopy vs The Red Baron
The Red Baron as a popular culture reference

13. Snoopy’s Christmas

14. Who Killed The Red Baron?

15. The Eastern Front

16. The Eastern Front
The duration of the war was the undoing of Russia
Inefficient arms factories.
Inadequate transportation system for a massive country.
British, Australians, and French tried to gain control of the Dardanelles Straight in order to get supplies to Russia.
They suffered a massive defeat by the Germans and Turks at Gallipoli.252,000 casualties.
Food shortages – bread riots.
Overthrow of Czar Nicholas II

17. A New Russia
Vladimir Lenin takes control after The Russian Revolution.
Policy of “peace at any cost.”
Signs peace treaty with Germany March 1918.
Germany now focuses on France and Britain before the USA arrives in great number.

18. The War at Sea – Blockade and Counter-blockade
Objective for both sides was to cut off food and supplies.
Initially both sides were reluctant to expose their fleets.
Battle of Jutland May 1916.
German losses – 11 ships 2500 men. British losses 14 ships 6000 men.

19. The U-boat Campaign
Both sides suffered from the blockades. 800,000 die in Germany from starvation.
German subs sank 430 ships by the end of the war.

20. USA Becomes Involved Initially neutral but supportive of Allies.
German U-boat sinks British passenger ship Lusitania Americans lost.
President Wilson demands end to unrestricted submarine warfare – Germans comply.
Gradual shift of public opinion in US.
January 1917 Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare.
Germany seeks Mexico as an ally. Offers support to reclaim Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.
US officially enters the war April

21. Russia Withdraws Millions of Russians dead. Poverty! No end in sight.
The Treaty Of Brest Litovsk (March 1918)
Russia gives up significant territory to Germany.

22. The End of the War Protests and riots in Germany.
Armed forces running out of supplies.
Germany launches final futile assaults on the western front.
Fresh US forces make significant difference.
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates November 9.
Germans surrender 11:00 am November

23. The Treaty of Versailles
Britain, France, and the US dictate the following terms:
Territorial losses- African colonies, areas surrounding Germany.
Military restrictions.
- German army limited to 100,000. Volunteers only no conscription.
- German navy max 6 battleships.
- No subs, tanks or planes.
Reparations.
million pounds in gold and goods.
War guilt clause – Germany forced to accept blame for WWI