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Home , Battle of Amiens (1870), Battle of Passchendaele, Battle of the Somme

INTRODUCTORY NOTES movement in their efforts to win. Also there is the opportunity to examine other aspects of life on the By 1907 Europe was divided into two armed camps Western Front which affected the life of the ordinary that involved all the major European powers, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. While the alliances soldier, such as living conditions, food, medical problems, army routine, discipline and humour. were meant to increase the security of each country, instead they ensured that a that involved any of these powers would probably involve all of them. WAR PLANS Between the Anglo-French Cordiale of 1904 and the outbreak of war in 1914, there were a number of There had not been major war in Europe since 1870. Teacher's Notes crises in Morocco and the Balkans, any of which Much had changed since then. Population growth meant could have sparked a war. more men were available to be conscripted, industrial advancements meant armies could be equipped with It was the assassination of the Austrian heir to the more devastating weapons, railways meant armies could throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28, be more easily moved and supplied. Every army had a 1914, that finally ignited the European powder keg. general , whose job it was to ensure their nations THE WESTERN Following the declaration of war on Serbia by Austria- army was properly equipped and organised for war and to Hungary on July 28, 1914, the Russian Government prepare plans to cover the most likely scenario. ordered its army to mobilise. Events seemed to follow each other in an inevitable sequence, like a row of The German Plan known as the , was FRONT toppling dominoes. There was no turning back from devised by the Head of the German General Staff from this timetable of death. The Great War had to run its 1892 to 1906, Alfred von Schlieffen. Schlieffen believed course. This war stands out from earlier the most likely war was one in which Germany would because of the vast scale of the conflict and the have to fight both and Russia. He believed that the World War One immensity of its destructiveness. This war was a war German army could defeat the Russian or the French of nations, a total war, a war of modern technologies. armies but not both at the same time. The Schlieffen Plan The statesman of pre-1914 had no vision of what a was a gamble. The Germans were going to stake twentieth-century war would really be like. everything on a massive attack on France in the first six weeks of , then turn on the Russians before they An examination of documentary film provides an had time to mobilise. As the German border with France added dimension to the study of the Great War and was heavily fortified, the only way was to invade France should be used along with other available sources by going through . The plan envisaged the such as letters, photographs, diaries, speeches, mobilisation of eight German armies. One would be sent newspapers, posters, cartoons, official documents, to the east to protect East Prussia from the Russians, war poetry and memoirs. two would guard the French frontier and the other five This video concentrates on the main theatre of the would storm through Belgium and Luxembourg in a First World War, the Western Front. It was the belief mighty arc and march on from the north. of politicians and generals that success on this front When war did break out, the Russians instead of taking would bring about overall victory. From the video an six weeks to mobilise, mobilised without declaring war. It insight can be gained of what it was like serving on was too late for the Germans to make a new plan, so the Western Front. The material examines trench they altered the situation to make it fit their plans. They warfare. It examines the huge, costly offensives which rapidly declared war on Russia, declared war on France were made across a -torn no-man's land, against and invaded Belgium. However to the astonishment of the barbed wire, machine guns and fire. It Germans, the Russians invaded East Prussia and gained Duration: 40 min examines the periods in 1914 and again in 1918 when a victory over the German Eighth Army on August 19, the armies were not dug into semipermanent trenches Years: 11-12 1914, throwing the German military plan into disarray. The and instead were managing to achieve some French also had a plan, known as Plan 17. This entailed

sufficient forces to man the entire front in strength. in front entire the man to forces sufficient

What reasons are put forward in the film the in forward put are reasons What Study: Film called the Whippet. The French experimented with a with experimented French The Whippet. the called had sides both where one was particular, in Front

armed. The British also developed a lighter , lighter a developed also British The armed. occurred on may fronts, the Western the fronts, may on occurred warfare trench of warfare? of

on this model, being faster, more reliable and better and reliable more faster, being model, this on While trenches. digging by weapons enemy of effects much should be placed on this new type new this on placed be should much

exhaust fumes. The Mark 4 was a vast improvement vast a was 4 Mark The fumes. exhaust battlefield. Soldiers were forced to seek refuge from the from refuge seek to forced were Soldiers battlefield. of generals on both sides, and how and sides, both on generals of

crews, who had to put up with deafening noise and noise deafening with up put to had who crews, this was not matched by an increase in mobility on the on mobility in increase an by matched not was this should be placed on the incompetence the on placed be should

unreliable, difficult to operate and unpleasant for unpleasant and operate to difficult unreliable, However destruction. of weapons powerful in increase high casualty rate on the Western Front Western the on rate casualty high

model known as the Mark 1, which was slow, was which 1, Mark the as known model Industrial progress meant there was a massive a was there meant progress Industrial Western Front. How much blame for the for blame much How Front. Western

