Total CasualtiesTotal Casualties• 107 Million men mobilized107 Million men mobilized

• 13.5 million killed13.5 million killed

• 34 million wounded34 million wounded

• 11.7 million POW’s and missing11.7 million POW’s and missing

• 59 million total casualties59 million total casualties

• 55% of men mobilized55% of men mobilized

What were the new What were the new war technologies war technologies used in WWI?used in WWI?

New Weapons of WarNew Weapons of War

• Machine GunMachine Gun

• TankTank

• AirplaneAirplane

• Poisonous GasPoisonous Gas

““We were surprised to We were surprised to see them walking, we had see them walking, we had never seen that before,… never seen that before,… The officers went in The officers went in front. I noticed one of front. I noticed one of them walking calmly, them walking calmly, carrying a walking stick. carrying a walking stick. When we started firing When we started firing we just had to load and we just had to load and reload. They went down reload. They went down in their hundreds. You in their hundreds. You didn’t have to aim, we didn’t have to aim, we just fired into them.” just fired into them.”

- German - German machine machine gunnergunner

Dispersion of chlorine Dispersion of chlorine in World War Iin World War I

20-30% of all casualties 20-30% of all casualties were due to gaswere due to gas

Effects of GasEffects of Gas

Although the use of poison Although the use of poison gas had been banned in the gas had been banned in the Hague Conventions of 1899 Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, Germany turned to and 1907, Germany turned to this industry for what it this industry for what it hoped would be a decisive hoped would be a decisive weapon to break the weapon to break the deadlock of trench warfare. deadlock of trench warfare. Chlorine gas was first used Chlorine gas was first used on the battlefield in April on the battlefield in April 1915 at the Second Battle of 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium. Later, Ypres in Belgium. Later, mustard gas, phosgene and mustard gas, phosgene and other gasses were used. other gasses were used. England and France soon England and France soon followed suit with their own followed suit with their own gas weapons.gas weapons.

Impact on SoldiersImpact on Soldiers““I had just got a pan full of slum and started eating I had just got a pan full of slum and started eating when I saw part of the temporary trench which I had when I saw part of the temporary trench which I had left screened by an exploding shell. I thought it had left screened by an exploding shell. I thought it had come over the trench, but no- just then Smithy and come over the trench, but no- just then Smithy and Neterfield jumped out calling for stretchers. I dropped Neterfield jumped out calling for stretchers. I dropped my mess and ran to the trench and looked in. Poor Art my mess and ran to the trench and looked in. Poor Art was dead, one arm completely severed from his body. was dead, one arm completely severed from his body. Danny had a whole in his stomach and we placed him Danny had a whole in his stomach and we placed him on a stretcher and sent him back to the first aid on a stretcher and sent him back to the first aid station.”station.”

- Corporal Sherwood- Corporal Sherwood

Questions?Questions?