The Eastern Front1914 - 1917

Eastern Front: 1914. When the Schlieffen Plan came into action in 1914, The

Russian army was mobilized much faster then the German’s expected.

Although the Russians were initially successful against the Austrians, occupying the province of Galicia and helping to cause the failure of the Schlieffen Plan, they were defeated.

Russian soldiers abandoning their lines in Galicia

German Army: Building Self-Confidence

From here, we are able to see an on going pattern of success for the German army:

Russia: Able to defeat Austrians, but not Germans Germans: Had to keep coming to aide the Austrians.

For Germany, it was a “self-confidence” boost for their army.

Turkey entered the war on the 29th October 1914, and decided to side with Germany.

Russian officers and peasants watching an Austrian bombardment (CPE)

Russian Downward spiral: 1915

Throughout this year, we again see the failure of Russia to defeat the German army in many battles:

Battle of Bolimov: For example, in the Battle of Bolimov, An inconclusive battle between the German Ninth Army and the Russian Second Army.

The Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes: Also known as the “Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes” because it was during a massive blizzard.

Austro-German offensive: A combined Austro-German offensive (previous attempted in the Second Battle of the Masurian Lakes) in the Carpathians.

Gas attack seen from an aeroplane. Russians soldiers immediately after being captured (NW)

Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes

The Turkish blockade of the Dardanelles.

Removing Russia: 1916 - 1917

The Battle of Lustk of June 4-6 1916 and the Russian Brusilov Offensive.

The Russian Army had obtained better equipment since 1916.

The offensive had a devastating effect on the Austro-Hungarian empires, with casualties of 340,000 and 400,000 more men taken prisoner.

The effect of the Russians loosing millions of people during the battle created more opposition for the Romanov dynasty.

Bolshevik Party, were successful in overthrowing the Provisional Government in October.

The horror of war - one of the Austrian dead (NW) Burning the bodies of war

The Balkan Front: Bulgaria’s entry on the side of the Central Powers

allowed a successful joint Austro-German-Bulgarian offensive in October 1915.

In August 1916, Romania joined the Allies, but was quickly overrun.

It was not until 1918 that the Allies made advances against Bulgaria, leading to their surrender in September 1918.

Troops March Through Salonika

The Italian Front: Isonzo

The battles of the Isonzo were so-named because they were fought along the Isonzo River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front.

Acollection of ridges and valleys, conspired to work to the Austro-Hungarian defenders' advantage.

Some historians believe that the battle of Caporetto can be considered as the “Twelfth Battle of Isonzo”

On the Italian Front

Battle of Caporetto In October 1917, a major Austrian offensive- the battle of

Caporetto- was launched with German support. Despite these failures, the Italian Front placed a heavy

burden on Austria-Hungary, which in 1916 had to deploy half of it’s forces against the Italians.

Map of Caporetto Strategy.

Turkey and the Middle Eastern Front Turkey joined Austria-Hungary and Germany in the war

on 31st October 1914. The Allies attacked the Turkish Empire in the Gallipoli campaign, which was split into three stages

The Gallipoli campaign wanted to:- Send British warships through the Dardanelles, Driving Turkey out of Constantinople.- Open a sea route to the Russian Front, in order to get supplies to Russia.- Allow the Allies to march through the Balkans and attack Austria-Hungary.

Map of the Gallipoli peninsula

First Stage The first stage of the campaign was a failed naval

bombardment of the Turkish Forts protecting narrow Straits. With British and French ships damaged by a combination of

mines and shells, the Allies decided the risk was too great. The ANZAC, landed on the Gallipoli peninsula on the 25th of

April 1915. It was finally abandoned in November, having achieved none

of it’s goals. 250,000 men dead, wounded or captured. Australian troops charging in Gallipoli 1915.

Second and Third Stage

The second campaign against the Turks involved an operation to win control of oil supplies through an expedition to Mesopotamia. However, but the end of the war, British forces were in control of Basra, Baghdad and Mosul.

The third campaign involved British, Anzac and Indian troops driving the Turks back through Palestine. The use of guerilla warfare was successfully lead by T.E. Lawrence (also known as Lawrence of Arabia). The Arabs wanted independence from Turkey, and therefore aided the British.

The British and empire forces defeated the Turks at Megiddo in September 1917.

British Troops Megiddo in September 1917.

Acknolegments www.firstworldwar.com www.casahistoria.net Pearson Baccalaurerate – Causes, Practices and Effect of

War.