Tactics & BattlesTactics & BattlesDuring World War IDuring 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 to avoid fighting on two fronts1) Attack and defeat France first on the western frontReason: Already beaten France before (Franco-Prussian War)2) Attack Russia later on the eastern frontReason: Russia not able to mobilize troops & supply them due to slow industrialization (few railroads, factories), A-H can hold them offGermans want to enter Belgium to get to France, Belgians say no so Germany invades neutral Belgium

British upset & enter war. Germans are within a few miles of Paris

Western Front – Battle of the MarneWestern Front – Battle of the Marne

Allies 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 & easy victory in France!

Four days later, Germans retreat

German troops near Paris Taxis rush soldiers to the front

The Western Front – Trench WarfareThe Western Front – Trench Warfare

Soldiers fought, lived & slept in the trenches and dealt with artillery fire, rats, lice, disease, smell, contamination, boredom and mud

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

Trench life stinks, time

to dream mud

Bloody Stalemates – Verdun & Battle of the Somme (1916)

“No Man’s Land” was the space above and in between the trenches. It was filled with barbed wire and land minesNew weapons technology results in little territory gained and huge loss of life turning these battles into bloody stalematesClip: Describe the preparation for NML and the hazards in NMLDuring the Battle of Verdun, each side lost 300K (9mos)The bloodiest was the Battle of the Somme, 20K killed in one day & overall 600K wounded/killed for the Allies and 450K for CP (4mos)Christmas 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 FrontFighting starts in late August 1914 when Russia attacks C PowersGermany counterattacks in the Battle of Tannenberg forcing Russia to retreat - 30,000 Russian soldiers are killedRussia winning vs A-H, so Germans & Ottomans cut off Russia’s supply lines (Black Sea) Due to lack of supplies/clothing – many soldiers freeze to death on the “frozen front” Russia’s only advantage was a large population allowing

them to constantly “rebuild” their army

1915: Czar Nicholas II decides to take personal command of the troops, worsening the war for Russia