Tactics & BattlesDuring World War I

How and where were the major battles of World War I

fought?

Schlieffen Plan (Shlee-fun)Schlieffen Plan (Shlee-fun)Germany developed the Schlieffen Plan so they wouldn’t have to fight on two fronts1) Attack and defeat France first on the western frontGermany figured since they had already beaten France before (Franco-Prussian War), they could easily defeat them again2) Attack Russia later on the eastern front (A-H should hold them)Germans thought Russia would not be able to mobilize troops and supply them due to slow industrialization (few railroads, factories)Germany must invade neutral Belgium & Luxembourg to attack

British now enter war but strategy is working, Germans are within a few miles of Paris

Western Front – Western Front – Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne

The allies would regroup and counterattack Germany NE of Paris in the Marne River ValleyWhen more soldiers were needed, 600 taxicabs rushed soldiers from Paris to the fighting front

Battle of Marne is significant because Germans now realize that the Schlieffen Plan will not work – no quick victory in France!

Four days later, the Germans retreat

German troops near Paris Taxis rush soldiers to the front

The Western Front – Trench WarfareThe Western Front – Trench Warfare

Soldiers lived & slept in these trenchesOne soldier said “the trench and mud became your life”Soldiers dealt with artillery fire, rats, lice, disease, smell, contamination, collapsing trenches and boredom

After the Battle of Marne, each side began to dig a series of trenches in Northwestern France

Trench life stinks, time

to dream mud

Bloody Stalemates – Verdun & Battle of the Somme

“No Man’s Land” was the space above and in between the trenches. It was filled with barbed wire and land minesWhen officers ordered an attack, soldiers left the trenches and went into no man’s land where they were met by machine gun fireLittle territory was gained, each side suffered huge losses making these battles bloody stalematesDuring the Battle of Verdun, each side lost 300KThe bloodiest was the Battle of the Somme, 20K killed in one day & overall 600K wounded/killed for the Allies and 450K for CPChristmas truce: December 1914 each side stopped fighting for one day and came out of the trenches to celebrate the holidays together

The Eastern FrontThe Eastern FrontEastern Front fighting begins in late August when Russia attacks both Germany & Austria-HungaryGermany counterattacks in the Battle of Tannenberg forcing Russia to retreat - 30,000 Russian soldiers are killedRussia does better vs A-H. The Russian army won two key battlesBut by December, A-H pushes the Russian Army out of AustriaRussia’s slow industrialization causes shortages of weapons & supplies. German & Ottoman control of nearby seas cuts Russia offDue to lack of supplies/clothing – many soldiers freeze to death on the “frozen front”

Russia’s only advantage was a large population so they constantly “rebuilt” their army with new soldiers

As the war worsened for Russia, Czar Nicholas II decided to take personal command of the troops (big mistake!)