A New Kind of WAR

• EARLY MACHINE GUNS:• Very BIG, very HEAVY;

required a “crew”• Lacked cooling

mechanisms• Shot 400-600

small caliber rounds per minute

World War I: Guns

World War I: Tanks• LANDSHIPS;

armored vehicles that could cross rough terrain

• First tank, “Little Willie” (14 tons, space for 3 men)

• Maximum speed: 2mph• Developed to deal with conditions in

the west

World War I: Tanks• DID YOU KNOW…?• The first tank attack took place on

Sept 15, 1916. There were 49 tanks available, about only 36 were in running condition when the attack started. Most of these broke down pretty quickly, but the few that did break through the German lines caused panic. The generals were impressed. They ordered more and started to study how to use them more effectively.

• At the Battle of Cambrai on Nov 20, 1917, the Allies started with 476 tanks massed together followed by infantry. By the end of the first day, only 100 tanks were still operating, but they had opened a major gap in the German lines. A new era of warfare was beginning.

World War I: Aircraft • Armed with machine guns & bombs• USES:• Attack, observation & “dogfights”

• Very few planes existed at the beginning of the war; production increased rapidly during the war

World War I: Aircraft

World War I: Air Combat• DID YOU KNOW…?• There really was a Red Baron.

Manfred von Richthofen was the son of a noble Prussian family. He first served in the cavalry, then requested transfer to planes. Eventually he became an “ace” and commander of his own squadron. An ace was a pilot who had five or more confirmed victories.

• The Red Baron was a major story in German newspapers, perhaps because the war news was otherwise so grim. Von Richthofen enjoyed the fame. He even painted his personal aircraft a bright red and flew out in front of his formations when going to fight. After each kill he had a silver cup made engraved with the date. He ran up a total of 80 victories.

World War I: Submarines

• Could easily attack enemy ships without being seen

• Most carried torpedoes

• German

• The “Chemists War”• MAJOR military innovation • Ranged from disabling

chemicals to lethal agents

• 124,000 tons were produced during the war; resulted in 4% of combat deaths

World War I: Poison Gas

WWI: Poison Gas• DID YOU KNOW…?• The French were the first to use tear gas

grenades (on the Germans). The Germans responded at a later battle by firing gas shells at the French that contained a chemical that caused violent sneezing fits. Eventually chlorine gas was used.

• The effects of chlorine gas were severe. Within seconds of inhaling its vapor it destroyed the victim's respiratory organs, bringing on choking attacks. Mustard gas first used by the Germans on the Russians. It caused both internal and external blisters on the victim within hours of being exposed to it. It was very painful and occasionally fatal. Many who did survive were blinded by the gas.

WWI: Poison Gas

• DID YOU KNOW…?• Armies quickly produced

gas masks that gave protection as long as sufficient warning was given of a gas attack. Soldiers also used make-shift gas masks if they were caught in the open without a gas mask during a gas attack - cloth soaked in their own urine and placed over the mouth was said to give protection against a chlorine attack.

• FLAMETHROWER: • Developed by the

Germans in 1901• Based on the idea of “Greek

Fire”• Different sizes for

different circumstances

Miscellaneous

• GRENADES:• Developed by

the British in 1908

• Detonated in two different ways

• Impact or timed-fuse

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous• BAYONET:• Knife designed to fit on the

muzzle of a rifle• Psychological weapon; close

combat

Miscellaneous

• ZEPPLIN:• Developed by the

Germans in 1899• “Rigid Airship”• Bombers & scouts

Trench Warfare

• Trench Warfare:• Terrible living

conditions• Trench foot• Over the top• No Man’s Land

Trench Warfare

WWI: Trench Warfare• DID YOU KNOW…?

• WWI had a significant impact on the design of uniforms. No longer could armies parade in uniforms of red, blue, or white. They had to wear dull colors that blended well with mud. They also needed a special design of clothes. The trench coat was a style designed for combat. The coat was to serve as a raincoat, so it was made of water-repellent material. There was a double layer over the shoulders and the back. The right shoulder had an extra layer in front to pad it where the soldier held his rifle. The coat had belts and rings for hanging grenades and other equipment. There were epaulets on the shoulders where the emblems of rank could be displayed. It also had a wool blanket insert used by soldiers for sleeping.

WWI: Trench Warfare

• DID YOU KNOW…?• Trench Foot was a constant danger in

WWI. Often trenches were full of mud; some trenches were 5 feet deep where the water table was 18 inches. The soldiers would stand for days with their feet in cold water or mud with little chance to move around. They wore tight leggings around their calves, and never took off their boots. As a result, the circulation to their feet was poor. After weeks of this, their feet would begin to rot. When the troops pulled off their boots after being rotated to the rear of the lines, they would find their toes were falling off. Surgeons cut off the infected parts.

CAUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!

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