During the War Cartoon depicting the alliances during

During the War

Cartoon depicting the alliances during WWI

Central Powers • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Ottoman Empire • Bulgaria

Allied Powers • • Russia Serbia France Great Britain • Italy

Eastern Front • The Eastern Front was more mobile. • Russians did not fare well vs. Germany • Austria–Hungary struggled too. • Italy joined with the Triple Entente> Allied powers.

• Germany helped Austria–Hungary defeat Serbia and push Russia back into their territory. (2. 5 million casualties for Russia by 1915. ) – Allowed Germany to focus on the Western Front.

Western Front • Trench warfare – ditches with barbed wire were dug for miles. Stalemate No Man’s Land

1916 -1917 Trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, artillery, and “no man’s land” How do you fight this kind of war? • Massive artillery bombardments • Massive waves of infantry attacks to break through – millions died in the breakthrough attempt

Zeppelin Battle of Verdun 10 months =700, 000 dead on both sides War of attrition why? • Industrial revolution -Railroad and supplies -Factories and weapons -Airplanes introduced (pistols and machine guns) *German Zeppelins (Bombing and H)

Allied Powers vs. Central Powers Many countries now forced to join on one side or other. • Italy opens front vs. Austria-Hungary • Lawrence of Arabiagets Arabs to revolt against Ottomans (Turks) • Australia, Japan, India all joined the effort Lawrence of Arabia

Where is the United States? • Lusitania sunk in 1915 -1100 die (over 100 Americans) • Germany agreed to restrict sub-warfare - 1917 resumed “unrestricted submarine warfare”

• In April 1917, the U. S. enters the war on the Allied side – Mostly in form of money and supplies until 1918 when large numbers of troops arrived On April 6, the US declared war on Germany. The vote was 90 -6 in the Senate, and 373 -50 in the House. The increase in U-boat activity by Germany; combined with the interception of the Zimmerman telegram, promising Mexico it would regain part of the United States if it entered the war on the German side; precipitated the final American decision to go to war.

The War at Home • All parts of society involved in the war effort = Total War – Propaganda – Price and wage controls – Rationing – Draft – Women went to work replacing men