WW

I

1914-1917

UN

I T 5

: W

WI

THE FIGHTING BEGINS

Germany begins its offensive on August 4, 1914

Violated Belgium’s stance of neutrality

The Germans pillaged, burned, and attacked civilians as they passed through Belgium

This violated the rules of war established by the Hague Convention in 1907

THE RAPE OF BELGIUM: PROPAGANDA

RAPE OF BELGIUM: PROPAGANDA

One of the most

recognizable pieces of propagand

aFrom WWI

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

So…why Belgium??

The German’s had the Schlieffen PlanCreated in 1905

Problem is, the Schlieffen plan is extremely inflexible and is outdated!

WWI had to fit into these plans

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

A Two Front War:Western war against France (1st step)Eastern war against Russia (2nd step)Germans believed Russia could not mobilize quickly

France had to be defeated before Germany to defeat Russia

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

Germans in the east would hold off Russia

Germans in the west would quickly march through Belgium to Paris Paris would fall (and all of France with it)

The Germans in the west would march to Russia where they would join forces and defeat Russia and the czar

PLAN XVII

The French also had a plan! (Made in 1913)

France wanted back the area of Alsace-Lorraine

Lost it during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and 1871!

PLAN XVII

It was an offensive strategy along the Franco-German border

An advance by four French Armies into Alsace-Lorraine capture the fortresses from the Germans

They needed Britain to win!

BEGINNINGS OF THE STALEMATE & TRENCH WARFARE

Unable to save Belgium, the British and French retreated to the Marne River in France

Stopped the Germans there in September 1914

By the spring of 1915 the war had come to a standstill

Both sides dug trenches to protect themselves from open fire

Land in-between called “no-man’s land”

START OF TRENCH WARFARE

Battle of the Marne (Aug. 23 – Sept. 1914)

Massive casualtiesStart of the stalemate on the western front

Both sides building trenches as they “race” to the sea

400 miles of trenches by December 1914

STALEMATE ON THE EASTERN FRONT: RUSSIA VS. GERMANY

Russia mobilized in ten days

Defeats Germany by sheer numbers

BUT…they run into woods and marshes as they advance lose supplies and communication

STALEMATE ON THE EASTERN FRONT:A-H VS. SERBIA

Austria-Hungary is not defeating Serbia as they assumed

By Christmas 1914 stuck in a stalemate

The eastern front is over 1,000 miles this is NOT trench warfare

MAJOR BATTLES

Battle of Verdun (Feb. – Dec. 1916)Battle was won by the French

Battle of the Somme (July – Nov. 1916)

More than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed

No one really won, British/French gained some ground

MAJOR BATTLES

Gallipoli Campaign April 1915 – January 1916Fought in TurkeyBritish and French vs. Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire victory

2nd Battle of the Marne July 15 - Aug. 16, 1918

Last Germany offensive of WWIWon by the French and the U.S.

This changes the tide in the war!

New Firepower:Machine gunsBetter bulletsCannons/shells

Chemical Gas:Chlorine GasMustard GasGas masks for soldiers

New Technology:

TanksPlanesSubmarines

TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS

Camouflage created in 1917