Trench Warfare

Western Front:Home by Christmas turns into a stalemateGermans were guided by the Schlieffen Plan

General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen Proposed taking France through Belgium, then

focusing on Russia due to its lack of railroad, slow mobilization and superior numbers.

Germans push to take Paris, France but are stopped at the First Battle of the Marne River (Sept 3-9, 1914)

Germans then pushed towards the sea, but were stopped by the British in a series of battles (Masurian Lake, Sept 1914; Ypres, Nov 1914)

After this, trench warfare became the norm. It included:Flooded trenches, rats, mud, artillery shelling,

and lack of sleep and foodDeath with the average death count at 6400 per

dayNo man’s land – Space between opposing

trenchesFilled with mines, barbed wire, dead bodies,

huge holes from artilleryAfter days of artillery shelling, troops would go

“over the top” of the trenches to attack, often retreat, and then counter attack.

May 1915 – Italy signed a secret treaty to join the Allies, opening up a southern front

Feb. 1916 - Battle of VerdunWon by the Germans against British and French

forces600000 men lost for 4 miles gained

July 1916 - Battle of the SommeEventually won by the British 500000 Germans, 600000 Allies men lost for 5

miles gained

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciq9ts02ci4

Western Front 1914 and 1918

Eastern Front

Eastern Front The front in the east was much longer than that in the west. The

theatre of war was roughly delimited by the Baltic Sea in the west and Minsk in the east, and Saint Petersburg in the north and the Black Sea in the south, a distance of more than 1,600 kilometres (990 mi). This had a drastic effect on the nature of the warfare. While World War I on the Western Front developed into trench warfare, the battle lines on the Eastern Front were much more fluid and trenches never truly developed. This was because the greater length of the front ensured that the density of soldiers in the line was lower so the line was easier to break. Once broken, the sparse communication networks made it difficult for the defender to rush reinforcements to the rupture in the line, mounting rapid counteroffensives to seal off any breakthrough. In short, on the Eastern front the side defending did not have the overwhelming advantages it had on the Western front. However, as in the Napoleonic Wars and World War II, Russian forces were familiar with their own ground which provided a natural advantage for the Russian emperor's land forces.

Eastern Front:Extended from the Baltic Sea to the Black SeaRussians and Serbs battled Germans, Austria-

Hungarians, and Turks (Ottoman Empire)1914 – Armenian Massacre 2 million Christians

killed by TurksAugust 1914 - Battle of Tannenberg

Germans beat 2 Russian Armies Russia not industrialized which meant short on food,

ammo, clothes, etc. due to Germany’s blockade of Baltic Sea and Ottoman Empire’s blockade of Black Sea

December 1914 - Limanova 17-day battle where Austria defeats Russia

Fall of 1915 – Bulgaria joins the Central PowersWith the help of German, Bulgaria overruns

SerbiaFeb 1915 to Jan 1916 – Battle of Gallipoli

British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops vs. Ottoman Empire, with help from Germany and Austria-Hungary

Allies Retreat losing 250000 troopsAllies wanted Constantinople to open Russia and

Austria via the Danube River through the Bosporus and Dardanelles (Black Sea Entrance)

Russian withdrawal from the warFall of Czar Nicholas II

Lack of food for populationLack of victory on the battlefield

March 1917 – March RevolutionReplaced the Czar with a provisional government

Nov.1917 - Communist RevolutionLead by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

March 1918 - Treaty of Brest-LitovskPeace with GermanySurrendered about 25% of their land and population to

Germany as part of the treatyDone with the war

War Around the WorldOttoman Turks Empire Joins Central Powers

October 1914Cut off supplies to Russia through the

Dardanelles (strait connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean

Feb 1915 to Jan 1916 – Battle of GallipoliBritish, Australian, New Zealand and French

troops vs. Ottoman Empire, with help from Germany and Austria-Hungary

Allies Retreat losing 250000 troopsAllies wanted Constantinople to open Russia

and Austria via the Danube River through the Bosporus and Dardanelles (Black Sea Entrance)

War around the World Ottoman Turks vs. Russia-Caucasus mountains

(Turkeys north border)Armeanians helped Russian Army because did not

have same rights.Ottoman Gov’t used this to deport Armenian

populationArmenian genocide between 600,000 and 1.5 million died

Turks and Middle EastArab RevoltT.E. Lawrence sent by British to help (Lawrence of Arabia)Ottoman empire lost a great deal of territory

Map pg. 362 answer question turn in as exit slip