Section II: The War is Fought Section II: The War is Fought (Pages 618-623)(Pages 618-623)

Section II: The War is Fought Section II: The War is Fought (Pages 618-623)(Pages 618-623)

This section is about:This section is about: How new technology and How new technology and

fighting methods led to a fighting methods led to a long, drawn out war with long, drawn out war with heavy losses sustained by heavy losses sustained by the armies of many the armies of many nations.nations.

How the entrance into How the entrance into war by fresh troops from war by fresh troops from the United States led the United States led Germany to seek an end Germany to seek an end to the fighting.to the fighting.

We know thereWe know there’’s a s a ““Great WarGreat War”” in Europe in Europe

Today we see what Today we see what that has to do with the that has to do with the United States.United States.

Look at the Main Ideas Look at the Main Ideas on page 618.on page 618.

Look at the Look at the ““Critical Critical QuestionQuestion”” on the on the bottom of page 622 bottom of page 622 (keep thinking about (keep thinking about that).that).

The War is Fought / The War The War is Fought / The War UnfoldsUnfolds

The The Great War Great War was was the first war to include the first war to include most of the nations of most of the nations of the world.the world.

Battles were fought in Battles were fought in many countries, on many countries, on every ocean, and for every ocean, and for the first time, in the the first time, in the skies.skies.

Newer and deadlier Newer and deadlier weapons were also weapons were also changing the nature of changing the nature of warfare.warfare.

Military Resources and Military Resources and StrategyStrategy

In just a few daysIn just a few days Austria Hungary bombed Serbia.Austria Hungary bombed Serbia. Russia mobilized itRussia mobilized it’’s troops.s troops. Austria-Hungary gathered itAustria-Hungary gathered it’’s troops s troops

on the Russian border.on the Russian border. Germany gave Russia 12 hours to stop Germany gave Russia 12 hours to stop

moving itmoving it’’s troops.s troops. Germany gave France 18 hours to Germany gave France 18 hours to

announce it was staying neutral.announce it was staying neutral. Russia and France ignored Germany.Russia and France ignored Germany. Germany declared war on Russia.Germany declared war on Russia. France mobilized itFrance mobilized it’’s troops.s troops. Germany demanded Belgium let their Germany demanded Belgium let their

troops pass through to France.troops pass through to France. Germany declared war on France and Germany declared war on France and

Belgium.Belgium. Britain declared war on Germany (to Britain declared war on Germany (to

back Belgium).back Belgium).

The AlliesThe Allies Had more troops.Had more troops. But the Russians were slow.But the Russians were slow.

The Central PowersThe Central Powers Germany had superior railroads, Germany had superior railroads,

a large, well trained army, and a large, well trained army, and a good navy.a good navy.

Germany had been planning Germany had been planning strategy for 5 years.strategy for 5 years.

They knew theyThey knew they’’d probably have d probably have to fight on two fronts.to fight on two fronts.

They were going to use: They were going to use: ““the the Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan”” – Northern – Northern France first and then Russia.France first and then Russia.

A New Kind of WarA New Kind of War Many new weapons were Many new weapons were

used for the first time in used for the first time in the Great War.the Great War.

Machine gunsMachine guns Giant CannonsGiant Cannons First armored tanksFirst armored tanks Fighter PlanesFighter Planes Bombs dropped from Bombs dropped from

planesplanes Unterseeboats Unterseeboats

(German U-Boats)(German U-Boats) Poison GasPoison Gas Trench WarfareTrench Warfare

The War From 1914 to 1916The War From 1914 to 1916

For Germany, the war For Germany, the war starting in Belgium starting in Belgium was more about was more about geography than geography than politics.politics.

Belgium had good, flat Belgium had good, flat land - and lots of land - and lots of railroads.railroads.

They were also in the They were also in the center of Europe and center of Europe and directly on the way to directly on the way to Paris.Paris.

The Western FrontThe Western Front By early September (in two By early September (in two

months), the Germans were 15 months), the Germans were 15 miles from Paris.miles from Paris.

But they were stopped at the But they were stopped at the Marne River.Marne River.

The Germans now couldnThe Germans now couldn’’t get a t get a quick French victory.quick French victory.

The fighting reached a The fighting reached a stalematestalemate (when neither side (when neither side gains an advantage).gains an advantage).

Both sides Both sides ““dug indug in”” with with trench trench warfarewarfare – digging trenches and – digging trenches and ditches - also with barbed wire ditches - also with barbed wire for protection.for protection.

This trench warfare was fought This trench warfare was fought over a 400 mile stretch in over a 400 mile stretch in France.France.

The area in between the two The area in between the two sides was called sides was called ““no-mans-landno-mans-land”” because no-one ever controlled because no-one ever controlled it (and everything in the area it (and everything in the area was destroyed – buildings, was destroyed – buildings, roads, and even the trees and roads, and even the trees and grass).grass).