Battle of the in 1916. They initially used a used initially They 1916. in Somme the of

attempting to break the deadline on the on deadline the break to attempting

TRENCH WARFARE TRENCH

TANKS: The British were the first to use at the at tanks use to first the were British The TANKS: Discussion: Examine the role of other 'fronts' in 'fronts' other of role the Examine Discussion:

wear over long periods of time. of periods long over wear

failed to achieve its target. its achieve to failed

and Plan 17? Plan and

the years. However gas masks were exhausting to exhausting were masks gas However years. the

close for the Allies, but every attack every but Allies, the for close

failure of both the Schlieffen Plan Schlieffen the both of failure the for

were developed, improving in their effectiveness over effectiveness their in improving developed, were

illustrate how success often seemed often success how illustrate

What reasons does the film put forward put film the does reasons What Study: Film

To counter the impact of gas attacks, gas masks gas attacks, gas of impact the counter To on the Western Front in 1915, to 1915, in Front Western the on

Use a number of that occurred that battles of number a Use war? of outbreak the to troops.

military plans prevent diplomatic solutions diplomatic prevent plans military

with to make the areas dangerous for dangerous areas the make to gas mustard with

defensive methods improved as well'. as improved methods defensive

To what extent did German did extent what To feasible?

Germans by 1918 for example, covering whole areas whole covering example, for 1918 by Germans

steadily improved, but the Germans the but improved, steadily

Was the Schlieffen Plan tactically Plan Schlieffen the Was Discussion:

used in increasing frequency as the war went on, the on, went war the as frequency increasing in used 'In 1915, the Allies attacking techniques attacking Allies the 1915, 'In Research:

about 25 types of poison gas were used. Gas was Gas used. were gas poison of types 25 about

the first six weeks of the war? the of weeks six first the

Passchendaele and the Somme. the and Passchendaele

such as phosgene, tear gas and mustard gas. In all In gas. mustard and gas tear phosgene, as such

Germany's plan to defeat France within France defeat to plan Germany's

Verdun, Champagne, Loos, Champagne, ,

using various forms of gas in addition to chlorine, to addition in gas of forms various using

the Battle of the Marne destroy Marne the of Battle the did ways

significant battles: , , Mons, battles: significant

It was not long before most of the combatants were combatants the of most before long not was It

Germans in August 1914. In what In 1914. August in Germans the

down the location of the following the of location the down

Outline the form of Belgian resistance to resistance Belgian of form the Outline Research:

success. On a map of the Western Front, mark Front, Western the of map a On study: Map

the Allied lines and gave the Germans an initial an Germans the gave and lines Allied the

September 1914. September

Understanding the issues: the Understanding

released to form a vast cloud which drifted towards drifted which cloud vast a form to released August- practice, in plans two the

favourable wind blew towards the enemy, the gas was gas the enemy, the towards blew wind favourable Schlieffen Plan and Plan 17. Also, plot Also, 17. Plan and Plan Schlieffen

hundreds of metal cylinders in trenches. When a When trenches. in cylinders metal of hundreds

proposed lines of advance under the under advance of lines proposed

system of concrete fire positions and deep shelters. deep and positions fire concrete of system

released chlorine gas, an acute lung irritant, from irritant, lung acute an gas, chlorine released

Belgium and Luxembourg, plot the plot Luxembourg, and Belgium

Germans were defending the , a Line, Hindenburg the defending were Germans

second in 1915. The Germans The 1915. in Ypres of Battle second

On a map outline France, Germany, France, outline map a On Study: Map

first real trench systems appeared. by 1917, the 1917, by appeared. systems trench real first

GAS: The first successful use of gas was at the at was gas of use successful first The GAS:

