WWI: New Type of War

I. Christmas truce - 1914

A. along the Western front

B. mostly British & German soldiers

C. not repeated

II. Strategies and Weapons

A. Trench warfare on Western Front

1. elaborate system of defense

B. Inventions and innovations

1. chemical / gas warfare, tanks,

flamethrowers

C. War at Sea

1. mainly u-boat (unterseeboot) / submarine attacks

2. unrestricted submarine warfare 1915, 1917

D. War in the Air

1. zeppelins – German airship

2. 1915 – “first” use of airplanes in battle

a. reconnaissance - to spot enemy position

b. attack enemy – communication posts

3. dog fights between flying aces

III. Medical Advances

A. trench foot, shrapnel, amputations,

B. shell shock

IV. Total War

A. complete mobilization of people and resources

B. government increased its control over economy

1. organize men, supplies, manufacturing

a. free market capitalist system suspended

b. set up planned

economies

1. set prices & wages

2. rationed food

supplies

V. Women “mobilized” for warA. created new roles

1. jobs on “home front” in civilian work

2. military support rolesa. nurses, secretaries,

transport driversB. Legacy after war

1. most women lost jobs

2. helped gain social and political freedom

VI . Influenza (known as the Spanish Flu)

A. Flu epidemic around the world in 1918 – 1919

1. pandemic:

B. 22 million died – twice

number killed in WWIOver 500,000,000 infectedMany died within 24 hours• Russia = 450,000• U.S. = 550,000• India = 675,000