Military History WWI
Ms. Jerome
What was the Schlieffen Plan
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FW
WschlieffenP.htm
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Who was Schlieffen?
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Why did he adopt this plan
 Include a picture of Schlieffen
What happened to the French Army? To
where were they pushed?
Battle of the Marne
http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/mar
ne1.htm
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Who
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What
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When
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Where
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Result
Map of the Battle of the Marne
Picture of Battle of the Marne
“Race to the Sea” and “outflanking”
September to November 1914
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Before trench warfare—this was “mobile warfare”
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An effort to get “around” the side of the opposing army.
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The end of the “race to the sea” is the beginning of trench warfare
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This is the “last mobile phase of the war” on the Western Front
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The "Race to the Sea" was the race to see who could build their trench system from
Switzerland to the sea first. The loser could be outflanked.
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They went all the way to the sea doing this in the west and east to the mountains.
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By October, 1914, the line had basically solidified into a 1,200 mile maze of trenches
First Battle of Ypres
October-November 1914
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The Germans wanted to break through the French line
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Germans launched attack on Ypres
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What was the result of the First Battle of Ypres?
Second Battle of Ypres
22 April – 25 May 1915
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Germans seek to take over Ypres
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Neither side makes no great advances
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What did the Germans use for the first time?
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What were the casualties?
The Battle of Verdun 1916
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North Eastern France
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Verdun resulted in 698,000 battlefield
deaths (362,000 French and 336,000
German combatants)
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It was the longest and one of the most
devastating battles in the First World
War and the history of warfare.
The Battle of Verdun February, 1916
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oabxoP_jVM&feature=related
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According to the video, what was Germany’s intent?
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Thus, what is the meaning, “war of attrition?”
The Battle of the Somme
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In an attempt to relieve the French at Verdun, the British and the French
launched an offensive on the Somme.
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This was the “Big Push” –It was supposed to bring victory to the French
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. At the time, in numbers of men involved, it was history’s largest battle. The
plan was to break open the German defense line, send the cavalry gloriously
charging through the gap, and turn the tide of the war. The result was a
catastrophe.
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After four and a half months of fighting, British and French troops had suffered
more than 600,000 casualties. The Big Push had gained them roughly five miles
of muddy, shell-pocked wasteland.
A Day that Shook the World ….
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpCUFw-EnNw
What was the Hindenburg Line?
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An Allied Defense line
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Barbed wire 100 yards or more deep
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Connected by concrete pill boxes
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Add a picture…
Arras: In terms of casualty numbers, what
was notable about Arras
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4,070 men per day –the highest of the war.
End Notes Wednesday….