bellringer download todays notes: wwi warfare notes
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Beginning of War Most nations seemed genuinely convinced that their nation’s cause was just –propaganda Many were enthusiastic about war Many believed that war would be over in a few weeks The realities of trench warfare and new technology soon dashed these hopes…TRANSCRIPT
Bellringer
Download today’s notes: WWI Warfare Notes
Turn in any makeup work.Answer the following question:
What were the MAIN causes of WWI?
Beginning of War
Most nations seemed genuinely convinced that their nation’s cause was just –propaganda
Many were enthusiastic about war Many believed that war would be over in a few weeks
The realities of trench warfare and new technology soon dashed these hopes…
Trench Warfare
Strategy of defending a position by fighting from deep, protected ditches.
2 Major front systems formed in Europe Western Front- Stalemate of trench warfare
across France Both sides were kept in the virtually the same positions
for four years Eastern Front- marked by mobility
Russians knocked out fairly quickly Austrians did poorly until Germany came to help (Italy
turned on them!) Together Germany and Austria defeated Serbia, focused
back on the west
The Western Front
Life in the Trenches
Cold, wet, dirtyUnsanitary-
disease spreadTrench RatsBody LiceTrench footScarce Food
Supply Soldiers spent months in the trenches in these horrible conditions.
No- Man’s Land
The area between opposing trenches Most fighting took place in this area.
The Trench SystemWhat do you think the purpose of having 3 lines of trenches could be?
Stalemate
With each side “dug in” their trenches, a stalemate occurred along the Western Front. Inability for either side to win a decisive victory. The stalemate lasted for 4 long years.
Became a war of attrition A war based on wearing the other side down by
constant attacks and heavy losses.
Trench Warfare Video
Take out your worksheet and answer the questions as the video plays!
Weapons of World War 1 World War 1 saw the use of new weapons in combat that
made war even more dangerous. Industrialization made many new weapons technologies
possible.New Weapons included:
Machine GunsBolt Action RiflesArtilleryPoison GasTanks
Machine Guns & Bolt Action Rifles
Machine Guns fired 400 to 600 rounds per minute Each side set up groups of
machine guns along trenches to stop enemy advance Machine Gun
Bolt Action Rifle
Bolt Action rifles could be shot accurately up to 600 yards
Machine Guns (cont.)
Each had the firepower of approx. 100 rifles.
Dramatically increased the number of casualties during WWI
Artillery
Launched artillery shells nearly 10 that exploded into deadly fragments over enemy positions.
British Howitzer
Poison Gas
Used in artillery shells- explosion would release gas into trenches.
2 Main types used: Chlorine Gas- destroyed the respiratory organs of its victims and
this led to a slow death by asphyxiation. Mustard Gas- caused internal and external bleeding and attacked
the bronchial tubes, stripping off the mucous membrane.
**Most important piece of equipment was a soldiers gasmask.
Tanks
Developed by the British to end the stalemate on the Western Front in 1915. Could cause heavy damage to enemy lines Had tough time crossing trenches- many early models got
hung up in trenches. British developed the Mark I- rhomboid shaped to get over
trenches- made a significant contribution to the war.
Airplanes
First time in history they were used on the battlefield
First used for spotting the enemy’s position, later used for ground targets
Pilots first fired at each other using pistols! Later machine guns were mounted on planes
Germans experimented with zeppelins, but they were highly flammable
Connect!
1. How did the Eastern and Western Fronts differ?
2. What was life like in the trenches?3. What new weapons and technologies were
introduced and improved during WWI?
Letter Home from the Trenches!
Imagine you are a British soldier who has been serving in the trenches of the Western Front for two years. Write a letter home that discusses daily work, health, and living conditions.
You can read primary source letters from the link on the website.
Make sure you accurately touch on all the categories mentioned above!
Be creative! We may hang them up on the door