Name ________________________ Date ______ Per___ WWI Weapons + Events of WWI

Big Idea Question: How did the Industrial Revolution change the technology of war and what consequence
did this have?

Terms: 1914, Schlieffen Plan, Western Front, Stalemate, Eastern Front, Trench warfare

(1)1914: Germans invade neutral Belgium to surprise attack the French This was based on the Schlieffen Plan a
surprise attack against the French written years before the war, that said the Germans could win a future world war by
quickly defeating France and then rushing East to fight Russia. This plan was based on speed and mobility.
(2)Result: SUCCESFUL at first, Germans were close to taking PARIS.
• Because the Germans were the first to invade land, they look like they started the war, even though we know
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY is actually the first to declare war.

(3)Western Front: The Allies permanently stop the Germans and push them back so that that the entire war is fought
over the same 3-4 miles.
• French rush 600 taxi cubs to the front to stop the advance, plus they received reinforcements from the British
(4)Result: Schlieffen plan fails
STALEMATE (tie) is established on the Western Front where neither side advanced much more than a few miles, yet
there were higher causalities than ever before.

(5)TRENCH WARFARE: Because neither side can advance, they dig trenches (very long dugouts) to protect
themselves from enemy fire. Armies traded huge losses of human life for pitifully small land gains.

(6)EASTERN TRENCH: At the same time, Germany decided to invade Russia. This also resulted in a bloody
stalemate.
(7)Results: How did this change soldiers attitude towards war? Describe 3 conditions they faced.
Began to hate war – felt betrayed by the propaganda of the government telling them that war was good. They were homesick
in the trenches, unable to sleep because of the constant bombardment of bombs, ate terrible food, lived with rats, and stood
in mud constantly. Because they were exposed to constant water, disease and injury was common, especially trench foot
where your foot starts to rot from standing in water.

“Shells of all caliber started raining on our sector. The trenches

disappeared, filled with Earth…the air was unbreathable. Our
blinded, wounded, crawling and shouting soldiers kept falling
on top of us and died splashing us with blood. It was living
hell.”-French soldier

(8): Explain some ways this war appears to be unique and unlike any other seen before:
- Higher casualties
- New styles of fighting: Defensive war
-Civilian targets

(9) What new industrial weapons changed war?

1) Handheld industrial weapons increase casualty rates: Flamethrower, machine gun, grenades
2) Big Bertha (industrial artillery creates mass destruction never before seen)
3) Tanks
4) Submarines laid mines attacking military and merchant ships
5) Air warfare- Blimps and planes bomb cities; once machine guns are added dogfights between individual planes
6) Poison Gas: Represents a new style of fighting that kills/injuries indiscriminately and permenantly damages the
land.Tear gas was used by the French in 1915, Germans introduced chlorine gas which killed thousands, and this
was followed by mustard gas that blinded and created a new class of disabled veterans.
HW: Battles of the War
(Read p.414-419 in your textbook)

(1) What was the Battle of Tannenberg?

(2) What was the result of the Battle of Tannenberg?

(3) Why did Russia struggle with the war?

(4) What was the Gallipoli Campaign?

(5) How were the Japanese involved in the war?

(6) When and why did America join the war?

(7) How long did it take you to complete this assignment?

BIG IDEAS from this homework assignment