GB History Presentation

8/10/2019 GB History Presentation

1/16

Massive warfare andthe impact of

technology


2/16

Contents

Introduction

Trenches

Tanks

Aviation

Telecommunication

Transportation

Conclusion


3/16


4/16

However , against all expectations it lasted

far beyond ,years after years . Millions were

mobilized from both two sides more than

any other war ever . This time it was not as

it was thought to be where Europe has

turned into living hell . Many historians and

anlysts claim that was due to the use ofsome tactics and technology that the war

was prolonged for such along time


5/16

Trenches


6/16

War of Movement

In the early phases of the

war, all combatants

launched offensives

designed to win the warbefore Christmas.

In the West, German

troops crossed the Belgian

border in the narrow gapbetween Holland and

France.


7/16

A Continuous Front

For a couple of months,both sides attempted tooutflank the other butwere unable to achieve

any lasting victory.After a few months thesetrenches had spread fromthe North Sea to the SwissFrontier.

The Allies soon realizedthat they could not breakthrough this line and bothsides began to dig in.


8/16

Stalemate

In the West, the Germans

decided that they must hold onto

those parts of France and

Belgium that they still occupied.

They were ordered to digtrenches that would provide

them with protection from the

advancing French and British

troops.

Trenches were usually aboutseven feet deep and six feet

wide and often possessed deep

underground dugouts that

housed large bodies of soldiers.

A typical trench system.


9/16

German Trenches

As the Germans werethe first to decide whereto stand fast and dig,they had been able to

choose the best placesto build their trenches.

The possession of thehigher ground not only

gave the Germans atactical advantage, butit forced the British andFrench to live in theworst conditions.

This captured German trench was typical

of those found on the Western Front.

Generally better prepared than Allied

trenches, the resilience of German

trenches would frustrate Allied attacks

throughout the war.


10/16

Allied Trenches

Most of the area that theAllies were forced tobuild their trenches wasrarely a few feet above

sea level.

As soon as soldiersbegan to dig down theywould invariably find

water two or three feetbelow the surface.

Water-logged trencheswere a constant problemfor soldiers on the

Western Front.


11/16

tanks


12/16

Early Use of the Tank

The first British tanks were used in the battle ofthe Somme on September 15, 1916.

Lots of testing to make sure it would work.

Engineers had no choice but to test them on realbattle which was an enormous risk made by thebritish


13/16

A rocky start

three out of six tanks got bogged, one broke

down, and the other two continued towards

the enemy line slowly, supporting theinfantry, although the infantry did move

ahead, away from the protection of the

tanks.


14/16

weak performance and

psychological victory

The use of tanks really payed off from the

very first battle at the Somme as has

succeeded in lowering the moral of theGermans

" THE DEVIL IS COMING"


15/16

Tanks Success

The biggest use of

tanks within the war

was the battle ofCambrai, in

November 1917.

British infantry and

400 tanks crashed

through the

Hindenburg line

with great success.


16/16

Tank Production 1916-18

Year

UK France Ger. Italy USA

1916 150 - - - -

1917 1,277 800 - - -

1918 1,391 4,000 20 6 84

GB History Presentation

Documents

Transcript of GB History Presentation