1. Death, Destruction and Dismemberment
World War One:
A War of Attrition
1918

2. The Western and Eastern Fronts

3. Illusions and Stalemate
“A Quick War?”
General consensus was that the “boys would be home be Christmas”
Feeling that the war was a Great Adventure!
The Schlieffen Plan – See HANDOUT/MAP
Illusions and Stalemate

4. #9

5. Christmas 1914
The Christmas Truce

6. 1915 “What are we doing?”
Germany is entrenched in North Eastern France.
Problem #1: How can the allies push the German Army out of France? THOUGHTS?
Trench warfare baffled military leaders who had been trained to fight wars of movement and maneuver
Problem #2: How can Great Britain coordinate efforts with eastern ally, Russia?
LOOK AT THE MAP – WHAT DO YOU THINK?

8. COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective?
Gallipoli
COMMUNICATION: What happens when military coordination is ineffective?
EPIC FAIL

9. Propaganda Posters

11. General Overview
Essentially involved British, French, and untested Australian and New Zealand forces (Anzacs)
Initially viewed as purely only a naval battle to win the Dardanelles Straits, to supply Russia in the Eastern Front, and better coordinate allied war programs
Rough dates: February 1915-January 1916

12. Why do this at all?
The Straits were viewed as strategically important geographically… and have been for a long time! (Continuity & Change)
The Straits linked the Mediterranean Sea with the Sea of Marmora, giving Entente powers access to Constantinople and a lane into the Black Sea
Access to the Black Sea would give Britain and France a supply route to their eastern ally, Russia

14. The Difficulty of the Straits
Because of its huge tactical and strategic value, it was heavily defended, mainly by natural geography
To the north they were protected by the Gallipoli Peninsula; to the south by the shore of Ottoman Asia. As well, fortresses were well positioned on cliff-tops overlooking shipping lanes

16. Lack of Success on Western Front
Both Britain and France were receiving sobering news from the campaign on the Western Front, and much of the resources were consumed there
Both governments came to look at the opening up of another front in the Mediterranean, one that offered better prospects of success, as a good change

17. Allied Command Opinions….
"for this trench warfare no great technical knowledge is required. A high moral standard and a healthy stomach these are the best. . . for he who aspires to fight his way to the front at the Dardanelles."
General Ian Hamilton to Winston Churchill, early 1915

18. Reinforecments, Landings, and Failed Attacks
18, 000 French Colonial troops were added, as well as a force of 75, 000 largely untested Australian and New Zealand troops – training in Egypt
84, 000 enemy troops were brought in and were dispersed to strategic locations around Gallipoli
On April 25, two landings occurred, one at Helles and the other at Anzac Cove, establishing two beachheads
Heavy casualties were taken because of positioning

20. What did British Commanders think of their colonial allies?

21. ANZAC Soldiers in the trenches

22. The Highlight-the Evacuation!
The British government finally sanctioned a formal evacuation that began on December 7
The evacuation was easily viewed as the most successful element of the entire campaign
British casualties: 205, 000
French casualties: 47, 000
Turkish casualties: 250, 000

23. Waltzing Matilda and Anzac Day
ANZAC DAY – National Memorial Day, April 25th

24. 1916 “The Deadliest Year of the War”
After a year and a half of factories working around the clock on the home front, the allies finally had stockpiles of munitions.
Feeling that by 1916, a major breakthrough was imminent on the Western Front, allied leaders strategized huge artillery barrages and waves of foot soldier assaults – all for what? 
Seen at Verdun and the Somme

26. The Roots of Verdun
On Christmas day 1915, a letter is sent to Kaiser Wilhelm II
The letter outlines that the key to winning the war was not to be found on the Eastern Front, but on the Western Front
Rationalization: If France could be defeated, Britain would also seek terms, or be defeated as well

27. Britain is Key
Germany believed that Britain formed the foundation of the Allied effort, and must be removed
Began implementing a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare against British shipping in an attempt to starve Britain out
Problem: This ran the risk of bringing the U.S. into the war

28. Significance of Place
Verdun, itself, held specific meaning to the French
It was the last fortress to fall during the Franco- Prussian war, and it had been improved since
Hence, it was of great symbolic significance and maintained a psychological hold on the minds of the French people
Germany knew this… and counted on it!

