What Was The Fighting Like On The western Front? Flashcards
Why did everyone have to adapt?
Western front was a new kind of warfare
What was change 1 and what happened?
Trench warfare. By 1915 they had developed into complex defensive systems
What was change 2?
Artillery became more powerful
What happened during change 2?
Artillery bombardments caused more casualties than any other weapon
Start of war-not very accurate
End of war- much bigger more accurate
What was change 3?
Cavalry became less important
Why did cavalry become less important?
Too vulnerable because of artillery
What did Calvary become useful for?
Transporting supplies and equipment
What was change 4?
Infantry became more important
What was the backbone of the army?
The infantry
What became standard in 1916?
Steel helmets (gave some protection)
What did the infantry charge replace and why?
The cavalry charge because of the trenches
Going over the top A.K.A…
… Infantry charge
What was very effective against the infantry charge?
Machine guns
What was the only attacking strategy generals had?
Infantry charge
What is attrition?
The thought that the infantry charge would eventually wear down the enemy and they could break through.
What was change 5?
Poison gas
When was the first gas attack?
April 1915.
What was released and by who on the first gas attack?
Chlorine by the Germans to the British
What was mustard gas?
Lethal gas. Burned, blinded and slowly killed
3000 is the number of…
… British troops that died of gas attacks
What was the main impact of gas attacks?
Psychological impact (living in fear)
What was change 6?
Tanks
Who invented tanks?
British
Who funded tanks?
Winston Churchill (head of the navy)
When were tanks first used?
Battle of the Somme (1916)
What did tanks do?
~advanced ahead of infantry ~crushed barbed wire ~machine gun fire ~raised British morale ~frightened Germans
Early tank faults were…
… moved at walking pace
~ not very manoeuvrable
~ more than 1/2 broke down before reaching German trenches
Were tanks a great success at Cambria (November 1917)?
Yes
Why were tanks too successful?
Moved ahead of infantry too quick
What did Germans create by 1918 to fight back against tanks?
Armour piercing machine gun bullets (impossible targets to miss, big and slow)
What did tanks offer?
Significant boost to morale
