World War I: 1914 - 1918

World War I

1. Great War: Original name for WW I. (Three months before World War II began in Europe, Time magazine first used the term "World War I" in its issue of June 12, 1939,

when comparing the last war with the upcoming war).

1a. Allies – Russia, France, Great Britain, U.S.(1917)

1b. Central Powers – Germany, Austria-Hungary,

Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II

Ottoman Turkey: Sultan Mehmed Rechad V

Austria-Hungary: Kaiser Franz Josef I

2. Trench Warfare:Vast network of bunkers and gun emplacements.

2. Trench Warfare:Trench Foot

3. No Man’s Land:Open area between the trenches.

4. “Over the Top” – Orders to attack.

5. Verdun:1916 - German attack that resulted in 500,000 casualties.

The French won the battle.

Virtual Map of The Battle of VerdunVirtual Map of Schlieffen Plan

http://www.richthofen.com/ww1sum/index_map_16-17.htm

http://www.richthofen.com/ww1sum/index_map_14.htm

6. Somme: 1916 - Britain suffered 60,000 casualties in one day when

they attacked the German trenches.

7. Tannenberg: Allied defeat in which Russia suffered 1 million casualties.

German troops entering the city of Ortelsburg during the Battle of Tannenberg.

New Weapons: #8-12

8. Machine Gun:

Responsible for 90% of battlefield casualties.

9. Tank (Sept 1916 – GB):Armored vehicle that protected advancing troops.

(Total tanks – GB: 2,636 Fr: 3,870 Ger: 20.)

10. U-Boat:German submarines that sank any ship going to

Great Britain.(During WW I American trade with Britain increased by 400%, while trade with Germany went to

none – all ships to Germany were blocked by Great Britain.)

11. Poison Gas:Used to disable troops.

Phosgene/Chlorine Gas killed about 85,000 of the 100,000 deaths caused by chemical weapons during World War I. Mustard Gas was next in effectiveness.


Hypo Helmet, or British Smoke Hood

Airplane Terms:

The term dogfight can be traced to the years following World War I. The first written reference to usage of the term came in 1919.

Airplane Terms:

Airplane Terms:12a. Ace:

Nickname for a pilot with 5 kills (planes shot down)

Eddie Rickenbacker

Airplane Terms:12b. Blue Max:

Germany’s highest medal for pilots (20 kills)

162 were awarded

Airplane Terms:12c. VonRichthofen:

German pilot with 80 kills (planes shot down; No other pilot had more.) Nickname: The Red Baron.

Airplane Terms:12c. VonRichthofen:

German pilot with 80 kills (planes shot down; No other pilot had more.) Nickname: The Red Baron.

VonRichthofen’s Flying Circus

Airplane Terms:12d. Rickenbacker:

U.S. best pilot – 26 kills.

Eddie Rickenbacker (Medal of Honor – died 1973)

13. Propaganda: Spreading ideas (stretching the truth) to promote a

cause.

13. Propaganda: Spreading ideas (stretching the truth) to promote a

cause.

“For God, Country, and King”

German children starving from British

blockade.

14. Atrocities:Horrible acts against innocent people.

Propaganda Against Germany

15. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:Russia surrendered to Germany; this allowed Germany to

send all of their soldiers to France.

15. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk:Russia surrendered to Germany; this allowed Germany to

send all of their soldiers to France.

Real Map of Post WW IIf Germany had won WW I

16. Lusitania:1915 – Germany announced Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

(They would sink any ship going to Great Britain.) The Lusitania (The Titanic’s rival

ship) was sunk by U-Boats (May 7, 1915); almost 1,200 people were

killed (including 128 Americans).

“The Lusitania has been torpedoed. It’s on to the radio”.


(They would sink any ship going to Great Britain.) The Lusitania (The Titanic’s sister







1,961 passengers; 768 survived





Included in the Lusitania's cargo were 4,200,000 bullets and 1250 cases of

artillery rounds.

The cargo was perfectly legal under American shipping regulations.

In 1993, Dr. Robert Ballard, the famous

explorer who discovered the Titanic wreck, conducted an in-depth

exploration of the wreck of Lusitania.

No evidence of military explosives was found.

Lusitania: 3,700 feet deep

Titanic: 12,500 feet deep

After Russia surrendered, Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. In March 1917,

Germany sank 3 U.S. ships.

After Russia surrendered Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare. In March 1917 Germany

sank 3 U.S. ships.

17. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: Germany’s use of Unrestricted Submarine Warfare caused the U.S. to declare war on Germany in WW I.

History Channel Video

http://www.history.com/topics/lusitania/videos#u-boats-sink-the-lusitania-in-1915

18. Zimmerman Note:Germany asked Mexico to declare war on the U.S. In return, after the war was won, Mexico would get lost territory back.

(Texas, N.M., Arizona)

19. April 1917 – Wilson:After 3 U.S. ships were sunk by German U-Boats, President

Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.

20. John J. Pershing: American general that led all U.S. forces in WW I.

Nicknamed “Black Jack” for having commanded The Buffalo Soldiers (Black Troops) in Mexico.

Insisted that all U.S. troops be commanded by U.S. officers.

21. Alvin York:The highest decorated American in WW I.

(killed 17 Germans with 17 shots then captured 132 men and 35 machine guns).

1918 – American involvement overwhelms the Germans.

1917-1918 Western Front

http://www.richthofen.com/ww1sum/index_map_18.htm

22. Armistice:An end to fighting.

On November 11, 1918 (at 11am) Germany signed an armistice to the Allies ending WW I.

World War I: 1914 - 1918

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