social studies ww1 battles Flashcards
Battle of the Marne
September 1914
French met the Germans as they moved into France
Was clear at this battle Schlieffen Plan would not be effective
Initiated trench warfare here
Verdun
Feb-Dec. 1916
North of French city of Verdun in N.E. France
Lasted 303 days
Longest battle of WWI
German approach was aggression
Germany fighting 2-front war, holding off Russia while engaging France
Germany also fighting British-led Somme Offensive during Battle of Verdun
Verdun was symbolic of where WWI went–fierce fighting, high casualties, minimal progress
Somme Offensive
July-Nov 1916
Meant to wear Germany down
British-led, French supported
British made mistakes early on; French proved more experienced
Ended with the cold of winter
500,000 German casualties
Strategically benefited Allies
Battle of Cantigny
May 1918
One month battle
First American-led battle of WWI
Objective was to take the high land and to show extraordinary power for psychological impact
Victory for Allies
Battle of Belleau Wood
June 1918
Marne River and woods surround it
US 2nd and 3rd division w France and Britain against Ger units
Germany breaks through lines–Marines fill in lines on highway to Paris
Waited until the Ger were 100 yds away before attacking
Hand to hand combat in dense wood
Took 6 attacks before Ger were defeated
HIghest Marine losses to that date
31 officers casualties
Key win for Allies
Hundred Days Offensive
Aug-Nov 1918
Included successful offensive launched by Allies
Goal was to regain territory lost to German army during 1918 spring offensive
Break fortifications of Hindenburg Line–Ger were pushed back 40 miles
Included 2nd battle of the Somme, among other battles
Battle of Amiens
Aug 8-12 1918
Beginning of 100 Day Offensive
Technological advances changed what battle looked like
One of largest advances in WWI
7 miles advance on first day
British played main role
Strategic innovation and new technologies
Armored warfare–580 Tanks to support British soldiers
Aerial photographs to make fire more accurate
Sound ranging to locate artillery
Eliminated 95% of German guns
No pre-bombing—gave element of surprise
Advancement continued
Captured 50,000 Ger soldiers + 500 guns
Advanced 12 miles into Ger territory
Battle of St. Mihiel
Sept 12-15 1918
Captured Metz–fortified city of the German to facilitate communication between Allied locations
Commanders thought it was too dangerous
Amer Expeditionary Force and French troops
Caught Germans off guard
Tank battalions
15,000 Ger prisoners
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Sept-Nov 11 1918
Driven by American Expeditionary Force and the French in final 100 days of war
Largest battle in American history to that date
26,000 Americans died
96,000 Americans injured
AEF led by John Pershing
Goal was to break supply network along line w Belgium; was successful in this
