Transcript 7.3 Notes
Bloody Conflict 7-3 Lesson Objectives: Understand how new technologies of warfare effected military tactics and casualties Combat in WWI Europe devastated by fighting (1914-1917) 1917 – the US enters the war – 2 million US troops • Fresh troops & supplies help the Allies Allies fighting on 2 fronts • Eastern front – Central Powers & Russia • Western front – Germans fighting French, British, and Belgium forces http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/amer_hi st_survey/resources/htmls/animations/ah23_ anim_westfrnt.html Trench Warfare • Europe had been fighting for 3 years in a stalemate • A deadlock where neither side was strong enough to beat the other • Old fashioned strategies & new technologies = terrible destruction • Powerful artillery guns placed far behind the frontlines hurled huge explosive shells on to the battlefield. • Both sides dug in creating a maze of trenches to protect themselves • Shallow ditches to elaborate tunnels • “no man’s land” • Long and deadly offensives http://www.classzone.com/cz/bo oks/amer_hist_survey/resource s/htmls/animations/trench_anim /ah23_anim_trenchwar.html No Man’s Land Airplanes Front mounted with machine guns or loaded with bombs Machine Guns 600 rounds per minute Tanks and armored cars “mowed down” barbed wire or soldiers New Technology Barbed Wire Placed between opposing trenches Both sides used new technology to attack more soldiers from greater distances. Artillery field guns Used to shoot airplanes out of the sky Poison gas (Chlorine & mustard) Yellow-green chlorine fog sickened, suffocated, burned, and blinded its victims. Gas masks became standard use. Submarines Attack from under water – did not see until too late • • • • • • Trench Foot Trench Mouth Trench Fever – Lice / Ticks Rats Frogs Horrible smells Trench Life The Americans Arrive • US “doughboys” arrive inexperienced but eager to fight on the Western front John J Pershing – General commanding the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) • Insists Americans operate as a separate unit • Independent role in shaping the peace Harlem Hell Fighters • African American infantry unit • Attached to French Army • French were glad to fight side by side • Spent more time under fire than any other unit • Croix de Guerre – highest French military honor • Welcomed home with huge parade in NY Winning at Sea • Merchant ships & troop transports traveled in groups = convoys • Small maneuverable warships (destroyers) protected convoys • Convoys reduced shipping losses and ensured American troops arrived safely Flu Epidemic • 1918 – 1919 deaths from epidemic – rapid spreading of contagious disease among large numbers of people. • 500,000 Americans • 30 million worldwide • Believed to be spread by traveling soldiers • US could not keep up with building coffins Russia Leaves the War • 3/1917 Riots break out • Czar Nicholas II, leader of Russian Empire abdicated his throne – Russian Revolution begins. • Temporary government established that tries to remain in the war • 11/1917 Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Party seized power and establishes Communist government • Lenin pulled Russia out of the war • Treaty of Brest-Litovsky • Russia gives up Ukraine, Polish and Baltic Territory and Finland **Germany can concentrate all its forces on the Western front Battles Belleau Wood – 3 weeks • French General – prepare trenches in rear in case you are needed. • “We dig no trenches to fall back on. The marines will hold where they stand” • US stop Germans on their way to Paris Argonne Forest – 47 days • Final Allied Offensive • High casualties – 100,000+ • Germans forced to retreat • Great War finally nearing its end • Alvin York - hero Armistice Germans request armistice – an agreement to stop fighting. • Treaty of Versailles officially ends the war 1919 11-11-1918 The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month World War I ended Armistice Day becomes Veteran’s Day President Wilson’s 14 Points • Wilson believes in no winners and no losers • Treat Central Powers fairly • Fourteen Points End secret alliances Freedom of the seas Free international trade Limit on arms (weaponry) Self-determination- nations have the right to their own territory League of Nations (this was the most important) The Paris Peace Conference • Diplomats from 30 different nations met in Paris and Versailles to discuss peace. • Great Britain, France and Italy wanted to punish Germany • France – invaded 2x by Germany – does not want this to happen again • France and Great Britain – war reparations ($) STOP~THINK~DISCUSS Make your own “14 Points” • Come up with at least 6 points on your own to bring to the Treaty of Versailles. • Must include points that aim to prevent a future war. • Use sharpies to write your points. • Make them look NICE AND NEAT. • Decorate if you have time. • Due at the end of class! The Treaty of Versailles Germany wasn’t even invited to peace talks. • Germany accept full responsibility • Germany pays $33 million in reparations • Germany could keep a small army and navy • 9 new nations created from Central Powers • League of Nations created Effects of the Treaty • Germany felt humiliated • League of Nations is established to prevent future wars • The U.S. did not join the league…why do you think? • The U.S. wanted to practice isolationism The Cost of the War • 8-9 million people died in battle • More than all the wars in the past 100 years combined • 4 million Russia, French, and British • 2 million Germans • 100,000 Americans • TOTAL – 20 million injured on both sides • Many died of disease, starvation and other war related causes • Homeless and orphaned children • Europe (mostly northern France) was in ruins Terms & People to Know • • • • • • • • • • • Convoy Armistice National-self determination Reparations Stalemate No Mans Land Doughboys Treaty of Versailles Fourteen Points Big Four Flu Epidemic