A Global A Global ConflictConflict

Chapter 23Chapter 23

Key BattlesKey Battles

MarneMarne Verdun SommeSomme St. MihielSt. Mihiel Hindenburg Hindenburg

LineLine

2

British battlefield in Belgium, September 1917

The Germans AdvanceThe Germans Advance

The German plan for fighting both the French and Russians was a quick attack to defeat France in the west, then fight the Russians in the east.

The Germans pass through Belgium - their army fights bravely but are easily defeated by the Germans.

By September, Germany is in France.

The French and British troops stop the advancing Germans at the Battle of the Marne

Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne

September 5–9, 1914

Marne River, East of Paris

Stopped Germany’s rapid advance

Prevented the fall of Paris

Set the stage for trench warfare

5

Second Battle of the Marne

TrenchWarfareTrenchWarfare

By November 1914, fighting had reached a stalemate.

In a stalemate, neither side is strong enough to defeat the other.

Both sides dug in, creating a maze of trenches protected by mines and barbed wire.

Soldiers lived in miserable discomfort spending weeks at a time in muddy, rat-infested ditches.

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

Soldiers spent day after day shelling the enemy.

Then officers would order their men “over the top.”

Soldiers crawled out of the trenches to race across “no man’s land” and attack the enemy.

The Battle of Verdun lasted 10 months - German losses = 400,000 men. The French lost even more.

Gallipoli Campaign BeginsGallipoli Campaign Begins

February 1915

What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign??To take over Constantinople, TurkeyCreate a supply line to Russia

Failed attempt by Allies – abandoned at the end of the year

Battle of VerdunBattle of Verdun

Feb. 21–Dec. 18, 1916

Verdun, France, 120 miles east of Paris

Demoralized both sides

First extensive use of the flamethrower

14

Transportation of troops during Battle of Verdun, France

Losses on the Eastern FrontLosses on the Eastern Front

Stalemate and trench warfare brought mounting tolls on the eastern Front as well.

The vast armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary faced those of Russia and Serbia.

By mid 1916, the Russians had lost over 1 million soldiers.

Neither side could win a decisive victory.

Battle of the SommeBattle of the Somme July 1–Nov. 18,

1916 Somme River,

France Drew Germans

away from Verdun Tactics became

more sophisticated and supply lines became more efficient

First use of tanks (British)

16

British troops on the front line, Somme area, 1916

American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality

In 1914, Americans were determined to avoid being dragged into the European war.

President Woodrow Wilson had called upon Americans to “be neutral in fact as well as in name.”

Officially, America was neutral - but public opinion was divided.

Most Americans favored the Allies as we had long standing ties with Britain, spoke the same language & shared traditions

American NeutralityAmerican Neutrality

On the other hand - 8 million Americans were of German descent and felt ties to the Central Powers.

Millions of Irish also supported the Central Powers - they hated being under British rule

Many American Jews favored Germany over Russia - they had fled Russia fearing for their lives.

Freedom of the SeasFreedom of the Seas

Allied propaganda did less to change American opinion than the issue of freedom of the seas.

The U.S. argued that as a neutral nation it had the right to trade with either side.

BUT - Britain blockaded German ports & Germany blockaded Britain.

Germany had warned the U.S. and other neutral nations to keep their ships out of the blockade zone.

President Wilson rejected this limit on neutral shipping.

He vowed to hold Germany responsible if its subs caused American to die or lose property.

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

Unrestricted Submarine WarfareUnrestricted Submarine Warfare

Under international law, a country at war can stop and search a neutral ship suspected of carrying war goods.

January 1917 – Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare for a 2nd time

Vowed to sink any ship sailing near Britain without warning

Sinking of the Sinking of the LusitaniaLusitaniaMay 7, 1915:

Passenger ship sunk by German submarine

More than 1000 civilian deaths, including 128 Americans

Germany claimed the ship was carrying munitions

Incident put the U.S. one step closer to entering the war

Wilson called it murder on the high seas

Torpedoing of the Lusitania

Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman TelegramSent January 1917 by the

German Foreign Secretary

Proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S.

Telegram intercepted by the British and made public

Added to the American public’s desire to enter the war

23Coded copy of the Zimmerman Telegram

The U.S. Enters the WarThe U.S. Enters the War April 6, 1917:

U.S. officially declares war against Germany

Propaganda, submarine warfare, Zimmerman telegram erode neutrality

“Peace without victory”

24

The DraftThe Draft U.S. needed massive

military force June 5, 1917 – Draft

implemented Selective Service Act

1917 – Required men ages 21-30 to register for the draft

24 million men registered; 6,400,000 actually called into service

25

New York City men wait to register for the draft

Liberty BondsLiberty Bonds

Intended to finance the war, increase public support for the war effort

Patriotic appeal Over $20 billion

raised from bonds

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Anti-German SentimentAnti-German Sentiment Committee of

Public Information

Eliminating German names

Attacks on people of German descent

Limit freedoms (freedom of speech) & allow government to arrest opponents of the war. (Espionage & Sedition Acts)

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Changing Roles of WomenChanging Roles of Women 1 million women

joined the American workforce during the war

About 25,000 volunteered as nurses, telephone operators, and ambulance drivers in Europe

Some women spoke out against the war – ex. Jane Addams

28

French women assemble American airplanes

Labor & the WarLabor & the War

New job opportunities encouraged Mexican-Americans & African Americans to move to Northern industrial centers – this was called the Great MigrationGreat Migration.

National War Labor Board– April 1918 – helped workers and management reach agreements without strikes.