1. WWI
An Expanded Look

2. Conscription 1916- Troops/civilians were aware of the reality of war
Disease in the Trenches
Cramped Conditions
Fallen Soldiers
Poison Gas Attacks
High Losses from Artillery
Intense Close Combat

3. Conscription PM Borden promised 500 000 men for the War effort
soldiers short and needed reinforcements
Conscription- mandatory military service
men are selected, only would see action
Quebec opposed Conscription- Not our fight
Election on the issue divided the country- English vs French
War ended before Conscription could take full effect

4. The Schlieffen Plan
Germany- France was the main threat, Russia not as strong
Assumption:
Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilize
France could be defeated in 6 weeks
Belgium would not resist
Britain would remain neutral
Reality
Belgium Army resisted
British force arrived quickly
Russia mobilized in 10 days, German troops required on the Eastern Front
Germans fail to attack Paris

5. The Schlieffen Plan
Failure of German advance creates deadlock at Western Front

6. Trench Warfare superior firepower made opposing forces to “dig in”
sacrifice mobility for protection
Machine Guns & Artillery Fire created a “Defensive War”
Germans Trenches superior to Allies
cement, electricity, running water
Consisted of two or more parallel lines running
dug in a zigzag to prevent enemy from firing long distances
each main line connected by communications trenches

7. Trench Warfare

8. Trench Warfare
Western Front Trenches- from Belgian coast to Switzerland

9. Trench Warfare Attack Strategy:
Bombard Enemy Trenches with Artillery Fire
Send troops “Over the Top”, across “No Man’s Land” to attack
Opposing troops would retreat, reinforce, prepare to be attacked
Creeping Barrage: Allies would fire artillery just in front of advancing troops.
Artillery created cover and forced the enemy to remain underground until Allied troops were on top of them

10. Creeping Barrage

11. Trench Warfare
1918- increased us of tanks brought an end to Trench warfare

12. France Majority of the War fought on French-German border
1 in 20 of French Population is killed
52% of mobilized men are either killed or wounded
36% of soldiers aged killed
1914- avg Frenchmen killed per day
The Treaty of Versailles, ending WWI, signed in France

13. Russia Pre-WWI Russia wants to expand borders
Germany are biggest threat
Joins Triple Entente is response to Central Powers
Germans and Russian fought on the Eastern Front
Major shortages in ammunition, rifles, and food
1/3 of able bodied men are fighting in Army
Creates further shortages in food and supplies

14. Russia Vladimir Lenin & Bolshevicks create Social Revolution
Russian Government is overthrown, Russia signs peace treaty with Germany & Austria
WWI- 15 million served in Army, 1.8 million killed

15. The Role of Women Women entered the workforce to deal with shortage
women worked in factories
Worked as Bus driver, banker, Police, Civil Services
Kept farms running
Unsuitable for women prior to 1914
Wanted the vote, input in how country was run
‘Wartime Elections Act’
Women related to solider can vote
Vote in favour of anything to help end war
End of the War, all women over 21 could vote

16. Halifax Explosion

17. Halifax Explosion

18. Halifax Explosion (1917)
Halifax- massive Wartime Port- troops and supplies
well-defended in case of a German attack
Two ships collide, one carrying munitions
fire starts, few people understand the danger
One of the largest man-made explosions prior to WW2 A-bomb
2000 Dead, 9000 injured, homeless, $35 million in damages

19. Halifax Explosion (1917)
The blast crushed internal organs, exploding lungs and eardrums of those standing closest to the ship, most of whom died instantly. It picked up others, only to thrash them against trees, walls, and lampposts with enough force to kill them.
Roofs and ceilings collapsed on top of their owners. Floors dropped into the basement and trapped families under timber, beams and furniture.
glass shattered, sending out a shower of arrow-shaped slivers that cut their way through curtains, wallpaper and walls. Some people were beheaded where they stood. Many others awoke to find themselves unable to see.

20. Halifax Explosion (1917)
People were also blown through the sky. Where and how they landed largely determined whether they lived or died.
Charles Mayers was picked up and dropped nearly 1 km from his ship. "I was wet when I came down, I had no clothes on except my boots.”
Anchor of the ship was thrown 4km away, it is still there