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Stalemate, Trenches and Weapons Paulson U.S. History Mon. Jan. 23, 2012
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1. List 3 Allied countries in WWI. 2. List 3 Central Powers in WWI. 3. What was the main goal of the “catch-em-while-they’re- Schlieffen-plan?” 3A. Describe what Germany did 3B. Were they successful?
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Spark # 5 Business items Turn in signatures if you didn’t Friday Maps? Post? Set the scene – then Trenches and Weapons Trenches diagram / Student research notes - squares Homework – square notes student research? And/or trench diagram
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Big Idea Key objective – As we talk about weapons and strategy, think about what it would have been like to be a regular soldier in this war PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES!!!!
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It begins Nationalism – entire generation of young men enlist – flock to the colors – for love of country – for adventure Bands playing, people singing, waving hats at the train station Both sides thought “over by Christmas”
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Deadlock Schlieffen Plan stopped Race to the Sea Dig in, trenches
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Big idea Technology of industrial revolution (cars, planes, blimps, armor, steel, chemicals) is going to be directed towards destruction / total war Figuring out how to break the STALEMATE / TRENCH system
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Trenches
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German trenches at the battle of the Somme. They had barber shops and Officer clubs
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“Over the Top,” into “No man’s land…”
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Technology used to “beat the trenches” GIANT SHIFT---from traditional warfare to mechanized warfare First example of “modern warfare” Trying to break the stalemate Generals fought with “old tactics” Casualties were extraordinary http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/casualties.htm http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/casualties.htm
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Rapid Fire Heavy Artillery Howitzers Big Bertha- aka “Paris Gun” range= 70 miles in 170 seconds Short muzzle mortars Constant shelling destroyed Soldiers psyche
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Tanks WWI began with cavalry attacks on horseback and ended with Tanks, Planes, and Poison gas William Triton – British Mark I 1916 Extremely clumsy -3 men to steer, 4 mph Developed from farm equipment Used to roll over trenches “water carriers” “little willie”---”big willie”---”Mark I”
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Blimps Aka “Zeppelin” Developed by Germans Used for bombing and reconnaissance Carried machine guns and bombs Replaced by planes and were too easy to shoot down!!
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Planes Replaced blimps Reconnaissance and photographs, later bombing Dogfights towards end of WWI Guns fired through prop (steel plated props, then timing) Aces: “Red Baron” Manfreid von Richthofen 80 confirmed kills
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Submarines –U-boats Cornelis Drebbel made the very first submarine in 1620. It was made of wood and leather. The submarines used during WWI were 53.8 feet long. They had a top speed of 6 knots They only had torpedoes on board. Germany’s most effective offensive weapon against Allies
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Flamethrower Flammenwerfer in German - in the early 1900s First flamethrowers date to 500 b.c. Terrified French and Brits when Germans used them early in war Eventually used by all sides Longest range = 90 yards Very dangerous to user!!!
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Poison Gas Fear-psychological warfare Took long time to die Multiple types of gas: chlorine, mustard, phosgene Meant to destroy will, incite mutiny First masks…gross Relatively few deaths…kind of…
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Total War All this technology meant to get movement in lines. Trenches barely moved in 4 years Mechanized warfare destroyed psyche of many, many soldiers Poisoned wells, killed livestock, bruned towns to the ground, destroyed fields Tunnels underneath trenches
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Overall Impact Technology that would accelerate progress in 20 th century also made war “more” deadly! “shell shock” –Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Constant shelling, flamethrowers, mud, rain, tanks, machine guns, high probability of death ~300 British soldiers executed for disobeying orders
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