Technology in WW1How it changed during the war and how it changed the world

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

Flame Throwers• Used to neutralize enemy positions without

destroying fortifications• Limited use due to unreliable nature

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

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

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?