Weapons and Technology (1900-45) Flashcards
What technology was used in 1914 for the German invasion of France?
Railways
How many troops were moved via railways in the 1914 German invasion of France?
2 million men
What did the railways produce?
A war of movement
What turned to the war of movement in 1914 to a stalemate by 1916?
Machine guns
What was dug to defend against machine guns?
Trenches
What broke the WW1 stalemate in 1917?
Tanks and aircraft
Give 2 things which were advantageous about using tanks in WW1?
Shielded onrushing soldiers from enemy fire
Could burst through the enemy line, crating a new war of movement
Give 2 advantages of aircraft in WW1
Used to bomb enemy positions
Could scout enemy positions
What kickstarted a war of movement in 1940?
Tanks and aircraft
What tanks did the Germans use in their invasion of France in 1940?
Panzer tanks
What new tactic was used to embrace the new technology such as tanks and aircraft in 1940?
Blitzkrieg- infield commanders given more of a free hand
What were the 2 advantages of using aircraft in 1940?
Machine gunning and bombing the ground
Parachuting in troops
What could be used to coordinate troops by WW2
Radios
What caused the stalemate in WW2?
Superior air defence such as radar and anti aircraft guns
What broke the stalemate in WW2?
Bombing
What 3 things contributed to the improvement in air attack by 1943?
Better aerial support which kept aircraft in the skies at all times so air strikes could be called at any time (cab rank)
Bombers improved to have a greater range and carry more bombs (Lancaster bombers)
Fighter cover improved to protect bombers
What big example was there of the power of bombing on ending a stalemate?
Nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Give 3 impacts of bombing on Germany and her allies in WW2
Destroyed economic assets such as factories, docks and railways
Tied up military assets such as 85% of anti aircraft guns having to remain in cities rather than going to the front
Single bomb could destroy a whole city and end the war
What 3 things does total warfare involve?
The whole population in the war effort
Vast sums of money
Using all of their scientific, technological an industrial resources
When was chemical warfare used?
In the trenches in WW2
What is the Geneva Protocol?
Banning gas as weapons
