Battles and Fronts

World War I

Battle of Verdun Lasted 11 months! February – December 1916Surprise attack by Germans French managed to hold them off: “they shall not pass”---- VERY SYMBOLIC for the French! 300,000+ soldiers died on both sides

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_verdun.html

Battle of Somme1916 in FrancePlanned by French &

British to take pressure off Verdun

Lasted 5 months1 million+ soldiers died

totalSingle worst day for

British casualties in history- 20,000 killed, 40,000 wounded.

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_somme.html

Battle of YpresJune 1917 in Ypres,

Belgium – right over French border

Led by the British, attacked the Germans

500,000+ soldiers died on both sides

No real territory was gained

Wettest fall in years – mud like quick sand

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_ypres.html

Russians were unprepared for battle (many had no rifles)

Major uprisings back home led to a bread riot in March 1917

Russian czar & his family were overthrownBolshevik Revolution took placeLenin came to power & removed Russian

troops from the war in 1918Brest-Litovsk Treaty was signed with Germany

In the East (Russian Front)

Italy signed a secret treaty with the Allies to gain Austrian lands where Italians lived

Major battle at Caporetto in 1917Central powers attacked ItaliansItalians were unprepared to fight; many ran away

Later French & British saved the day

In the South

Italy signed a secret treaty with the Allies to gain Austrian lands where Italians lived

Major battle at Caporetto in 1917Central powers attacked ItaliansItalians were unprepared to fight; many ran away

Later French & British saved the day

In the South

Japan allied with EnglandTook German colonies in China & other Pacific

islands (after the war)Led to many problems in the future

Tensions heightened between China and Japan

China sympathized with the Allies, but they hated Japan, so they hesitated to declare war and join up with the Allies

Germany was also courting ChinaJapan declared themselves the protectors of

China, rather than the enemiesSo China declared war and joined the Allies

In the Far East

The Ottoman EmpireAllied with the Central PowersTurks closed off the Dardanelles Strait (Russia)In 1915 massive allied forces (Britain, Australian, New Zealand, & Canada) were sent to open the straitBattle of Gallipoli ensuedLasted 10 months200,000 casualties (mostly Allied forces)Allies eventually withdrew

http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_gallipoli.html

Lusitania was attacked in 1915In 1916, Germany resumes unrestricted

warfare (attacking ships with submarines)Zimmerman note is sent & received in 1917

A telegram from Germany offering Mexico territory from the US (after they win) if they will join Germany to help defeat the Allies

US intercepts and decodes telegramUS declares war in April 1917

Eventually 2+ million Americans went to warWilson: “make the world safe for democracy”Wilson: “war to end war”Wilson proposed the 14 Points

In the United States

Russian troops pull out of the war, Central powers focus on western front

Huge offensive led by Central powers in spring 1918 – push Allies 40 miles back towards Paris

With influx of American soldiers, Germany realizes they can’t win by September 1918

Kaiser Wilhelm II flees in November 1918

Armistice Day: 11/11/1918 at 11:00am

The War Shifts