1. World War I The “Great War”

2. Why is World War I important ? The equation of modern war: Technology Tactics Organization

3. U.S. Civil War: Technology gave the defense the advantage at the tactical level. World War I Technology gave the defense the advantage at the tactical and operational levels.

4. The main question of the Western Front: How do we break the stalemate ?

7. Why had the German advance bogged down? Answer: The increased lethality of modern weapons.

8. Improved artillery – recoil systems – improved explosives (Alfred Nobel) – improved communications

12. Indirect Fire Observer

14. Wilhelmgeschtze (The Paris Gun) Range: 120 kms. (74.5 miles) Shell: 120 kg. (264.5 lbs.)

16. And... Machine guns Semi-automatic rifles Bottom line: Lots of bullets in the air. Soldiers are not stupid - they hide Trench systems develop

21. No Man’s Land 200 yds - 2 miles Allies Germans

36. The U.S. remains neutral

37. America’s shifting position... May 1915, Lusitania sunk by a German sub. 1,198 killed (128 Americans) September 1915, Arabic pledge: No more unrestricted submarine warfare Question: How neutral is America ?

38. America’s shifting position... 1916, Wilson campaigns with the slogan: “He Kept us Out of War!” 22 January 1917: “Peace without victory.” 31 January, Germans announce: Resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare 25 February: Zimmerman Note 2 April: Wilson asks for war.

39. War Congress declares war on 6 April. Senate: 82 / 6 House:373 / 50 Reasons: 1. Resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. 2. Zimmerman Note Unspoken reason? Could we let the Allies loose?

40. America and World War I We are not a strong military power. Our major contribution: – Men – $$ Our contribution was decisive.

42. The American Contribution “American Expeditionary Force” qqqqqqqCommander: John J. Pershing We were slow getting into the fight: – Pershing wanted a separate army. – We trained first. We did a good job in combat. Or presence (not necessarily in combat) qqqqqqqwas decisive.

43. XX X X MG Signal Trains 28,105 men 77 guns 260 machine guns U.S. Infantry Division 1918

45. 11:00 AM, 11 November 1918 War Ends !! ( 11 / 11/ 11 1918 ) “Armistice Day”

46. What had we fought for ?

47. U.S. Strategic Objectives... “Peace without victory.” How does one achieve that ? Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” War is always political.

48. Versailles Treaty German “War Guilt.” Economic imbalance created by the treaty. No clear understanding by the Germans that they were defeated. Weimar government never very strong. Political chaos: Right vs. Left.

49. Tactical and operational questions for the future... How is maneuver possible on the modern battlefield? What is the role of the airplane? All of these questions will be addressed in the 1920’s and 1930’s.