Highlights of the Great WarBattles and Advances in Weapons

A War of AttritionVerdun-Feb. to Dec. 1916● The German Army did

not believe they could break through○ A different plan was

needed● Decided on a “War of

Attrition”○ The goal is not to take

territory, but to inflict so many casualties the enemy will quit.

A War of Attrition

It works.● 400,000 French

casualties during the battle

● 350,000 German casualties

The Somme - July 1916 to November 1916To relieve pressure on the French at Verdun, the British planned an attack on the Germans at The Somme River● The British started the battle with

a 7 day artillery barrage○ The goal was to destroy the line so

that the British troops could march right through

○ The plan backfired, with the Germans hiding until the guns had stopped, then mowing down the British as they started across no man’s land

○ After the first day of the attack, 60,000 British Casualties, 20,000 dead

○ Total Casualties■ British: 420,000■ French: 195,000■ German: 650,000

Jutland

● British○ By the time the Great

War starts, the British have introduced the Super Dreadnoughts■ Orion Class

● Germans○ Were unable to keep up

with the British■ Were using “U-Boats”

(underwater boats) as main naval weapon

Jutland

The Battle of Jutland is the only major naval engagement of the war. Both sides had built up great Navies, but neither really ended up using them.● British engaged the

German fleet and fought for approximately 12 hours○ The battle ended in a draw

Aviation in the War

● By 1914, the start of the war, airplanes had been around for 9 years

● Two types○ Pusher

■ Propeller on the back of the plain

○ Tractor■ Propeller on the front of the

plane

○ Tractor became most used

Aviation in the War● Evolution

○ Original use, also best use, throughout the war was for reconnaissance■ Would find enemy

position and radio back to the artillery

■ Extremely dangerous○ From Waving to shooting

■ Pistols■ Mounted machine guns■ Two person planes■ Machine gun mounted

forward● Baron Manfred von Richthofen● The Perils of Flying in WWI

Bombing

Began with Airships● German Zeppelins

bombing Liege and London

● By the end of the war planes were being used