The Schlieffen Plan • General Arthur von Schlieffen of Germany

devised this strategy to conquer Western Europe quickly.

• Wanted to prevent fighting a war on two fronts • Wanted to capture Belgium, then within a few

weeks, Paris. Following this they could focus on dealing with Russia

• August: The Germans steamroll through Belgium • September: Germans have invaded Northern

France and arrive at a stalemate with Allied Forces

• Around the Marne River, both sides dig in.

British soldiers with Vickers machine gun on the Western Front. Photo: Imperial War Museums

French soldiers on the Western Front. 1916. Photo: Imperial War

Aerial view of trench networks in Northern France. 1917. Photo: Imperial War Museums.

Trench Warfare

• The Western Front developed more than 300 miles of trenches

• Became a war of attrition – wear down your opponent

• Industry at home, resupply and fresh troops are key

• Many soldiers were killed, but often very little territory was gained or lost

British soldier in a captured German trench. Battle of the Somme. 1916. Photo: Imperial War Museums

German sniper in a trench. 1917. Photo: Imperial War Museums.

French bayonet charge. 1916. Photo: "The Story of the Great War, Volume III", Francis Joseph Reynolds et al.

Austrians executing Serbs

Life in the Trenches

• Cold and wet

• Hard to sleep

• “Shell Shock”

• “Trenchfoot” led to gangrene

• Body Lice

• Dead bodies, rats and maggots