A Global Conflict

1. A Global Conflict Chapter 23

2. Key Battles • Marne • Verdun • Somme • St. Mihiel • Hindenburg Line British battlefield in Belgium, September 1917

3. The Germans Advance • The German plan for fighting both the French and Russians was a quick attack to defeat France in the west, then fight the Russians in the east. • The Germans pass through Belgium - their army fights bravely but are easily defeated by the Germans. • By September, Germany is in France. • The French and British troops stop the advancing Germans at the Battle of the Marne

4. Battle of the Marne • September 5–9, 1914 • Marne River, East of Paris • Stopped Germany’s rapid advance • Prevented the fall of Paris • Set the stage for trench warfare Second Battle of the Marne

5. TrenchWarfare • By November 1914, fighting had reached a stalemate. • In a stalemate, neither side is strong enough to defeat the other. • Both sides dug in, creating a maze of trenches protected by mines and barbed wire. • Soldiers lived in miserable discomfort spending weeks at a time in muddy, rat-infested ditches.

6. Trench Warfare • Soldiers spent day after day shelling the enemy. • Then officers would order their men “over the top.” • Soldiers crawled out of the trenches to race across “no man’s land” and attack the enemy. • The Battle of Verdun lasted 10 months - German losses = 400,000 men. The French lost even more.

7. Gallipoli Campaign Begins February 1915 • What was the purpose of the Gallipoli Campaign?? • To take over Constantinople, Turkey • Create a supply line to Russia • Failed attempt by Allies – abandoned at the end of the year

8. Battle of Verdun • Feb. 21–Dec. 18, 1916 • Verdun, France, 120 miles east of Paris • Demoralized both sides • First extensive use of the flamethrower Transportation of troops during Battle of Verdun, France

9. Losses on the Eastern Front • Stalemate and trench warfare brought mounting tolls on the eastern Front as well. • The vast armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary faced those of Russia and Serbia. • By mid 1916, the Russians had lost over 1 million soldiers. • Neither side could win a decisive victory.

10. Battle of the Somme • July 1–Nov. 18, 1916 • Somme River, France • Drew Germans away from Verdun • Tactics became more sophisticated and supply lines became more efficient • First use of tanks (British) British troops on the front line, Somme area, 1916

11. American Neutrality • In 1914, Americans were determined to avoid being dragged into the European war. • President Woodrow Wilson had called upon Americans to “be neutral in fact as well as in name.” • Officially, America was neutral - but public opinion was divided. • Most Americans favored the Allies as we had long standing ties with Britain, spoke the same language & shared traditions

12. American Neutrality • On the other hand - 8 million Americans were of German descent and felt ties to the Central Powers. • Millions of Irish also supported the Central Powers - they hated being under British rule • Many American Jews favored Germany over Russia - they had fled Russia fearing for their lives.

13. Freedom of the Seas • Allied propaganda did less to change American opinion than the issue of freedom of the seas. • The U.S. argued that as a neutral nation it had the right to trade with either side. • BUT - Britain blockaded German ports & Germany blockaded Britain.

14. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare • Germany had warned the U.S. and other neutral nations to keep their ships out of the blockade zone. • President Wilson rejected this limit on neutral shipping. • He vowed to hold Germany responsible if its subs caused American to die or lose property.

15. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare • Under international law, a country at war can stop and search a neutral ship suspected of carrying war goods. • January 1917 – Germany begins unrestricted submarine warfare for a 2nd time • Vowed to sink any ship sailing near Britain without warning

16. Sinking of the Lusitania • May 7, 1915: Passenger ship sunk by German submarine • More than 1000 civilian deaths, including 128 Americans • Germany claimed the ship was carrying munitions • Incident put the U.S. one step closer to entering the war • Wilson called it murder on the high seas Torpedoing of the Lusitania

17. Zimmerman Telegram • Sent January 1917 by the German Foreign Secretary • Proposed a German-Mexican alliance against the U.S. • Telegram intercepted by the British and made public • Added to the American public’s desire to enter the war Coded copy of the Zimmerman Telegram

18. The U.S. Enters the War • April 6, 1917: U.S. officially declares war against Germany • Propaganda, submarine warfare, Zimmerman telegram erode neutrality • “Peace without victory”

19. The Draft • U.S. needed massive military force • June 5, 1917 – Draft implemented • Selective Service Act 1917 – Required men ages 21-30 to register for the draft • 24 million men registered; 6,400,000 actually called into service New York City men wait to register for the draft

20. Liberty Bonds • Intended to finance the war, increase public support for the war effort • Patriotic appeal • Over $20 billion raised from bonds

21. Anti-German Sentiment • Committee of Public Information • Eliminating German names • Attacks on people of German descent • Limit freedoms (freedom of speech) & allow government to arrest opponents of the war. (Espionage & Sedition Acts)

22. Changing Roles of Women • 1 million women joined the American workforce during the war • About 25,000 volunteered as nurses, telephone operators, and ambulance drivers in Europe • Some women spoke out against the war – ex. Jane Addams French women assemble American airplanes

23. Labor & the War • New job opportunities encouraged Mexican-Americans & African Americans to move to Northern industrial centers. • Union members increased • National War Labor Board– April 1918 – helped workers and management reach agreements without strikes.