World War I
W.24 Trace the principal theaters of battle, major battles, and
major turning points of World War I.
W.25 Analyze the importance of geographic factors in military
decisions and outcomes.
W.28 Explain the nature of the war and its human costs
(military and civilian) on all sides of the conflict, including
unprecedented loss of life from prolonged trench warfare.
F. How did the war on the Eastern Front differ from that on
the Western Front (1914-15)?
G. What made World War I more devastating than any
previous wars?
F. How did the war on the Eastern Front differ
from that on the Western Front (1914-15)?
• The Western Front:
– The Schlieffen Plan: Germans would move
through Belgium and attempt to encircle Paris
to quickly end the war on that front.
• Outcome: French rushed fresh soldiers to front line
in over 2,000 taxi cabs. Led to the Battle of Marne
(September 6-10, 1914) a few miles outside of
Paris. The French stopped the German advance.
• Over the next year, a series of trenches would be
built by both sides from the English Channel to
Switzerland.
• This led to a stalemate over the next 4 years.
F. How did the war on the Eastern Front differ
from that on the Western Front (1914-15)?
• The Eastern Front:
– Instead of bogging down in one location, the
Eastern Front was fought in many different
locations.
– After the Russians moved into Germany, they
were heavily defeated in two battles.
• Battle of Tanneburg (August 30, 1914)
• Battle of Masurian Lakes (September 15, 1914)
– After these two battles, the Russians were of
little threat to Germany.
F. How did the war on the Eastern Front differ
from that on the Western Front (1914-15)?
• The Eastern Front continued:
– Austria fared less well at first.
• They were defeated by the Russians at the Battle
of Galicia.
• As a result of that battle, Austria was forced out of
Serbia.
• The Italians (yes, Italians) attacked Austria in May,
1915, and joined the Allies. Italy initially fear
French control of the Mediterranean, but as the
war progressed, feared a victorious Austria more.
F. How did the war on the Eastern Front differ
from that on the Western Front (1914-15)?
• The Eastern Front continued:
– Germany would come to the aid of Austria, and force
the Russians back into their own territory.
– The Russians had suffered 2.5 million casualties at
this point, almost completely knocking them out of the
war.
– Bulgaria would join the Axis powers in 1915. The
three countries would defeat and knock Serbia out of
the war.
– With Russia weakened, more troops could be sent to
focus on the Western Front.
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G. What made World War I more
devastating than previous wars?
• Trench Warfare:
– Trenches were protected by barbed-wire and
machine gun artillery located behind the trench.
– Opposing trenches were located anywhere from
30 yards to 300 yards apart.
– Trenches gave the defending side the
advantage. At the time, the offensive side didn’t
have the fire power to advance past trenches.
– The area in between was known as no-man’s
land.
G. What made World War I more
devastating than previous wars?
• Trench Warfare continued:
– Any attempt to enter no-man’s land would usually
result in numerous deaths.
– Millions of soldiers died in this manner.
• In a ten month span in Verdun, France, over 700,000 men
died between the trenches.
– This led to what is called a war of attrition, or (in this
case) a war in which the offense continues to
bombard a few spots in the defense until it finally
weakens, or they run low in soldiers.
Daily Assignment
1. Describe the “Race for the Sea”
2. Describe life in trenches? What were
some of the dangers?
3. Did trenches favor the offensive side or
defensive? Why?
4. Explain how trench warfare led to what is
known as a “war of attrition”?
G. What made World War I more
devastating than previous wars?
• Aircraft
– By the end of 1915, airplanes were being
used to scout the enemy's position.
– They eventually progressed to attacking the
oppositions communication systems.
– When air to air combat began, pilots would
use pistols to fire upon one another.
Eventually, machine guns would be mounted
to the nose of the planes.
G. What made World War I more
devastating than previous wars?
• Aircraft continued:
– The Germans began using zeppelins, or giant
hot-air balloon like airships.
– Zeppelins were used to bomb London, but
caused little damage.
– Zeppelins were phased out by the German’s
after enemies found out they were filled with
hydrogen gas, began shooting them, and
watching them erupt in flames.
– Side note: tear gas started being used in
1916.
Zeppelins
Zeppelins
World War I
W.24 Trace the principal theaters of battle, major battles, and
major turning points of World War I.
W.25 Analyze the importance of geographic factors in military
decisions and outcomes.
W.28 Explain the nature of the war and its human costs
(military and civilian) on all sides of the conflict, including
unprecedented loss of life from prolonged trench warfare.
I. Why did the war widen to become a world conflict?
-Who became involved and when?
J. Describe the impact of Total War
I. Why did the war widen to become a world
conflict?
1. The stalemate on the Western Front
created a need for more soldiers.
2. In addition to more soldiers, additional
countries also brought funds, production,
and more war goods.
J. Who became involved and
when?
• Central Powers were joined by:
– Ottoman Empire (October 1914): joined due
to recruitment by Germans and the success of
the Central Powers. There were also disputes
over waterways with Russia. The name Triple
Alliance started being used again.
– Bulgaria (1915): major trade partners with
Austria and Germany
J. Who became involved and
when?
• 1917: Lawrence of Arabia (T.E. Lawrence)
was living in the Middle East at the time,
convinced Arab kings to revolt against the
control of the Ottoman Empire, thus
weakening the region.
• By 1918, British troops from Egypt, India,
Australia, and New Zealand had been
mobilized to destroy the Ottoman Empire.
J. Who became involved and
when?
• Due to Germany’s preoccupation in
Europe and weak navy, Japan (British ally
since 1902) and Australia began seizing
German colonies in the Pacific, including
New Guinea.
• The United States attempted to remain
neutral. However, it was Germany’s use of
unrestricted submarine warfare that led
them into the war.
J. Who became involved and
when?
• Upon the British and Germans both blockading
one another, the Germans began sinking nearly
every British ship they crossed, whether military
or passenger.
• In May 1915, the Germans sunk the British
passenger ship Lusitania. Approximately 1,100
civilians, including 100 Americans died.
• In order to avoid antagonizing the U.S. more,
the Germans suspended their unrestricted
warfare.
J. Who became involved and
when?
• By January 1917, the Germans felt as though
they could starve the British into submission by
re-establishing the blockade and their use of
unrestricted submarine warfare.
• The final straw for the United States was the
Zimmerman note.
• The United States joined the war in April 1917.
Although not sending a large amount of troops
until 1918, the entry was considered a financial
and psychological boost.
K. Describe the impact of Total War
• Total War: A war that affects nearly all
citizens of the warring nations.
• How did it affect them?
1. Increased government power and control
• Tens of millions were drafted
• Planned Economies:
– Governments set prices, wages, and production
– This included rationing food and fuel
– Controlled imports and exports
K. Describe the impact of Total War
• 2. Manipulation of Public Opinion
– Government limited freedom of speech and right to
protest as citizen morale decreased.
• In authoritarian countries (Germany, Russia, Austria), force
was used to quiet the citizens.
• In other countries (Great Britain), laws were passed to allow
those who protested to be arrested as traitors.
• 3. Outbreak of Influenza
– Soldiers returning from was likely brought different
strains of the flu back with them. Over 50 million
people worldwide died from the flu.