Evolution of WarfareEvolution of Warfare

World War I - Allied VictoryMajor Joel B. Turk

MOI

Reading AssignmentReading Assignment

• Weigley, The American Way of War, pp. 192 - 222

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

• Know, identify and discuss the harbingers of total war

• Comprehend and compare/contrast the British, French, American and German approaches to and objectives in World War I

• Know and describe the final allied offensive on land that defeated Germany, with emphasis on the American contribution

Actual Total War (Review)Actual Total War (Review)

• Actors– Triple Alliance - Austria-Hungary, Germany,

and Turkey– Triple Entente - France, Britain, Russia, and the

U.S.

Origins of War (Review)Origins of War (Review)

• Arms Race• Nationalism

– Germany & Britain beliefs in racial superiority– Anglo-German colonial & commercial rivalry– French desire for revenge– Austria desire to humble Serbia

• Alliances• Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

Early Trends (Review)Early Trends (Review)

• War of Attrition

• Ignore technological improvements of war

Technology and TacticsTechnology and Tactics

• Land Warfare– Entrenchments & use of barbed wire– Frontal attack became ineffective– Introduction of tank & poison gas

• Air and Sea– Airplane and Dirigible– Submarine - commerce raiding

• Psychological warfare

Effects of the WarEffects of the War

• Global– Central powers eventually defeated– Bolshevik revolution - New Russian

Government under Lenin– European powers financially devastated - U.S.

emerged as strongest power

Effects of the War (Cont)Effects of the War (Cont)

• Military Theory– Total War required exploitation of each nations total

resources

– Two aspects of war: Battlefield materials and manpower, and Industrial capabilities

– Allocation of manpower to munitions factories

– Total war required for two reasons: Involved entire structure of competing nations, and tended toward complete destruction of enemy’s means and will to resist

Objectives and ApproachesObjectives and Approaches

• Both sides felt is was a righteous war with GOD on their side, being fought against an inferior enemy who would crack first

BritishBritish

• 1839 treaty pledged British support

• Informal talks had pledged British support to France

• Destroy Germany as Commercial Rival

• Protect colonialism

• Balance of Power

FranceFrance

• Bent on Revenge (1871)

• Regain Alsace-Lorraine

• Eliminate Germany as a commercial rival

• Reestablish her leadership

GermanyGermany

• Prevent French Aims

• Colonial Equality

• Maintain supremacy on the continent

United StatesUnited States

• In 1914 - no interest

• Allied Propaganda was effective in the U.S.

• Constitutionalism vs. Autocracy

• Anger over German proposal to Mexico of alliance in exchange for annexation of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona

Submarine WarfareSubmarine Warfare

• Before the End of 1914 Britain had cleared German Surface Ships from trade routes

• Subs and Mines - threat growing in home waters

Submarine Warfare (Cont)Submarine Warfare (Cont)

• 4 February 1915 - Germans gave notice of Submarine Blockade– Diplomacy, International Law and Mahan

originally held back use of Subs– Eventually, seen as means of survival

• Didn’t bank on destruction alone, 2/3 of neutral shipping scared to sail

– British fleet could spare little for merchant protection (busy blockading German fleet)

Submarine Warfare (Cont)Submarine Warfare (Cont)

• April, 1917, Convoy System implemented

• Also used Mines and airplanes to counter submarine threat

• By end of 1917, mine barrage laid across Straits of Dover

• Airplanes carried no lethal antisubmarine weapons

• At one point, Britain had only enough food for six more weeks

Machine GunMachine Gun

• Underrated

• Basically Immobile - used for defensive purposes

• Effect - overwhelming # didn’t mean victory

• War turned to stalemate until introduction of tank

Airplanes/AirshipsAirplanes/Airships

• Reconnaissance• With Improvements in Radio - aerial spotter

became more important• Fighter Aircraft brought on by demand for

protection from spotters– 5 Oct 1914 - first aerial combat– By July 1915, only 8 aircraft shot down– Synchronized machine gun

Airplanes/AirshipsAirplanes/Airships

• Few occasions of Resupply by airdrop

• Experimentation with Airships, Germans lead in bombing– Raids on military installations and cities

– Diversion of resources to develop defense

– British and French quickly followed German lead

– Initial concept of strategic role of airpower

• Air overrated - mostly political importance

Tanks/LandshipsTanks/Landships

• One of the steps to solving stalemate– Protecting attacker from machine gun– Armor too heavy to carry - needed vehicle– Needed to armor entire vehicle– Mobility required tracks– First called “Landship” - small mobile fort

First Used at the Somme 15 Sep First Used at the Somme 15 Sep 19161916

• England had only 60 Tanks distributed over 3-mile front

• Of the 60, only 49 could leave parks, and only 36 reached line of departure

• Attacked ahead of or with infantry with exceptional local results

• Only nine returned• Not used as recommended

Cambrai, 20 Nov 1917Cambrai, 20 Nov 1917

• Over 300 tanks sent forward in formation

• 1st day, loss of 1,500 men, 10,000 German prisoners, 4 mile hole in Hindenburg line

• 2nd day, 1/2 tanks operational, further attacks created salient 12 miles wide, 6 miles deep into German territory

• Most spectacular penetration on the Western Front

Summary/PeaceSummary/Peace

• Germany made one last desperate land offensive

• Germans forced to surrender with treaty of Versailles - punitive elements of treaty set stage for WWII

• Allies not “wore down” as much as Germans - great “firepower-attrition” war

• Stage set for future conflict

Next Session Learning ObjectivesNext Session Learning Objectives

• Know and trace Hitler’s rise to power and explain his subjugation of the German General Staff and the officer corps