Bellringer

Download today’s notes: WWI Warfare Notes

Turn in any makeup work.Answer the following question:

What were the MAIN causes of WWI?

Beginning of War

Most nations seemed genuinely convinced that their nation’s cause was just –propaganda

Many were enthusiastic about war Many believed that war would be over in a few weeks

The realities of trench warfare and new technology soon dashed these hopes…

Trench Warfare

Strategy of defending a position by fighting from deep, protected ditches.

2 Major front systems formed in Europe Western Front- Stalemate of trench warfare

across France Both sides were kept in the virtually the same positions

for four years Eastern Front- marked by mobility

Russians knocked out fairly quickly Austrians did poorly until Germany came to help (Italy

turned on them!) Together Germany and Austria defeated Serbia, focused

back on the west

The Western Front

Life in the Trenches

Cold, wet, dirtyUnsanitary-

disease spreadTrench RatsBody LiceTrench footScarce Food

Supply Soldiers spent months in the trenches in these horrible conditions.

No- Man’s Land

The area between opposing trenches Most fighting took place in this area.

The Trench SystemWhat do you think the purpose of having 3 lines of trenches could be?

Stalemate

With each side “dug in” their trenches, a stalemate occurred along the Western Front. Inability for either side to win a decisive victory. The stalemate lasted for 4 long years.

Became a war of attrition A war based on wearing the other side down by

constant attacks and heavy losses.

Trench Warfare Video

Take out your worksheet and answer the questions as the video plays!

Weapons of World War 1 World War 1 saw the use of new weapons in combat that

made war even more dangerous. Industrialization made many new weapons technologies

possible.New Weapons included:

Machine GunsBolt Action RiflesArtilleryPoison GasTanks

Machine Guns & Bolt Action Rifles

Machine Guns fired 400 to 600 rounds per minute Each side set up groups of

machine guns along trenches to stop enemy advance Machine Gun

Bolt Action Rifle

Bolt Action rifles could be shot accurately up to 600 yards

Machine Guns (cont.)

Each had the firepower of approx. 100 rifles.

Dramatically increased the number of casualties during WWI

Artillery

Launched artillery shells nearly 10 that exploded into deadly fragments over enemy positions.

British Howitzer

Poison Gas

Used in artillery shells- explosion would release gas into trenches.

2 Main types used: Chlorine Gas- destroyed the respiratory organs of its victims and

this led to a slow death by asphyxiation. Mustard Gas- caused internal and external bleeding and attacked

the bronchial tubes, stripping off the mucous membrane.

**Most important piece of equipment was a soldiers gasmask.

Tanks

Developed by the British to end the stalemate on the Western Front in 1915. Could cause heavy damage to enemy lines Had tough time crossing trenches- many early models got

hung up in trenches. British developed the Mark I- rhomboid shaped to get over

trenches- made a significant contribution to the war.

Airplanes

First time in history they were used on the battlefield

First used for spotting the enemy’s position, later used for ground targets

Pilots first fired at each other using pistols! Later machine guns were mounted on planes

Germans experimented with zeppelins, but they were highly flammable

Connect!

1. How did the Eastern and Western Fronts differ?

2. What was life like in the trenches?3. What new weapons and technologies were

introduced and improved during WWI?

Letter Home from the Trenches!

Imagine you are a British soldier who has been serving in the trenches of the Western Front for two years. Write a letter home that discusses daily work, health, and living conditions.

You can read primary source letters from the link on the website.

Make sure you accurately touch on all the categories mentioned above!

Be creative! We may hang them up on the door