WW1 - StalemateLesson starter1. Describe the Schlieffen Plan, the

German plan for a war on two fronts.

Today we will look at what happened when the Schlieffen

plan failed

Learning Intention• Understand why a stalemate

developed on the Western Front

• Social Learning Intention – I will be able to use quiet voices

Success Criteria…• I will work as part of a group to

understand the steps that led to a stalemate

• I will create a mnemonic to remember these four steps

4 Steps leading to Stalemate…

• Western Front –

• Trenches –

• The Battle of the Marne –

• Stalemate -

Academic Task 1

• Each group will be given an information sheet

• Discuss the topic and fill in the information

• You will then work on the next topic

Academic Task 2

• You now have four reasons for stalemate

• As a group, come up with a mnemonic for remembering them

Individual Accountability…

• I will ask you randomly questions about today’s lesson

• Germany expected a quick victory as they were very confident

• All sides involved believed the war would be ‘Over by Christmas’

• People and soldiers of both sides were feeling confident and pleased at the chance to show off their strength

• The area of fighting in France and Belgium became known as the Western Front

The Western Front

• Name given to the area of fighting in Western Europe during WW1

• Took up parts of France and Belgium

Trenches• When the Germans invaded,

the British and French managed to pushed them back

• Both sides were worried about losing ground they had conquered so dug trenches so they could hold on to their land

• Trenches are ditches in the ground which soldiers could go in to avoid fire

• These were eventually dug all the way to the sea as both sides tried to out do each other. Known as the ‘race to the sea’

The Battle of the Marne• As the Germans tried to

make their way into France, the French and the British put up a brave fight

• The Allies were unable to hold their position and had to retreat

• The German army were advancing fast and had reached the River Marne in France by early September. The fighting there was the Battle of the Marne.

Stalemate

• “A situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock”

• The British and French managed to push the Germans back

• Both sides were worried about losing ground they had conquered so dug trenches so they could hold on to their land

• This was known as stalemate, as neither side could advance or make any progress

Stalemate

• A situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock

• As the Germans tried to make their way into France, the French and the BEF put up a brave fight

• The Allies were unable to hold their position and had to retreat

• The German army were advancing fast and had reached the River Marne in France by early September. The fighting there was the Battle of the Marne.

Taxis of the Marne

• The British and French managed to push the Germans back

• Both sides were worried about losing ground they had conquered so dug trenches so they could hold on to their land

• These were eventually dug all the way to the sea as both sides tried to out do each other. Known as the ‘race to the sea’

• This was known as stalemate, as neither side could advance or make any progress

Allied trenches

German trenches

The main thing to remember…• The Battle of the Marne proved

the Schlieffen Plan to be a failure, as it showed that Germany’s idea of a fast victory would not happen.

• THE WESTERN FRONT

• BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (B.E.F.)

• BATTLE OF THE MARNE

• TRENCH• STALEMATE

Match up the vocabulary with the correct definition.

• The area of fighting in France and Belgium

• When neither side can make any progress

• Large ditches created to hold on to land already won

• Well trained British Army• First major battle of WWI –

Allies manage to make Germans retreat

2011 General Q3 (WW1)

Comparison Questions

• For these questions, you are asked how far two sources agree or disagree

• E.g. To what extent do Sources A and B agree about trench warfare?

4 marks

Comparison Questions

• You have to:

1. Identify what the sources agree/disagree about

2. Pick out the information from each of the sources

• This process will get you two marks so you have to do it twice for 4/4

Group Task

• You will be given two sources

• In your groups, identify the 4 things that the sources agree on

• Write your answers on flipchart paper

Group Task 2

• On another sheet of flipchart paper, divide the page into two columns

• Put the headings Source A and Source B

Source A Source B

Group Task 2

• Now write the specific parts of each source that agree in each column, eg.

Source A Source B

“Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved”

“Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers”

Source A

Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved. It seemed like no-one could win – the Germans would advance a few yards and then get pushed back and the allies did the same. In addition, disease was rife within the trenches. There was always the danger of a gas attack which terrified soldiers.

Source B

Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers. If men weren’t killed by bullets or shells they might die from some horrible illness or contract trench foot. The use of poisonous gas was something which mean feared in particular. The fighting eventually reached a stalemate when neither side could make the breakthrough.

Source A

Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved. It seemed like no-one could win – the Germans would advance a few yards and then get pushed back and the allies did the same. In addition, disease was rife within the trenches. There was always the danger of a gas attack which terrified soldiers.

Source B

Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers. If men weren’t killed by bullets or shells they might die from some horrible illness or contract trench foot. The use of poisonous gas was something which mean feared in particular. The fighting eventually reached a stalemate when neither side could make the breakthrough.

Source A

Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved. It seemed like no-one could win – the Germans would advance a few yards and then get pushed back and the allies did the same. In addition, disease was rife within the trenches. There was always the danger of a gas attack which terrified soldiers.

Source B

Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers. If men weren’t killed by bullets or shells they might die from some horrible illness or contract trench foot. The use of poisonous gas was something which mean feared in particular. The fighting eventually reached a stalemate when neither side could make the breakthrough.

Source A

Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved. It seemed like no-one could win – the Germans would advance a few yards and then get pushed back and the allies did the same. In addition, disease was rife within the trenches. There was always the danger of a gas attack which terrified soldiers.

Source B

Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers. If men weren’t killed by bullets or shells they might die from some horrible illness or contract trench foot. The use of poisonous gas was something which mean feared in particular. The fighting eventually reached a stalemate when neither side could make the breakthrough.

Source A

Trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved. It seemed like no-one could win – the Germans would advance a few yards and then get pushed back and the allies did the same. In addition, disease was rife within the trenches. There was always the danger of a gas attack which terrified soldiers.

Source B

Fighting in trenches was from enjoyable for soldiers. If men weren’t killed by bullets or shells they might die from some horrible illness or contract trench foot. The use of poisonous gas was something which mean feared in particular. The fighting eventually reached a stalemate when neither side could make the breakthrough.

Model answer…

• Sources A and B agree that soldiers did not enjoy trench warfare. Source A says “trench warfare was a horrifying experience for all those involved” and Source B says “fighting in trenches was far from enjoyable for soldiers”.

• 2 marks