WORLD WAR I

Major Rascon

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SOURCESSOURCES

Jones, Jones, The Art of War in the Western WorldThe Art of War in the Western World, , pp. 434-488 pp. 434-488

Preston and Wise, Preston and Wise, Men In ArmsMen In Arms, pp. 259-277, pp. 259-277

Weigley, Weigley, American Way of War American Way of War, pp. 192-222, pp. 192-222

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LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Be familiar with the timeline and key events Be familiar with the timeline and key events of the warof the war

• Describe the Schlieffen PlanDescribe the Schlieffen Plan

• Describe how trench warfare evolved from Describe how trench warfare evolved from the early part of the war through the German the early part of the war through the German offensive in 1918offensive in 1918

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LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES

• List the new equipment introduced during the List the new equipment introduced during the war and how it was employedwar and how it was employed

• Be familiar with the Battle of Belleau WoodBe familiar with the Battle of Belleau Wood

• Be familiar with the Treaty of Versailles and Be familiar with the Treaty of Versailles and the end of the warthe end of the war

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BackgroundBackground

• Numerous “limited wars”, but no Numerous “limited wars”, but no dramatic developments between dramatic developments between American Civil and First World WarsAmerican Civil and First World Wars

• 1870 Prussia defeats France1870 Prussia defeats France• Both sides (especially French) learn the Both sides (especially French) learn the

same lessons America learned in Civil Warsame lessons America learned in Civil War• Rifles mandate a change in tacticsRifles mandate a change in tactics• Breach loaders facilitate fire and movementBreach loaders facilitate fire and movement• Railway/Telegraph is key to victoryRailway/Telegraph is key to victory• French bitter over loss of territoryFrench bitter over loss of territory

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OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

• 65 million combatants from 30 countries representing 65 million combatants from 30 countries representing every continentevery continent• 29 million become casualties29 million become casualties

• Naval battles around the world and land battles in Naval battles around the world and land battles in Europe, Africa, and AsiaEurope, Africa, and Asia

• Triple Alliance = Germany, Austria, ItalyTriple Alliance = Germany, Austria, Italy• +Turkey + Bulgaria - Italy = Central Powers+Turkey + Bulgaria - Italy = Central Powers

• Entente Cordiale = Britain, FranceEntente Cordiale = Britain, France• + Russia + Italy + (later) US = Allied Powers+ Russia + Italy + (later) US = Allied Powers

• Revolutionary technology, but evolutionary tacticsRevolutionary technology, but evolutionary tactics

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ROAD TO WARROAD TO WAR

• Germany, Italy, Russia, Austro-Hungary all Germany, Italy, Russia, Austro-Hungary all fairly recently “unified” with significant fairly recently “unified” with significant internal unrestinternal unrest

• Germany seeks new markets/prestige of Germany seeks new markets/prestige of coloniescolonies

• Massive arms raceMassive arms race

• Multiple and extensive alliancesMultiple and extensive alliances

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19141914

• June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is assassinated throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is assassinated in Sarajevoin Sarajevo

• July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on RussiaJuly 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia

• August 1 Germany declares war on RussiaAugust 1 Germany declares war on Russia

• August 3 Germany declares war on FranceAugust 3 Germany declares war on France

• August 4 Great Britain declares war on GermanyAugust 4 Great Britain declares war on Germany

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1914 1914

• August 4 Germany invades August 4 Germany invades neutral Belgiumneutral Belgium

• August 26-30 German army August 26-30 German army achieves its greatest victory achieves its greatest victory of the war on the Eastern of the war on the Eastern front at the Battle of front at the Battle of TannenbergTannenberg

• September 5-10 First Battle September 5-10 First Battle of the Marne halts German of the Marne halts German invasion in Franceinvasion in France

• September 15 First trenches September 15 First trenches of the Western front are dugof the Western front are dug

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19151915• January 19, 1915 First German Zeppelin air raid on January 19, 1915 First German Zeppelin air raid on

EnglandEngland

• February 4 Germany declares a submarine blockade February 4 Germany declares a submarine blockade of Great Britain. Any boat approaching England is of Great Britain. Any boat approaching England is considered a legitimate targetconsidered a legitimate target

• April 22-May 5 Second Battle of Ypres marks first April 22-May 5 Second Battle of Ypres marks first use of chemical weaponsuse of chemical weapons

• April 25 Allies begin assault on Gallipoli peninsula in April 25 Allies begin assault on Gallipoli peninsula in TurkeyTurkey

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19151915

• May 7 Sinking of the May 7 Sinking of the passenger ship Lusitaniapassenger ship Lusitania• Killed 1200, 123 AmericansKilled 1200, 123 Americans

• May 23 Italy declares war May 23 Italy declares war on Austria-Hungaryon Austria-Hungary

• August 30 Germany August 30 Germany responds to U.S. anger by responds to U.S. anger by ceasing to sink ships without ceasing to sink ships without warningwarning