29. Start
Finish

30. German Strategy
Subject Verdun to intense bombardment to draw in and divert French troops from all over the Western Front
“bleed France white” until it can stand no longer
Formidable opposition: 1 million Germans vs. 200, 000 defenders
Battle begins: 07:15 on February 21st

31. The Beginning
1,400 guns packed along the eight mile front, served by nearby railway facilities
100, 000 shells poured into Verdun every hour
Intention? Kill as many French defenders as you can before an infantry advance
By the end of the first day, German forces had only captured front line trenches

32. Artillery at Verdun

33. French Sentiment
Upon losing Douaumont, the French sentiment was one of unwavering resolve:
> Popular sentiment demanded its recapture, making a withdrawal from Verdun impossible
The French commanding officer, Joffre, issued a warning stating that anyone leaving would be court- martialed

34. French Soldier killed at Verdun
Controversial:
Staged or true?

35. Change of Course
For the remainder of the next few months, German attacks were met with counter attacks, with casualties mounting on both sides
By the time the battle ended almost 1 million casualties were tallied in roughly equal numbers for both side
Longest continuous battle of WWI : February- December , 1916

36. Death in the trenches at Verdun

37. Continued French Losses
French forts could only hold out for so long, reserves of water were gone, and the forts themselves begin to crumble
New chemical warfare: Germany, at this point, began unveiling phosgene gas, which was acted by forming hydrochloric acid once in the lungs

39. *A Fundamental Shift
In an attempt to drain German manpower from Verdun, a major offensive was staged elsewhere at the Battle of the Somme
Originally planned to begin August 1, it was moved to July 1 to help divert German resources elsewhere
Fortune comes: a sudden drain in German resources to the Eastern Front provides a sense of vindication

40. Final Results of Verdun
By the time it ends casualties were listed at 550, 000 French losses and 434, 000 German losses
The only impact? Loss of Life on both sides is unprecedented!

41. The Battle of the Somme
Remembered primarily for the unparalleled loss of life
58, 000 British troops killed on the first morning, July 1, 1916
Primary scope of the battle was to drain
the German forces of reserves, take
pressure off of Verdun and also
to gain territory
Attack actually began on June 24
with an eight day bombardment of German lines

42. The Somme – North Eastern France

43. View from Elevated trenches

44. The hope?
The expectation of this was that German defenses would be destroyed, enabling British troops to walk across no man’s land
1,500 British guns were employed
750, 000 men went into the attack
One problem: many of the advance artillery munitions were ‘duds’ –poorly made and ineffective

45. British Trenches – “Over the Top”

46. No Surprise!
The attack was of no surprise to the Germans, in fact the eight day bombardment served merely to alert Germans of an imminent attack. HOW CAN THE ALLIES EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE AN ATTACK?
The majority of soldiers who went over the top were killed instantly, or forced back into their trenches by machine gun fire
By the end, poor weather had brought a halt to the Somme on November 18

47. Stretcher bearers

48. Final Results: the Somme-- 1916
British and French had gained 12 kilometers of ground
British casualties were estimated at 420, 000
French casualties were 200, 000
German casualties were around 500, 000
Critics argue that an inflexible approach was a main issue, or that the British were compelled into battle to relieve the French at Verdun

49. 1917 – “A year of change” The United States enters the War
Russia drops out of the war – Civil War and Revolution
Canada gets a chance! – VIMY RIDGE

50. The American Entrance
America practicing an Isolationist Policy – a “European Problem”
It will take a more direct attack on American citizens to force American government – Woodrow Wilson

51. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

53. A Crime?

54. American Propaganda Poster

55. 1918 Disillusionment
Increased levels of suicides in the trenches, mutinies, and desertion
Resources dwindling on ALL sides, however, Germany has now been cut off from American supplies, particularly, OIL
Suffering on the home front, particularly German civilians

56. Tomorrow: Trench Life “Suicide in the Trenches”
Siegfried Sassoon:
“Suicide in the Trenches”
“You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye
Who cheer when soldier lads march by
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know
The hell where youth and laughter go.”