stalemate, trenches and weapons paulson u.s. history mon. jan. 23, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Stalemate, Trenches and Weapons
Paulson
U.S. History
Mon. Jan. 23, 2012
1. List 3 Allied countries in WWI. 2. List 3 Central Powers in WWI. 3. What was the main goal of the “catch-em-
while-they’re-Schlieffen-plan?” 3A. Describe what Germany did 3B. Were they successful?
Spark # 5 Business items
Turn in signatures if you didn’t Friday Maps? Post?
Set the scene – then Trenches and Weapons Trenches diagram / Student research notes -
squares Homework – square notes student research?
And/or trench diagram
Big Idea Key objective – As we talk about weapons and
strategy, think about what it would have been like to be a regular soldier in this war
PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES!!!!
It begins Nationalism – entire generation of young men
enlist – flock to the colors – for love of country – for adventure
Bands playing, people singing, waving hats at the train station
Both sides thought “over by Christmas”
Deadlock Schlieffen Plan stopped Race to the Sea Dig in, trenches
Big idea Technology of industrial revolution (cars,
planes, blimps, armor, steel, chemicals) is going to be directed towards destruction / total war
Figuring out how to break the STALEMATE / TRENCH system
Trenches
Trenches German trenches at the battle of the Somme. They had barber shopsand Officer clubs
“Over the Top,” into “No man’s land…”
Technology used to “beat the trenches” GIANT SHIFT---from traditional warfare to
mechanized warfare First example of “modern warfare” Trying to break the stalemate Generals fought with “old tactics” Casualties were extraordinary
http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/casualties.htm
Rapid Fire Heavy Artillery Howitzers Big Bertha- aka “Paris Gun” range= 70 miles
in 170 seconds Short muzzle mortars Constant shelling destroyedSoldiers psyche
Tanks WWI began with cavalry attacks on
horseback and ended with Tanks, Planes, and Poison gas
William Triton – British Mark I 1916 Extremely clumsy -3 men to steer, 4 mph Developed from farm equipment Used to roll over trenches “water carriers” “little willie”---”big willie”---”Mark I”
Blimps Aka “Zeppelin” Developed by Germans Used for bombing and reconnaissance Carried machine guns and bombs Replaced by planes and were too easy to
shoot down!!
Planes Replaced blimps Reconnaissance and photographs, later
bombing Dogfights towards end of WWI Guns fired through prop (steel plated props,
then timing) Aces: “Red Baron” Manfreid von Richthofen 80
confirmed kills
Submarines –U-boats Cornelis Drebbel made the very first
submarine in 1620. It was made of wood and leather.
The submarines used during WWI were 53.8 feet long.
They had a top speed of 6 knots They only had torpedoes on board. Germany’s most effective offensive weapon
against Allies
Flamethrower Flammenwerfer in German - in the early
1900s First flamethrowers date to 500 b.c. Terrified French and Brits when Germans used
them early in war Eventually used by all sides Longest range = 90 yards Very dangerous to user!!!
Poison Gas
Fear-psychological warfare Took long time to die Multiple types of gas: chlorine, mustard, phosgene Meant to destroy will, incite mutiny First masks…gross Relatively few deaths…kind of…
Total War All this technology meant to get movement in
lines. Trenches barely moved in 4 years Mechanized warfare destroyed psyche of
many, many soldiers Poisoned wells, killed livestock, bruned towns
to the ground, destroyed fields Tunnels underneath trenches
Overall Impact Technology that would accelerate progress in
20th century also made war “more” deadly! “shell shock” –Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Constant shelling, flamethrowers, mud, rain,
tanks, machine guns, high probability of death ~300 British soldiers executed for disobeying
orders