• December 28 Allies begin December 28 Allies begin withdrawal of troops from withdrawal of troops from GallipoliGallipoli

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19161916

• February 21 - December 18, February 21 - December 18, 1916 The longest battle of 1916 The longest battle of the war, the Battle of Verdun, the war, the Battle of Verdun, is fought to a draw with an is fought to a draw with an estimated one million estimated one million casualties casualties

• July 1-November 18 The July 1-November 18 The Battle of the Somme results Battle of the Somme results in an estimated one million in an estimated one million casualties and no casualties and no breakthrough for the Alliesbreakthrough for the Allies

• December 31 Russian December 31 Russian Rasputin, is murdered by Rasputin, is murdered by relatives of the Tsarrelatives of the Tsar

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19171917

• February 1, 1917 Germany again declares February 1, 1917 Germany again declares unrestricted submarine warfareunrestricted submarine warfare

• April 6 The United States declares war on GermanyApril 6 The United States declares war on Germany

• July 6 T.E. Lawrence and the Arabs capture AquabaJuly 6 T.E. Lawrence and the Arabs capture Aquaba

• July 16-November 10 Third Battles of Ypres, known July 16-November 10 Third Battles of Ypres, known as Passchendaele, results in minor gains, but still no as Passchendaele, results in minor gains, but still no breakthroughbreakthrough

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19171917

• November 7 Bolshevik November 7 Bolshevik socialists, led by Lenin, socialists, led by Lenin, overthrow Kerinsky overthrow Kerinsky governmentgovernment

• December 3 The new December 3 The new Russian government, Russian government, represented by Leon represented by Leon Trotsky, signs an armistice Trotsky, signs an armistice with Germanywith Germany

• December 9 British capture December 9 British capture JerusalemJerusalem

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19181918

• January 8, 1918 President January 8, 1918 President Woodrow Wilson declares Woodrow Wilson declares his 14 points as the path to his 14 points as the path to world peaceworld peace

• March 21 Germans launch March 21 Germans launch the first of five major the first of five major offensives to win the war offensives to win the war before American troops before American troops appear in the trenchesappear in the trenches

• April 25 British and April 25 British and Australian troops stop the Australian troops stop the German advance near German advance near AmiensAmiens

                                             

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19181918

• May 23 German shells land on ParisMay 23 German shells land on Paris

• August 8 Allied counteroffensives on the Somme August 8 Allied counteroffensives on the Somme push the German army backpush the German army back

• September 29 Allied troops break through the September 29 Allied troops break through the German fortifications at the Hindenberg lineGerman fortifications at the Hindenberg line

• November 11 At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day November 11 At eleven o'clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as of the eleventh month of 1918, the war ends as Germany and Allies sign an ArmisticeGermany and Allies sign an Armistice

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Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan• Germans want to finish off French before Russia is Germans want to finish off French before Russia is

ready to fightready to fight

• Germans believe French will immediately try to retake Germans believe French will immediately try to retake Alsace-LorraineAlsace-Lorraine

• Original plan called for economy of force on the left while Original plan called for economy of force on the left while heavily weighting the right flankheavily weighting the right flank• Von Moltke revised and distributed forces more evenly across Von Moltke revised and distributed forces more evenly across

the frontthe front

• Plan failed when Germans were held up by Belgians, Plan failed when Germans were held up by Belgians, then stopped by French and British at the Battle of the then stopped by French and British at the Battle of the MarneMarne• Russians also mobilized more quickly than expectedRussians also mobilized more quickly than expected

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STALEMATESTALEMATE

• Allies halt Central Allies halt Central Powers; both sides dig inPowers; both sides dig in

• No flanks for either side to No flanks for either side to attackattack• Barbed wire entanglements Barbed wire entanglements

up to 150’ deepup to 150’ deep• Neither side gains more Neither side gains more

than 10 miles in over 2 than 10 miles in over 2 yearsyears

• Mass is supreme principleMass is supreme principle• Massed assaultsMassed assaults• Massed firesMassed fires

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Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

• Machine gun and Machine gun and artillery make it difficult artillery make it difficult to attack a trenchto attack a trench

• Huge artillery preps Huge artillery preps make “No Man’s Land” make “No Man’s Land” virtually impassablevirtually impassable

• Huge casualties for Huge casualties for attackersattackers

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Trench Warfare EvolvesTrench Warfare Evolves

• Laffargue writes pamphlet; French publish, but Laffargue writes pamphlet; French publish, but otherwise ignore it; Germans acquire copy and otherwise ignore it; Germans acquire copy and implementimplement

• Three group (squad) infiltration:Three group (squad) infiltration:• Squad one finds and fixes enemySquad one finds and fixes enemy• Squad two finds and exploits weak spotsSquad two finds and exploits weak spots• Squad three supports two and exploits breachesSquad three supports two and exploits breaches• Strong points reduced later from rear/flanksStrong points reduced later from rear/flanks