……………………………………

The Germans tried a The Germans tried a second attack – in second attack – in northwest Belgium.northwest Belgium.

On the first day of the On the first day of the attack, the French soldiers attack, the French soldiers were first distracted by a were first distracted by a grayish-green vapor.grayish-green vapor.

They had no experience They had no experience with this vapor - but it was with this vapor - but it was poison gas.poison gas.

Many Many sufferedsuffered terrible pain terrible pain and death (92,000 deaths - and death (92,000 deaths - and 1.2 million and 1.2 million casualties).casualties).

It took 10 months of It took 10 months of fighting, but the French fighting, but the French finally stopped the finally stopped the Germans from advancing Germans from advancing with the rallying cry: with the rallying cry: ““they they shall not pass.shall not pass.””

The Eastern FrontThe Eastern Front There was also fighting at the There was also fighting at the

same time near Poland and same time near Poland and Russia.Russia.

Russia is so big, it took a lot Russia is so big, it took a lot of German soldiers to try and of German soldiers to try and take their land.take their land.

The Germans and Austrians The Germans and Austrians did win some battles on the did win some battles on the Eastern Front.Eastern Front.

Russia had 4 times as many Russia had 4 times as many soldiers as the Germans – but soldiers as the Germans – but bad officers.bad officers.

Russia had poor leaders (they Russia had poor leaders (they even gave orders on open even gave orders on open radios) and poorly trained radios) and poorly trained soldiers. soldiers.

Russian soldiers didnRussian soldiers didn’’t have t have enough enough foodfood, and their , and their soldiers were just getting soldiers were just getting tired of fighting.tired of fighting.

In two battles in a row, more In two battles in a row, more than 350,000 Russians were than 350,000 Russians were captured – and their fighting captured – and their fighting equipment was equipment was taken/destroyed.taken/destroyed.

Global Global InvolvementInvolvement Most of the war Most of the war

was in Europe, was in Europe, but…but…

There was some There was some fighting in Asia and fighting in Asia and Africa, usually Africa, usually involving colonies involving colonies of the countries of the countries fighting in Europe.fighting in Europe.

Fighting on the SeaFighting on the Sea

Great Britain and Germany Great Britain and Germany both set up sea blockades both set up sea blockades to cut off each otherto cut off each other’’s s supplies (including food).supplies (including food).

On May 7On May 7thth, 1915, the , 1915, the Germans sank the British Germans sank the British ship ship ““LusitaniaLusitania”” (with 100 (with 100 Americans on board).Americans on board).

The Germans killed more The Germans killed more Americans in 1916 (on the Americans in 1916 (on the Sussex).Sussex).

President Wilson told President Wilson told Germany weGermany we’’d break off d break off ties with them if they didnties with them if they didn’’t t stop shooting at ships with stop shooting at ships with Americans. Americans.

The United States Gets The United States Gets InvolvedInvolved

President Wilson had kept President Wilson had kept the U.S. out of the war, the U.S. out of the war, but…but…

In 1917, the Germans In 1917, the Germans resumed resumed ““unrestricted unrestricted submarine warfaresubmarine warfare”” – sinking – sinking 5 American ships in a 5 American ships in a month.month.

And, the British intercepted And, the British intercepted a coded a coded messagemessage from from Germany to Mexico (The Germany to Mexico (The Zimmerman Telegram).Zimmerman Telegram).

In it Germany promised if In it Germany promised if MexicoMexico helped them fight helped them fight the Americans, theythe Americans, they’’d get d get the land back that they last the land back that they last in their war with the U.S. in their war with the U.S. (The Mexican-American (The Mexican-American War).War).

Americans were Americans were furiousfurious.. ………………………………..

On April 2On April 2ndnd, 1917, , 1917, President President Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare asked Congress to declare war on Germany – in order war on Germany – in order to to ““make the world safe make the world safe for democracy.for democracy.””

On April 6On April 6thth, war was , war was declared.declared.

It took until about 1918 to It took until about 1918 to get our soldiers to Europe, get our soldiers to Europe, but 1.2 million Americans but 1.2 million Americans helped the Allies.helped the Allies.

Clashes in Clashes in RussiaRussia

The Russians were tired of The Russians were tired of fighting and signed a peace fighting and signed a peace treaty with the Central treaty with the Central Powers in March, 1918.Powers in March, 1918.

Russia was now out of the Russia was now out of the war.war.

The agreement was that The agreement was that theythey’’d give up:d give up:

30% of their farmlands30% of their farmlands 50% of their industry50% of their industry 90% of their coal mines90% of their coal mines German could now go back German could now go back

and concentrate on the and concentrate on the fighting on the Western fighting on the Western Front.Front.