1914-1915

WORLD WAR ONE

FIGHTING BEGINS

• Germany invades Belgium August 3rd, 1914

• Brussels falls August 20th; however Russia invades Germany August 17 th

• The Germans defeated Russia at the Battle of Tannenberg August 26 th

• Germany now looks for a quick victory over France

FIGHTING IN FRANCE

• The Germans advance deep into France and come close to the Marne River (Miracle of the Marne)

• A battle takes place for several days and the German advance is halted

• Both sides dig in and build trenches

• The Schlieffen Plan fails and Germany is fighting a war on two fronts

BRINGING TROOPS TO BATTLE• Taxi cabs being used to transport

troops to reinforce the army at the Marne River.

LIFE IN THE TRENCHES• What do you think the health of the

soldiers was like in the trenches?

TRENCH FOOT

POISON GAS• The Germans started using tear gas against Russia in 1915 (however, it

froze)

• The Germans used chlorine gas against the British and French

• It was a grey and green cloud and could be fatal

BLINDED BY TEAR GAS

POISON GAS• The French then created phosgene, which was colorless and smelled like

“moldy hay”

• Mustard gas was lethal only with high doses

• Mustard gas caused the following:

• Blistering of skin, sore eyes, and it could take someone 4-5 weeks to die

GAS MASKS• How effective do you think

these masks were?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Various_gas_masks_WWI.jpg

CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914• British & German Troops meet

in No-Man’s Land

• A brief period of fraternization displayed by singing of carols and playing of football (soccer)

• This was most widespread in 1914 but did occur again in 1915

• By 1916 troops began to view their enemy as less than human

• High command never authorized or permitted this

INVASION OF GALLIPOLI • By 1915, England and France are

at war with the Ottoman Empire

• The Ottoman Empire controls the Dardanelles, a key water way between the Black and Mediterranean Seas

• The Allies tried bombarding Gallipoli with artillery

INVASION OF GALLIPOLI• The Allies storm the beaches with ease April 25 th, 1915 but are soon

overwhelmed and build trenches

• Little is gained by either side, and the Allies evacuate January 1916

FIGHTING IN MESOPOTAMIA• Mesopotamia is modern-day Iraq,

which the Ottoman Empire controlled

• The British were trying to capture oilfields

• England is defeated and surrenders 10,000 men on April 29th, 1916

• England will be back