• Combined arms: Combined arms: • grenades, machine guns, flame throwers in infantry squadsgrenades, machine guns, flame throwers in infantry squads• Arty fires smoke, gas, HE to keep defenders’ heads downArty fires smoke, gas, HE to keep defenders’ heads down

• Maneuver warfare at the tactical levelManeuver warfare at the tactical level

RUTHLESS TACTICSRUTHLESS TACTICS

Chemical warfare Chemical warfare made trench warfare made trench warfare more horriblemore horrible

Mustard/Blister agents Mustard/Blister agents deployeddeployed

First used on French in First used on French in 1915 1915

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TanksTanks

• Brits introduce in Sept Brits introduce in Sept 19161916

• Means to cross No Means to cross No Man’s Land with Man’s Land with protection from machine protection from machine gunsguns

• Initially employed Initially employed piecemeal and in too piecemeal and in too small numbers to be small numbers to be decisivedecisive

• Unreliable and slowUnreliable and slow

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TanksTanks

• Battle of Somme, Sept 1916• 36 of 60 tanks make it into

battle• Scattered across 3 mile front

• Cambria, Nov 1917• Used in mass (300 tanks)• Opened 12x6 mile front

• Amiens, August 1918• 500 tanks, 13 infantry divisions,

2 cavalry divisions, 2000 artillery pieces, 800 aircraft

First modern “combined-arms” battle

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SubmarinesSubmarines

• New aspect of “Total War”New aspect of “Total War”• Targeting “neutral merchant” Targeting “neutral merchant”

shipsships

• Germans announce Germans announce submarine blockadesubmarine blockade• Part physical, part psychological Part physical, part psychological

weaponweapon

• Draws Allied resources away Draws Allied resources away from offensive operationsfrom offensive operations• Civilian control of productionCivilian control of production

• Sinking of ships with US Sinking of ships with US passengers is major factor in passengers is major factor in US’s eventual entry into the US’s eventual entry into the warwar

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AviationAviation

“Red Baron”“Red Baron”• Used initially for Used initially for reconnaissance/spottingreconnaissance/spotting• Wireless communication Wireless communication

critical development in spotting critical development in spotting

• Arial combat originally a Arial combat originally a counter-reconnaissance counter-reconnaissance functionfunction

• Troops on the ground don’t Troops on the ground don’t like the planes overhead….like the planes overhead….

• By the end of the war, By the end of the war, planes were being used to planes were being used to drop bombs on railways, drop bombs on railways, intersections, factories, etc…intersections, factories, etc…

“Jenny” JN-4

Jaeger

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Battle for Belleau WoodBattle for Belleau Wood

• 4 June 1918 Germans reach their “high water mark”, but 4 June 1918 Germans reach their “high water mark”, but are turned back by 5are turned back by 5thth Marines at Les Mares Farms, 50 Marines at Les Mares Farms, 50 miles from Parismiles from Paris

• 5 June 1918, 4th Marine Brigade (55 June 1918, 4th Marine Brigade (5thth and 6 and 6thth Regiments, Regiments,

66thth Machine Gun Battalion) enters Belleau Wood to stop Machine Gun Battalion) enters Belleau Wood to stop German advanceGerman advance

• French are retreating as Marines arriveFrench are retreating as Marines arrive

• One Frenchman advises Marines to join the retreat, Capt One Frenchman advises Marines to join the retreat, Capt Lloyd Williams replies “Retreat, hell, we just got here”Lloyd Williams replies “Retreat, hell, we just got here”

• Marines begin picking off Germans at 800 yards (200 yds Marines begin picking off Germans at 800 yards (200 yds considered far to Germans)considered far to Germans)

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Belleau WoodBelleau Wood

• Dan Daly: “Come on you sons of bitches. Do you Dan Daly: “Come on you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever”want to live forever”

• Marines fight until 16 June when an Army unit relieves Marines fight until 16 June when an Army unit relieves themthem

• 22 June Marines reenter fight22 June Marines reenter fight • 26 June Major Shearer sends signal, 26 June Major Shearer sends signal, “Woods are now “Woods are now

entirely US Marine Corps.”entirely US Marine Corps.”

• Victory was not the product of sound tactics, but of the Victory was not the product of sound tactics, but of the discipline and determination of the Brigade discipline and determination of the Brigade

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Esprit de CorpsEsprit de Corps

I believe they are soldiers from Montezuma, At least when they advanced this morning they were all singing “From the Halls of Montezuma, to the Shores of Tripoli”French soldier describing the Marines in Belleau Wood

Devil Dog title given to the Devil Dog title given to the Marines by German Marines by German soldiers for their soldiers for their ferocious fighting ferocious fighting

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Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Big 4 meet in ParisBig 4 meet in Paris– Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson– Lloyd George of BritainLloyd George of Britain– Orlando of ItalyOrlando of Italy– Clemenceau of FranceClemenceau of France

Signed June 28, 1919Signed June 28, 1919

Ended War Ended War re-established re-established

boundaries for boundaries for GermanyGermany

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SummarySummary

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Questions?Questions?