WWI day two.

Do the pink Poison Gas worksheet.

Here are the notes:

WWI

By August 1914 the major powers of Europe were ready for war. Most Europeans thought the conflict would be over by Christmas.
The Schlieffen Plan: German war strategy developed by General Alfred von Schlieffen.

Schlieffen predicted that Germany would be involved in a two front war with France and Russia.
1. Attack France, capture Paris in 6 weeks.
2. Race East to attack Russia. (Russia would be slow to mobilize).
Belgian Resistance
September 5, 1914
French and German armies collided in Northeastern France at the Battle of the Marne.

Results of the Marne
Saved Paris, boosted French morale
Schlieffen plan abandoned
Showed that neither side would win a quick victory
500,000 dead and maimed.





The Eastern Front:
Germans crush Russian Army at Tannenburg (Modern day Poland).
Russia is effectively knocked out of the war.

Soldiers build trenches for protection
Eventually, a complex network of parallel trenches stretched 500 miles.
The desolate areas between trenches were called “no man’s land”.
No Man’s Land





Soldiers faced cold, mud, rats, lice, disease.
Battle of Ypres
Germans introduce chlorine gas
Effects: chocking, blindness, vomiting, torn lungs and death.




The city of Ypres, Fall 1917

1916 Germans attack fortress at Verdun.
6 month battle
Over 1 million dead and maimed


Later that year the British attack at the Somme river.
Over one million dead and maimed
Both battles inconclusive
The Tank is introduced.