Uploaded byHeidi Schlegel
World War One Stalemate
The document summarizes key aspects of World War I, including how it started as an unexpected stalemate between major powers that were unprepared for modern warfare. Trench warfare led to constant death from disease, gas attacks, rats, and trench foot as armies faced a tragic equilibrium where similar weapons and bad leadership prolonged the stalemate for years. The failed Schlieffen Plan that involved invading Belgium went against early assumptions and contributed to the prolonged trench warfare.
World War One Stalemate
- 1. reflection History is littered with the wars which everybody knew would never happen. Enoch Powell
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- 3. August 1914 majorpowers fought Not prepared Horse and carriage were the main source of transportation Some uniforms were red Lack of ammunition and supplies No one would be able to last for more than 6 months
- 4. Stalemate Reasons Tragic equilibrium Similar weapons Bad leadership
- 5. Schlieffen Plan The invasion of Belgium had been a part of it Created by Alfred von Schlieffen in 1905 Plan assumed Russia would be slow to mobilize so they would concentrate on France Didn’t work: troops were already in place Also assumed Belgium would not retaliate Heroically defended their towns and homes Eventually defeated by Germans British were forced to retreat and the Germans eventually defeated the French
- 6. Trench Warfare Death was constant Disease Gas New weapon Gas masks Rats Trench foot Fungal disease caused by cold, wet, unsanitary conditions that generally lead to gangrene and amputation
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- 13. Trench Warfare “Stand to” Rum, rifles and breakfast truce Inspection and chores Daily boredom “stand to” supplies and maintenance Absolutely horrid smell By the end each side had dug over 12,000 miles of trenches
- 14. I’ve a littlewet home in the trench I’ve a little wet home in the trench where the rainstorms continually drench there’s a dead cow close by with her feet in towards the sky and she gives off a terrible stench Underneath, in the place of a floor There’s a mass of wet mud and some straw But with shells dropping there, There’s no place to compare, With my little wet home in the trench.