Innovations of Innovations of WWIWWI

An Industrialized WarAn Industrialized War Weapons were produced with the same Weapons were produced with the same

efficient methods of mass production efficient methods of mass production that industrialists had applied to other that industrialists had applied to other productsproducts

The Machine GunThe Machine Gun One of the most important weapons of WWIOne of the most important weapons of WWI Highly effectiveHighly effective Land armies often found any advance Land armies often found any advance

difficult and costlydifficult and costly

Machine GunsMachine Guns

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare Protection from machine gun fire and artillery Protection from machine gun fire and artillery

bombardmentsbombardments Armies dug large trenches where they might live Armies dug large trenches where they might live

for monthsfor months

British boys play acting Trench Warfare

TanksTanks Introduced by the British Introduced by the British An armored vehicle mounted with gunsAn armored vehicle mounted with guns Enabled troops to break though enemy linesEnabled troops to break though enemy lines

Front view of a British tank

AirplanesAirplanes Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither Airplanes in the early 1900’s were neither

very maneuverable nor very fastvery maneuverable nor very fast They were used primarily for observing troop They were used primarily for observing troop

movements and for dropping explosives movements and for dropping explosives

Gun on German Airplane

Balloons were also used in WWI

Submarines/U-boatsSubmarines/U-boats First used by the GermansFirst used by the Germans Did serious damage to Allied shippingDid serious damage to Allied shipping

Loading torpedoes into a French submarine

Poison GasPoison Gas The Germans were the first to use itThe Germans were the first to use it The Allies quickly followed suitThe Allies quickly followed suit

American wearing a Gas Mask

British Horse wearing a Gas Mask

American wearing a respirator

Sounding the gong in preparation of a gas attack

Casualties From Gas - The Numbers

CountryTotal Casualties Death

Austria-Hungary 100,000 3,000

British Empire 188,706 8,109

France 190,000 8,000

Germany 200,000 9,000

Italy 60,000 4,627

Russia 419,340 56,000

USA 72,807 1,462

Others 10,000 1,000

The DraftThe Draft Most European wars before this time Most European wars before this time

had been fought by professional soldiers had been fought by professional soldiers who worked for money and rationswho worked for money and rations

WWI was fought by armies of drafted WWI was fought by armies of drafted citizenscitizens

Those who could not fight worked at Those who could not fight worked at home to help the war efforthome to help the war effort

Many women participated in the war Many women participated in the war effort by working in factories effort by working in factories

Governments made use of propagandaGovernments made use of propaganda