While the first trenches were quite basic, by 1915 the 1915 by basic, quite were trenches first the While Understanding the issues. the Understanding

gas and tanks. and gas

defences and exploit the gap created by the line. the by created gap the exploit and defences

continuing. Two of these innovations were the use of use the were innovations these of Two continuing.

enemy's defences, they had to capture the enemy's the capture to had they defences, enemy's

defence finding an answer and the deadlock the and answer an finding defence on two fronts. two on

problem of crossing no-mans land and entering the entering and land no-mans crossing of problem

new experiments were initially successful, with the with successful, initially were experiments new the Germans had to win a swift victory and avoid war avoid and victory swift a win to had Germans the

type of warfare. The attacking army not only had the had only not army attacking The warfare. of type

with new weapons and methods. Sometimes these Sometimes methods. and weapons new with early September marked the collapse of the only plan only the of collapse the marked September early

support trench and a reserve trench. This was a new a was This trench. reserve a and trench support

in March 1918, the armies of both sides experimented sides both of armies the 1918, March in disastrous for the Germans. The Battle of the Marne in Marne the of Battle The Germans. the for disastrous

confine the main trench. Behind it there could be a be could there it Behind trench. main the confine

From the early days of trench warfare until its demise its until warfare trench of days early the From All the war plans failed. This failure was most was failure This failed. plans war the All

built in straight lines, but had bays and traverses to traverses and bays had but lines, straight in built

stretched over 750 kilometres. Trenches were not were Trenches kilometres. 750 over stretched officers. their of percent ten including men 211,000 ON THE WESTERN FRONT WESTERN THE ON

Switzerland. This continuous line of trenches of line continuous This Switzerland. lost they days twelve In guns. machine and artillery NEW WEAPONS AND DEVELOPMENTS AND WEAPONS NEW

entrenched, stretching from the to Sea North the from stretching entrenched, disaster. The French were slaughtered by the German the by slaughtered were French The disaster.

Battle of Ypres, the Western Front was well was Front Western the Ypres, of Battle with met armies their 1914, 20, August on action

Western Front in 1915? in Front Western First the of end the By sea. the reached having room, into plan their put did French the When Germans. the

prospects of a quick victory on the on victory quick a of prospects of out ran sides both when ended other each outflank scatter to soldiers French the of courage and strength

as to why there were no immediate no were there why to as to side each of efforts the Front Western the On the on relying border, the across advance headlong a

