1. Communication
Its Ability, Role and Usage in Both WWI and WWII and how their Roles Changed between the Wars

2. Basics of War Communication
Communication allows for transportation of vital information between groups during times of war or crises
Commanders and other leaders can send orders and commands through means of communication
Communication can be either short or long distances – as technology develops, distances can become longer

3. WWI

4. Ability of Communication in WWI
Very basic and in a poor state
Methods hadn’t changed much since 18th century
Telephone lines were often rendered useless by enemy fire
Many soldiers and commanders did not have proper communication with higher ranking generals in charge of overseeing the war effort

5. World War I Communication Methods
Telephone Lines
Letters and Mail
Runners and Personnel
Carrier Pigeons
Radio and Wireless
Not using Communication at all

6. Trench Transmitter
Trench Warfare was the most common methods of fighting
Valve Transmitter
Used code much like Morse Code to send messages within the trench

7. Field Telephone
Used telephone lines to send messages to other field telephones
Wind-up generator or battery gave it power
Unreliable as most lines were downed early
Able to be re-routed to other trenches (first espionage)

8. Telegram
Telegrams were wildly used during WWI to send messages over large distances and were more reliable than field telephones

9. Carrier Pigeons Carrier Pigeons were almost undetectable
Small canisters carried the message, which could be a map, message, etc

10. Runners/Messengers
Runners would be extremely familiar with the trench layout and carried messengers
Also responsible for leading troops around the trench

11. Battle of Vimy Ridge
The battle of Vimy Ridge required heavy communication in order to carry out the strategic planning
Many different armies were being deployed in order to be successful
Some communication errors caused unwanted causalities

13. Importance of Communication To WWI
Most forms of communication unreliable and was not relied upon heavily during the war
Forms used were rudimentary in their forms
Almost any battle required the movement of communication from one area to another in order to move effectively on the battlefield
Communication, in its various forms, allowed for quicker and more efficient deployment of troops compared to not using any at all

14. WWII

15. Ability of Communication in WWII
Technology has advanced and with that so has communication
Many more methods have been employed and are more reliable
Wireless technologies and improved equipment has allowed for longer range and quicker communication
Allowed for quicker and more accurate deployment of troops and armory

16. WWII Communication Methods
Radio/Wireless
Telegram
Coded Messages
Carrier Pigeons
PA systems and announcers
Letters and Mail

17. Field Wireless Radio Wireless radio was much more reliable
Allowed for longer range and more areas to be connected
Enemies could intercept signal (coded messages)

18. “Hmmm…I get two bars if I lay like this.”

19. Announcers
Large speaker cabinets were used to push the volume of orders commanded by military leaders
Allowed for orders to reach more soldiers

20. D-Day and Strategic Communication
D-Day is one of the largest deployments of troops during WWII
Many different armies are organized for the attack on the Normandy Coast
A full scale attack on the coast requires a coordinated team effort over vast distances and a very precise time schedule
Heavily guarded communication routes were used in order to coordinate the attack under secrecy

21. D-Day (cont.)
Attacks were coordinated between the British, French Underground, Canadian, and American forces and attacked combining their firepower

22. D-Day Results Largest example of strategic deployment
Used precise communication
Good example of how communication can work to an army’s advantage

23. Importance of Communication in WWII
Communication heavily relied upon in order to conduct tactics and orders
More reliable and effective
Money and time put into developing the technology for the war
Advanced during the course of the war

24. Changes and Results

25. WWI saw very rudimentary communications as technology didn’t progress very far from early wars
Commanders saw the importance of communication and used it during WWII
This lead to a great advance in the technology used
Longer range battles were able to be fought with more accuracy as communication was better over long ranges
Better communication allowed for more elaborate military tactics

26. Social – many of the technologies produced for the military communications made their way into the public (RCA and Motorola) during both WWI and WWII
Military – communication played a role in almost any military venture during both the wars
Social – the radio allowed for citizens to have more information on WWII and brought the war to the home

27. The advancement in technology in WWII made for a more strategic war and different types of warfare
Quicker movement of communication allowed for the quicker movement of armies in WWII compared to WWI
Military tactics changed as the communication methods changed (trench vs. Blitz)
Many of the technologies produced during both WWI and WWII made their way into the social culture and had a lasting effect on the world itself

28. Communication allowed for all other sectors to operate successfully and accurately
Communication proved to be valued more during WWII than in WWI and was considered more important
Allowed for accurate placement of troops and tactics used during both wars