1. World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924)
Topic 2 Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War

2. World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924)
Topic 2 Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War
Learning Objectives
Understand how trench warfare led to a stalemate on the Western Front.
Identify and describe the impact of modern military technology on the fighting.
Outline the course of the war on multiple European fronts.
Explain how World War I was a global conflict.

3. World War I and the Russian Revolution (1914–1924)
Lesson 2 Fighting the Great War
Key Terms
stalemate,
zeppelins
U-boats,
convoys,
Dardanelles,
T. E. Lawrence

4. Stalemate on the Western Front
A New Kind of War
Stalemate on the Western Front
The German plan to invade France quickly is going to fail
The Belgium are going to put up more of a fight
Russia is going to mobilize quicker than expected and force the Prussians to move troops to fight them. This will lead to a stalemate
Trench Warfare
On the Western Front from the English Channel to the Swiss border there will be trench warfare. Men will fight from these trenches
Between opposing trenches is a no man’s land of mines and barb wire. Men will cross this to try and take the other trench
High Casualty Rates
Battle of Verdun lasted 11 months, it had half a million casualties on both sides
Battle of Somme River 60 thousand British troops are lost in one day. A million troops lost in the span of 5 months with neither side gaining an advantage

5. A New Kind of War
Analyze Maps Who do you think was in a better strategic position at the start of the war, the Allies or the Central Powers? Why?

6. A New Kind of War
This German soldier was one of the many casualties of the fighting during World War I. Massive offenses and new military technology combined to produce extremely high casualty rates.

7. Modern Military Technology
Poison Gas
Poison gas is used as a way to break trench warfare
Both sides will use it, but it is very tricky to use
Both sides will get masks later on and both sides will ban its use
Tanks, Airplanes, and Submarines
1916 Britain will bring in tanks to the battlefield but will fail
Both sides will use aircraft for reconnaissance
Germany will use Zeppelins to bomb the English coast
Later on airplanes will be used by both sides with machine guns
Red Baron
German U-boats will do a lot of damage to the allies side, creating the need for convoys

8. Modern Military Technology
Poison gas and machine guns are two examples of the military technology that killed and wounded so many. These British machine gunners wear gas masks during the Battle of the Somme, in July 1916.

9. Mounting Russian Losses in the East
Other European Fronts
Mounting Russian Losses in the East
August 1914 Russian troops pushed into Eastern Germany then lose a big battle at Tannenberg. They get pushed back into Russia
Even though a large country Russia could not supply its troops.
Factories produced weapons but the army could not get it to them
Still they will fight
War in Southern Europe
Italy will declare war on Germany and Austria Hungary in 1915
Italians will fight Austria for the next two years
October 117 the Italians will have a major setback in the battle of Caporetto but the French and British will step in to prevent the Central powers going into Italy.

10. Other European Fronts
Austrian soldiers advance into Russian Poland during the winter of 1915.

11. The Ottoman Empire Joins the War
A Global Conflict
The Ottoman Empire Joins the War
The Ottomans will join the Central powers in October 1914
They will immediately shut off the Dardanelles, cutting Russia off from her allies. The Allies will fight but by 1916 they will retreat
The Ottomans will have to fight in the Middle East against the Arabs. The British will send Lawrence of Arabia to fight guerilla warfare with the Arabs. They will take Baghdad and other lands
Deportation and Mass Murder of Armenians
Armenians lived in the Russian and Ottoman empires. They were a minority but still prospered. This led to resentment and their eventual deportation away or murder by the Ottomans
European Colonies and the War
Colonies are also brought into the war. German African and Asia colonies are attacked. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand will send troops to fight for Britain. Some will hope for independence after the war but will be disappointed.

12. A Global Conflict
Analyze Maps How did the Arab revolt against the Ottoman empire affect the Allied cause?

13. A Global Conflict
These Armenian refugee children were forced from their homes by the Ottoman government’s deportation campaign. They are waiting to receive their daily ration of food, provided by American relief workers.

14. Quiz: A New Kind of War
What was one effect of the failure of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan to quickly defeat France?
A. Germany had to fight the war on both the Eastern and the Western Front.
B. Germany was not able to bring Austria-Hungary into the war as its ally.
C. Germany was able to concentrate only on the Eastern Front.
D. Germany had to make an alliance with France.

15. Quiz: Modern Military Technology
What was the most significant effect of U-boat attacks on the fighting on land?
A. They killed many soldiers.
B. They kept soldiers from the front lines.
C. They destroyed vital supplies.
D. They created a stalemate.

16. Quiz: Other European Fronts
What is one way the Eastern Front was different from the Western Front?
A. The Eastern Front was fought with more military technology than the Western Front.
B. The Western Front provided the Central Powers with their most decisive victories.
C. The Western Front suffered more casualties than the Eastern Front.
D. The Eastern Front had front lines that moved widely, while the Western Front did not.

17. Quiz: A Global Conflict
Why did the Ottoman empire suffer important losses in the Middle East?
A. The Arabs revolted against their Ottoman rulers.
B. The Armenian army fought well in the Middle East.
C. The French did not provide the Ottomans with enough support.
D. The Ottomans were weakened by the Allied success at Gallipoli.