Page 4 Page Page 5 Page Page 6 Page Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 number of tanks before concentrating on the lighter soldiers. Trenches were often lined with sandbags for conflict? Renault tank. The Germans however, build very few added strength and protection. Dugouts were often tanks during the war. cut into the sides of trenches, some with bunks and Write notes about trench life using the following headings : Lice; trench feet; shelf-shock; trench humour; noise; Significant use was made of tanks in the Battle of electric lighting. in April 1917, at the Battle of in Trenches were often subject to severe flooding, often fear; boredom; disease and smell. November 1917 and at the Battle of in August freezing in winter, muddy in the spring and autumn Select soldiers from the 1918. The main use of tanks was in helping the and dusty in summer. Soldiers occupying trenches (eg. ,, New Zealand) and relate some of break into the enemy trenches. Other weapons and had little opportunity for personal hygiene, and the their experiences on the WesternFront. innovations used on the Western Front included flame stench would often be appalling, a blend of unwashed throwers, radios, aircraft, smoke shells, larger calibre soldiers, excreta, rotting corpses and fumes from gas Discussion: The letters of soldiers back home generally heavy guns and new techniques and technology in or shells. Soldiers lived in constant danger as at any presented a different view of life in the artillery, with such improvements as the new time they might be shelled, gassed, shot by snipers trenches to what really was the situation. instantaneous percussion fuse which was more or come under an enemy charge. Time tended to go Why? What could or should have been done effective at cutting barbed wire. slowly and soldiers were often bored, sometimes not to improve conditions for soldiers in the Understanding the issues: seeing the enemy for many weeks. As well as having to deal with the elements, soldiers were often filthy trenches? Research: The use of gas by the Germans at the and covered with lice and itch-mites. Many had their Film Study: What evidence is presented in the film of in 1915. feet amputated when they developed 'trench foot'. some of the more horrific aspects of life in Antibiotics such as penicillin were unknown and the The use of tanks in the , the trenches? August 8, 1918. wounded faced the risk of contracting gangrene, often resulting in the limb being amputated. Some soldiers Discussion: That gas was a humane weapon, as only suffered from the effects of 'shell-shock'. Rats also a small proportion of gas casualties were often infested the trenches making life more killed and a high proportion of the unpleasant for the soldiers. SLAUGHTER ON THE WESTERN FRONT casualties eventually recovered. Generally food in the trenches was of a poor standard The Allies returned to the ‘Westerner’ strategy in 191 6. That the value of tanks on the Western and deteriorated as the war went on. British soldiers The other fronts would be coordinated to support the main Front was more for their psychological often complained of the monotony of bully beef, attack. The ‘big push’ was to feature more men, rather than their destructive impact. biscuits and plum and apple jam. Food for the weapons and equipment than had so far been used in the Film study: What evidence from the film suggests that German soldiers by 1918 was extremely poor, often conflict. The objective was attrition. Falkenhayn the the conflict had become a war of attrition? being pea soup with a few lumps of fat or gristle and with bread made from ground turnips and sawdust. German Commander-in Chief planned a similar approach and on February 21, 1916, launched a major offensive at On top of this soldiers were poorly paid. Despite all Verdun. Their plan was to attack with artillery, churning LIFE IN THE TRENCHES this, soldiers developed a tremendous sense of Trenches on the Western Front were continually comradeship and a sense of humour about their up the battlefield and grinding the French army into occupied throughout the war by hundreds of thousands plight. submission. In December, when the battle finished, the of soldiers. Men were dying from enemy action, Understanding the issues: trench lines were almost where they were when it began. disease and accidents on a daily rate. Losses were almost equal; 362,000 French and 337,000 Explanation: Describe the following features of Trench warfare was expected to be a temporary trenches: duckboards, firesteps, sumps, German. measure until the war of movement would once again begin. Trenches were a defensive measure to combat dugouts, parapets. General Halg launched a British assault on the Western the devastating firepower of the enemy. They came in Research: What images of warfare do we gain from Front which would act in support of the defence of all sizes and varied in quality of construction and war poets such as Wilfred Owen, Verdun. The target was the German fine at the Somme degrees of protection and comfort they provided for the Siegfried Sasson and Rupert Brooke? River. The German lines were strong with deep layers of Why do their views differ about the

studying warfare on the on warfare studying

How important is documentary film in film documentary is important How Study: Film

Allies won it. Discuss. it. won Allies

ACN 002 009 618 009 002 ACN

Germany did not lose the war - the - war the lose not did Germany

played by Australia, Canada and New and Canada Australia, by played

Western Front. Discuss. Front. Western

New Zealand: New 09 478 4540 478 09 Fax: and Phone Combined What does the film suggest about the role the about suggest film the does What study: Film

more than just its military failure on the on failure military its just than more

USA: 1 800 665 2909 665 800 1 Fax: 4121 665 800 1 Ph:

to the final Allied victory? Allied final the to The German collapse was a result of result a was collapse German The Discussion:

and the contribute Passchendaele of Battle the and UK: 01454 776689 01454 Fax: 776670 01454 Ph: the course of the war? the of course the

To what extent did the the of Battle the did extent what To

How did the Russian withdrawal effect withdrawal Russian the did How Canada: (604) 532 6688 532 (604) Fax: 6677 (604)523 Ph:

Germany? arguments for and against Haig. against and for arguments

Fax: (02) 9913 8077 9913 (02) Fax: 8700 9913 (02) Ph:

Why did the USA go to war with war to go USA the did Why Research: the quality of Haig’s leadership? Outline leadership? Haig’s of quality the

Warriewood NSW 2102 NSW Warriewood

Understanding the issues the Understanding Why was there so much discussion over discussion much so there was Why

1/1 Vuko Place Vuko 1/1 finally stopped at 1 lam. on November 1 1, 1918. 1, 1 November on lam. 1 at stopped finally

attrition?

nd Orders: nd Classroom Video Classroom a an immediate armistice must be signed. The fighting The signed. be must armistice immediate an

What was the concept and strategy of strategy and concept the was What Discussion: CLASSROOM VIDEO VIDEO CLASSROOM Copyright (1999)

the war “. On August 28, Ludendorff told Hindenburg that Hindenburg told Ludendorff 28, August On “. war the

