The WAR

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:57 PM

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN KEY BATTLES GER plan to invade FR via neutral Belgium Verdun - 1916 PLAN: knock out FR before RUS fully mobilizes GER offensive Unexpected resistance from Belgium delay GER 700,000 casualties Fighting bogs down @ Marne River outside Paris Neither side gained any ground RUS attack GER at battle of Tannenberg- Loss for RUS, but Somme-1916 GER forces split Allied offensive THE STALEMATE OF TRENCH WARFARE 500,000 casualties After battle of the Marne, a stalemate developed of First use of tanks in battle Western front Ypres-1916 Both sides dug elaborate trench systems, eventually 400,000 running from SWI to Eng. Channel First use of poison gas Throughout rest of war, battle lines rarely moved Trench warfare changed how people viewed more than a few miles war-from honorable to HORROR Land between trenches called No Man's Land 10/1914-Ottomans joined Central Powers UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE Cut off RUS from Allies GER subs ravages allied shipping GER tried to cut supply lines of GB and FR 1915-Italy joined allies after promises of land and colonies in Austria Merchant & civilian ships were targets GALLIPOLI (4/1915-1/1916) Neutral countries not immune Allies create 3rd front against Ottomans Sinking of Lusitania Trying to create alt. to stalemate inFR Luxury liner sunk by GER sub Fighting for control of Dardanelle Strait btwn Med and Leading factor for US to go to war Black Sea Primary supply route for material going to RUS THE EASTERN FRONT Allies attack Ottomans at Gallipoli Peninsula RUS faced Central powers alone in east Gallipoli campaign a failure other than creating a Helped Western allies b/c Central powers were diversion divided GB sacrifised Australians and others in suicidal RUS suffered incredible losses assualts on defended positions Armies poorly trained, equipped, and led Allies successful in protecting Suez Canal GER pushed deep into RUS Senseless loss of RUS lives-contrib. to RUS Rev. ALLIANCES AND LOSSES Commies promised "peace, bread, and land." 31 nations involved in one way or another Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Mar 1918) 8.5 million military personnel dead No more second front 70% casualty rate for Central Powers 52% for Allies US ENTRY INTO WAR GER lost 1.8 million-most in the war US isolationist-didn't want to fight US lost 126,000 Several factors led to US entry Unrestricted Sub warfare Bouquet The Allies Desire to ensure payment of loans to Allies GER FR Zimmerman telegram Aust-Hung RUS General outrage (yellow journalism encouraged) Ottoman Bulgaria GB Italy Japan US

World War I Page 1