Alliances

Before the outbreak of war there were 2 major power blocs in Europe

• Triple Alliance

• Triple Entente

Alliance System: A Chain Reaction

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

• Russia mobilizes against Austria-Hungary

• Germany declares war on Russia

• France vows to help Serbia

• Germany invades France (through Belgium)

• Great Britain rushes to help protect France

• Canada is expected to follow Britain to war

Belligerents

• The Central Powers• Austria-Hungary• Germany• Bulgaria• Turkey (Ottoman Empire)

• The Allied Powers• France• Russia• Great Britain (and colonies)• Italy (1915)• Japan• USA (1917)

Trench Warfare

• Cold and wet

• Hard to sleep

• “Shell Shock”

• “Trenchfoot” led to gangrene

• Body Lice

• Dead bodies, rats and maggots

A bad case of trench foot. Dead tissue, infection, exposed bone…

Gas Attack Second battle of Ypres (22 April -25 May) Photo: visitflanders.co.uk

The Australian infantry wears small box respirators to ward off the harmful effects of poison gas.

Photo: Australian War Memorial

British Infantry hit by gas at Ypres. 1915. Archive Photos Collection,Garibaldi