Weapons and Strategies of World War I The Schlieffen Plan ► Germany planned to beat France first...

Weapons and Weapons and Strategies of World Strategies of World

War IWar I

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan►Germany planned to beat France Germany planned to beat France

first then concentrate on Russiafirst then concentrate on Russia

►Was to be fast & fatal – completed Was to be fast & fatal – completed in 6 weeksin 6 weeks

►Place main army to the North and Place main army to the North and concentrate on pushing through concentrate on pushing through France and around ParisFrance and around Paris

►Place small army to the South to Place small army to the South to draw the bulk of the French army draw the bulk of the French army into the Alpsinto the Alps

►Burst through Belgium and roll Burst through Belgium and roll past Paris trapping the French past Paris trapping the French army into defeat against the Alpsarmy into defeat against the Alps

►Based on the idea that victory Based on the idea that victory goes to the one who attacks firstgoes to the one who attacks first

Failure of the PlanFailure of the Plan►German generals misunderstood German generals misunderstood

the plan and placed the bulk of the plan and placed the bulk of their army to the Souththeir army to the South

►This caused the German army to This caused the German army to be successful at pushing the be successful at pushing the French back in towards Paris and French back in towards Paris and not into the ‘trap’ of the Alpsnot into the ‘trap’ of the Alps

►Germany did not expect Britain to Germany did not expect Britain to protect Belgium’s neutrality and protect Belgium’s neutrality and was not prepared to engage the was not prepared to engage the British & French in combined British & French in combined warfarewarfare

►Stalemate occurred, losing the Stalemate occurred, losing the effect of speed and surpriseeffect of speed and surprise

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare►The machine gun made it The machine gun made it

impossible to stand and charge at impossible to stand and charge at the enemythe enemy

►100s of soldiers were killed in 100s of soldiers were killed in wave attacks, mowed down as wave attacks, mowed down as they charged the linesthey charged the lines

►The only way to avoid the gunfire The only way to avoid the gunfire was to ‘dig in’was to ‘dig in’

►Trench warfare began in Autumn of Trench warfare began in Autumn of 19141914

►Contributed to the stalemate --- tens Contributed to the stalemate --- tens of thousands of soldiers would be of thousands of soldiers would be killed attempting to gain only meters killed attempting to gain only meters of land at a timeof land at a time

►Caused the destruction of European Caused the destruction of European land land

Digging in – Belgium troops Digging in – Belgium troops waiting for German attackwaiting for German attack

German trenchesGerman trenches

German trench in RussiaGerman trench in Russia

Russian trenchesRussian trenches

Home Sweet Home?Home Sweet Home?

Wet & MuddyWet & Muddy

Trench FootTrench Foot

Australian Medical TroopsAustralian Medical Troops

Sleeping in the trenchesSleeping in the trenches

Going over the topGoing over the top

No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

New Weapons of WarNew Weapons of War

►The The Machine GunMachine Gun was introduced was introduced allowing for the rapid firing of bullets allowing for the rapid firing of bullets without having to reload (2 machine without having to reload (2 machine guns = 60 to 100 rifles)guns = 60 to 100 rifles)

►Made it impossible to stand in front of Made it impossible to stand in front of each other and fight – forced a new each other and fight – forced a new style of warfarestyle of warfare

►Were able to kill hundreds of enemy Were able to kill hundreds of enemy troops at a time – most casualties ever troops at a time – most casualties ever recorded in single battlesrecorded in single battles

Vicker’s Machine GunVicker’s Machine Gun

TanksTanks►Tanks were first successfully used in an Tanks were first successfully used in an

organized attack in France at the organized attack in France at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 by the BritishBattle of Cambrai in 1917 by the British

►Largely ineffective but imposing – Largely ineffective but imposing – intimidated the oppositionintimidated the opposition

►Were well-used as shields for Were well-used as shields for advancing troops and for knocking out advancing troops and for knocking out barbed wirebarbed wire

Follow the leader!Follow the leader!

►Very slow & inaccurate Very slow & inaccurate much much unlike tanks todayunlike tanks today

►Would often sink and get stuck in Would often sink and get stuck in the muddy fields of ‘No Man’s the muddy fields of ‘No Man’s Land’Land’

Crossing a trench!Crossing a trench!

Stuck in the Mud!Stuck in the Mud!

►GrenadesGrenades used to used to clear clear paths paths through through ‘No Man’s ‘No Man’s Land’Land’

BayonetsBayonets

►Knives attached to the front of gunsKnives attached to the front of guns►Used in close combat when storming Used in close combat when storming

enemy troopsenemy troops

Mortar Fire - ArtilleryMortar Fire - Artillery

Gas AttacksGas Attacks

Gas attacks from aboveGas attacks from above

Gas MasksGas Masks

Flame ThrowersFlame Throwers

►Used to secure Used to secure land in front of land in front of trenchestrenches

►Used to clear Used to clear paths through paths through ‘No Man’s Land’‘No Man’s Land’

►Could be very Could be very dangerous to dangerous to carry for soldiers carry for soldiers (explosive!)(explosive!)

Convoy SystemsConvoy Systems

►Naval tactic where battleships Naval tactic where battleships accompanied cargo ships from accompanied cargo ships from colonial portscolonial ports

►Protection from submarinesProtection from submarines

WWI DreadnoughtWWI Dreadnought

U-boatsU-boats►Unterseeboot (Submarine)Unterseeboot (Submarine)

►Used to attack boats attempting to bring Used to attack boats attempting to bring supplies to Britain (Canada key in this role)supplies to Britain (Canada key in this role)

► Initially only attacked warships but Initially only attacked warships but eventually attacked any allied ship in the eventually attacked any allied ship in the channelchannel

►Sinking of the Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitania (1915) – Passenger (1915) – Passenger ship with American civilians on boardship with American civilians on board

U-boatsU-boats

SubmarinesSubmarines

AirplanesAirplanes

► Invented in 1903 Invented in 1903

►First time used in warFirst time used in war

► In 1915 they were armed with In 1915 they were armed with machine guns and bombsmachine guns and bombs

►shoot down 5 enemy planes = ACEshoot down 5 enemy planes = ACE Billy Bishop (Famous Canadian ACE)Billy Bishop (Famous Canadian ACE) Pilots = short life expectancyPilots = short life expectancy

AirplanesAirplanes

The Results of WarThe Results of War