Stalemate, Trenches and Weapons

Paulson

U.S. History

Mon. Jan. 23, 2012

1. List 3 Allied countries in WWI. 2. List 3 Central Powers in WWI. 3. What was the main goal of the “catch-em-

while-they’re-Schlieffen-plan?” 3A. Describe what Germany did 3B. Were they successful?

Spark # 5 Business items

Turn in signatures if you didn’t Friday Maps? Post?

Set the scene – then Trenches and Weapons Trenches diagram / Student research notes -

squares Homework – square notes student research?

And/or trench diagram

Big Idea Key objective – As we talk about weapons and

strategy, think about what it would have been like to be a regular soldier in this war

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES!!!!

It begins Nationalism – entire generation of young men

enlist – flock to the colors – for love of country – for adventure

Bands playing, people singing, waving hats at the train station

Both sides thought “over by Christmas”

Deadlock Schlieffen Plan stopped Race to the Sea Dig in, trenches

Big idea Technology of industrial revolution (cars,

planes, blimps, armor, steel, chemicals) is going to be directed towards destruction / total war

Figuring out how to break the STALEMATE / TRENCH system

Trenches

Trenches German trenches at the battle of the Somme. They had barber shopsand Officer clubs

“Over the Top,” into “No man’s land…”

Technology used to “beat the trenches” GIANT SHIFT---from traditional warfare to

mechanized warfare First example of “modern warfare” Trying to break the stalemate Generals fought with “old tactics” Casualties were extraordinary

http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/casualties.htm

Rapid Fire Heavy Artillery Howitzers Big Bertha- aka “Paris Gun” range= 70 miles

in 170 seconds Short muzzle mortars Constant shelling destroyedSoldiers psyche

Tanks WWI began with cavalry attacks on

horseback and ended with Tanks, Planes, and Poison gas

William Triton – British Mark I 1916 Extremely clumsy -3 men to steer, 4 mph Developed from farm equipment Used to roll over trenches “water carriers” “little willie”---”big willie”---”Mark I”

Blimps Aka “Zeppelin” Developed by Germans Used for bombing and reconnaissance Carried machine guns and bombs Replaced by planes and were too easy to

shoot down!!

Planes Replaced blimps Reconnaissance and photographs, later

bombing Dogfights towards end of WWI Guns fired through prop (steel plated props,

then timing) Aces: “Red Baron” Manfreid von Richthofen 80

confirmed kills

Submarines –U-boats Cornelis Drebbel made the very first

submarine in 1620. It was made of wood and leather.

The submarines used during WWI were 53.8 feet long.

They had a top speed of 6 knots They only had torpedoes on board. Germany’s most effective offensive weapon

against Allies

Flamethrower Flammenwerfer in German - in the early

1900s First flamethrowers date to 500 b.c. Terrified French and Brits when Germans used

them early in war Eventually used by all sides Longest range = 90 yards Very dangerous to user!!!

Poison Gas

Fear-psychological warfare Took long time to die Multiple types of gas: chlorine, mustard, phosgene Meant to destroy will, incite mutiny First masks…gross Relatively few deaths…kind of…

Total War All this technology meant to get movement in

lines. Trenches barely moved in 4 years Mechanized warfare destroyed psyche of

many, many soldiers Poisoned wells, killed livestock, bruned towns

to the ground, destroyed fields Tunnels underneath trenches

Overall Impact Technology that would accelerate progress in

20th century also made war “more” deadly! “shell shock” –Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Constant shelling, flamethrowers, mud, rain,

tanks, machine guns, high probability of death ~300 British soldiers executed for disobeying

orders