an angry sea, ca. 1916
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SUBMARINE WARFARE
Prior to World War I, prevailing naval opinion considered the submarine an ineffective weapon for blockading an enemy country. Submarines, filled with exposed piping and crammed with machinery, had no space to take prisoners aboard. Additionally, the submarine could never carry enough sailors to provide crews to man captured ships. Therefore, the submarine was considered a useless weapon against civilian shipping. However, Germany felt differently.
In February 1915 the German government announced its solution to the problem -- unrestricted submarine warfare. The Germans realized they didn't have to capture a merchant ship, just sink it - crew and all. They declared a war zone around the British Isles within which they would sink any allied merchant vessel on sight. Fifty ships were hit between February and September including the liner Lusitania. One hundred thirty-eight Americans were among the 1,198 lives lost in the Lusitania sinking. American public opinion was outraged, many clamoring for war. President Wilson protested to the Germans. Afraid that America might join the war, and mindful that they didn't have enough subs to do the job right, the Germans suspended their campaign -- but only temporarily.
In February 1917, with U-boats available in quantity, the Germans again declared their policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. This time not only allied but neutral ships (such as those of the U.S.) would be sunk on sight. It was a big gamble. The Germans knew it would bring America into the war. But, they reasoned they could starve the Brits out first. It was a gamble they almost won. By April, when America declared war, Britain was almost on its knees. Over 1,030 merchant ships had been sunk and Britain was only six weeks away from starvation. The introduction of the escorted convoy helped saved the day. Ship losses dropped dramatically and the supply route from America to Britain began to flow.
1. What country used the U-Boat (Submarine) as a weapon?
2. Describe what the Germans start doing in 1915.
3. What did the Germans announce in 1917?
4. Describe the gamble the Germans took by using Submarine warfare.
5. Overall, why do you think this was an effective weapon?
Name______Period______
The Debut of the Tank
It was the summer of 1915 and the British were desperate. Fighting on the Western Front had degenerated into stalemate. The ditches that separated the opposing forces proved an insurmountable barrier that had transformed the conflict from a war of movement into a deadly battle of attrition. A new fighting vehicle was needed - one that could traverse the cratered moonscape of the Western Front and breach the line of enemy trenches. This would allow the cavalry to pour through the exposed gap and envelop the Germans from behind. What was needed was a tank.
Development of the tank began in the summer of 1915. The idea was to combine the caterpillar tracks of an American tractor with an iron-clad machine that could straddle the enemy's trenches. By spring of the following year a working model was available for
A Mark I tank on the Somme Battlefield,September, 1916
testing. Manned by a crew of four, the 30-ton weapon's armament consisted of two cannon mounted on its sides. It lumbered along at three miles an hour. Encased in an unlit steel box, the crew suffered in an atmosphere that was only one step removed from Hell - unbearably hot, dusty, noisy, the air filled with the nauseating stench of gas fumes.
The new weapon made its battlefield debut on September 15, 1916 when fifty of the machines joined the Battle of the Somme in a third attempt to attack and break through the German defenses. The attack failed - no breakthrough occurred. Only 35 of the tanks actually took part in the battle. Their presence shocked the enemy, but their practical impact was minimal due to a lack of effective tactics and numerous mechanical failures. But, the door to the future was opened and the first step taken in the development of a weapon that would dominate the battlefield of future wars.
1. What country first used the tank as a weapon?
2. Why was the tank developed?
3. How did the tank work?
4. What were the problems with tanks?
5. How did the tank do in battle and why do you think this is an important weapon after World War I?
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Death from Above – The Zeppelin
The German Zeppelins were the ultimate terror weapon of their day. Silent behemoths, they prowled the night skies seemingly impervious to attack by plane or antiaircraft fire. Just the mention of the name "Zeppelin" was enough to send cold chills up and down the spines of their intended victims.
The dirigible's name came from one of its German designers - Ferdinand von Zeppelin - who introduced his first giant airship at the turn of the 20th century. With the outbreak of war, they were quickly pressed into service as bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. The first bombing raid on London was made during the night of May 31, 1915 by a single ship. Other raids followed, with as many as 16 Zeppelins attacking in a single night.
The first Zeppelin to raid LondonThe LZ 38
At its home base, 1915
Initially, defenders were powerless as the Zeppelins flew at altitudes too high for defending aircraft or artillery to reach. Mother Nature was the Zeppelin's primary enemy as the unwieldy craft were easily thrown off course by high winds. Additionally, the darkness of their night raids made it difficult for crews to find their targets.
Although the actual material damage inflicted by the Zeppelins was minimal, their psychological impact on the British population was significant. Precious air and ground units were diverted from the war front to the home front to counter this threat from the sky.
As the war progressed, technological advances that allowed defending aircraft to reach or exceed the Zeppelin's altitude and the introduction of incendiary bullets, turned the advantage to the defenders. By the end of the war, the Zeppelin had been withdrawn from combat.
1. What country used the zeppelin as a weapon?
2. How was the zeppelin used in the war?
3. Why is the zeppelin an effective weapon?
4. What were the problems with zeppelins?
5. Why do you think people stopped using the zeppelin during the war?
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Machine Gun Warfare: Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest and costliest of the First World War. It was so deadly due the machine gun, which was used by Germany, France & Britain. In the summer of 1916 the line of trenches marking the Western Front stretched from west to east across the length of France. At Verdun, near the middle of this line, French and German troops were bogged down in a battle of attrition. The objective of the Somme offensive was to push the British line forward.
The attack began July 1, 1916 with a predominately British force clambering out of its trenches and crossing No Man's Land. The Germans were dug into their trenches with the machine guns ready.
Over the TopBritish troops leave their trenches
Battle of the Somme, July 1, 1916
The British had to wither German machinegun and artillery fire. The attack soon stalled and deteriorated into disaster. Because of the rapid fire of machine guns, the British suffered almost 60,000 casualties making it the bloodiest day in British military history. Undeterred, the British command ordered the assault to continue the next day with the hope of breaking through the German lines. This attempt failed and the others that followed through the summer and fall months produced no break through. The British also used machine gun warfare and took out numerous German troops. Finally, with the approach of winter in November, the battle was abandoned. It ended in a bloody stalemate.
The final tally included 420,000 British casualties, 200,000 French and the Germans 500,000. The reward for this effort was the six-mile movement of the British front line into German territory.
1. What countries used machine gun warfare?
2. What was happening on the western front due to this weapon?
3. Why was the Battle of the Somme launched?
4. What effect did the machine gun have at the Somme?
5. What evidence can prove the Somme was a “bloody stalemate”?