1. Technology in WW1 How it changed during the war and how it changed the world

2. The War to end all Wars Most European powers believed that WW1 would be quickly resolved because of the technology available All of the great powers were highly industrialized and had global empires which provided an abundance of natural resources Railroads throughout Germany and other parts of Europe provided fast transportation for troops Schlieffen Plan was designed with a quick victory in mind Germany and other countries had been building up military strength for decades Tactics were not up to speed with new technology which was a huge problem

3. The War Begins Germany attempts Schlieffen Plan, is nearly successful Belgian resistance slows down German advance and allows time for British and French forces to mass German push towards Paris is repelled Both German and British/French forces make efforts to out- maneuver one another. This is referred to as the “Race to the Sea” Soon trenches stretch from Switzerland to the British Channel, with multiple layers of secondary defenses Trench warfare emerges because neither side has the ability to break through enemy lines Defense is much more effective than offense

4. Machine Guns First major war with widespread use Required crew of 4-6; as they improved this number decreased Equal to roughly 80 riflemen in terms of firepower Early models jammed frequently and were inaccurate, however they improved over the course of the war

5. Artillery Came in all shapes and sizes, largest guns could fire at targets over 7 miles away (nearly to Angels Stadium) Devastating against Infantry, useful against Armor as well Were kept well behind the front lines Relied on communication with front lines in order to scout targets

6. Once it was realized that a swift war was impossible tactics changed to Trench Warfare Trenches provided some protection against artillery and gun fire Men lived in these cramped and confined spaces for months at a time, which were often flooded or infested with rats Roughly 1/3 casualties were a result of disease or infection

7. No Man’s Land Big stretches of open ground separated battling armies This area was known as No Man’s land, and often was rigged with barbed wire, mines, and other obstacles In order to take ground soldiers would need to charge across No Man’s Land, exposed to enemy fire Assaults usually began with an artillery barrage and were followed by an Infantry charge supported with covering machine gun fire These tactics resulted in massive casualties on all sides and little gain in terms of ground taken

8. Airplanes Developed only about a decade before the war, Airplanes were still primitive Made of wood and canvas, limited aerial maneuverability Most effective for scouting and spotting for artillery Limited aerial engagements Synchronized propeller and machine gun made planes much more effective

9. Tanks Developed as an answer to trench warfare Notoriously slow and unreliable First used in 1916 Almost immune to rifle and machine gun fire, still vulnerable to artillery fire Tanks relied on support from Infantry, since they were vulnerable to massed enemy infantry if they got close enough Treads allowed tanks to travel over muddy and dangerous ground

10. Flame Throwers Used to neutralize enemy positions without destroying fortifications Limited use due to unreliable nature

11. Submarines Used primarily to harass supply lines Hit and run tactics Total War Still very primitive and dangerous during WW1 German “U-Boats” were the most prevalent

12. Chemical Warfare Developed as an anti- infantry tactic designed to incapacitate and demoralize Troublesome as it prevented troops from taking affected areas Faded out of use as countermeasures were easily developed

13. Analysis Questions Answer the following questions on a new page in your notebook in your own words. Each answer should be at least a few sentences long: 1.Think about what you know about today’s military; have new and improved weapons made war easier/better? 2.Does new technology result in more death, or in more lives saved?