Outline the nature of the ‘Hindenburg Line’. ‘Hindenburg the of nature the Outline was “ the black day of the German Army in the history of history the in Army German the of day black the “ was

including 18,000 prisoners. To General Ludendorff this Ludendorff General To prisoners. 18,000 including Verdun and the Somme. the and Verdun

1918, the Germans on that one day lost 27,000 men, 27,000 lost day one that on Germans the 1918, of the major military commanders at commanders military major the of

British attacked the Germans at Amiens on August 8, August on Amiens at Germans the attacked British Compare and contrast the military tactics military the contrast and Compare Research:

war. The Allies now seized the initiative. When the When initiative. the seized now Allies The war.

Understanding the issues: the Understanding Dinah Johansen Dinah

and the army knew it had lost any hope of winning the winning of hope any lost had it knew army the and

Hindenburg Line, and retreated to it. to retreated and Line, Hindenburg Graphics Second Battle of the Marne.The German attacks failed attacks German Marne.The the of Battle Second

they constructed a new line of known as the as known fortifications of line new a constructed they

Third Battle of the , the Battle of the Matz and the and Matz the of Battle the Aisne, the of Battle Third Dominique Fusey Dominique

that done them irreparable damage. After the Somme the After damage. irreparable them done that

sides. The Germans made three more offensives, in the in offensives, more three made Germans The sides.

Konrad Skirlis Konrad

realised that they had suffered a disastrous defeat that defeat disastrous a suffered had they that realised Allies managed to hold out with large casualties on all on casualties large with out hold to managed Allies

Sound Command High German The army. German the on battle opened on March 21, 1918. At both and Lys the Lys and Picardy both At 1918. 21, March on opened

Allies.The most important result was the impact of the of impact the was result important most Allies.The

men using masses of artillery. The German offensive German The artillery. of masses using men Paul Latham Paul

of relatively unimportant territory were recovered by the by recovered were territory unimportant relatively of

Ludendorff. Victory would have to be won by masses of masses by won be to have would Victory Ludendorff.

Consultant/Teachers notes Consultant/Teachers

that the Germans lost at least 450,000. A few kilometres few A 450,000. least at lost Germans the that Germany’s last efforts were planned by Hindenburg and Hindenburg by planned were efforts last Germany’s

Phil Sheppard Phil men,the French lost 195.000 and it is generally accepted generally is it and 195.000 lost French men,the million Germans were on strike. on were Germans million

Over the duration of this battle, the British lost 450,000 lost British the battle, this of duration the Over prices and food shortages. By early 1918, over half a half over 1918, early By shortages. food and prices Phillip McGuire Phillip

desperate from , with strikes caused by high by caused strikes with 1917, July from desperate

continual German counter-attacks, 330 of them in total. in them of 330 counter-attacks, German continual Editors

in Europe.Conditions in Germany were becoming were Germany in Europe.Conditions in

helped give the Somme its particular character, with character, particular its Somme the give helped

John Davis John

only a matter of time before troops from the USA arrived USA the from troops before time of matter a only , 1916. It was the German tactics that tactics German the was It 1916. 18, November

Executive Producer Executive avoid defeat. The U- Boat campaign had failed and it was it and failed had campaign Boat U- The defeat. avoid men of whom 19,240 were killed. The battle raged until raged battle The killed. were 19,240 whom of men

the Western Front. This was Germany’s last chance to chance last Germany’s was This Front. Western the was a tragedy. On that day the British lost over 57,000 over lost British the day that On tragedy. a was Harvey Shore Harvey

to transfer men and equipment from the Eastern Front to Front Eastern the from equipment and men transfer to

The first day of the Battle of the Somme on July 1,1916, July on Somme the of Battle the of day first The

Written and Produced by Produced and Written

The Russian collapse in October 191 7, enabled Germany enabled 7, 191 October in collapse Russian The

were fired in an eight day preliminary bombardment. preliminary day eight an in fired were

CREDITS

GERMANY’S LAST OPPORTUNITY LAST GERMANY’S

an attack on a 23 kilometre front. Over 1,700,000 shells 1,700,000 Over front. kilometre 23 a on attack an

1917? for pieces artillery 2000 over massed British shellfire.The

Zealand on the Western Front in 1916 and 1916 in Front Western the on Zealand by was wire the cut to way only wire,The barbed

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