Warfare in 1914 on the Eastern and Western From Nicole Dombrowski, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nicole Dombrowski, Dhajia Hopper, Gus McIntyre

Warfare in 1914

• n the Eastern

and Western From

Introduction: Timeline of Events

• Dec. 25

The Christmas Truce

Oct.19- Nov.22

First Battle of Ypres

• Sep. 5-12

First Battle of the Marne.

• Aug. 26-30

Battle of Tannenberg

The Great War in 1914

Battle of Tannenberg-The Basics

• August 26-30, 1914
• Battle on Eastern Front

○ Germany vs. Russia

• Russians lost. By a lot.

Battle of Tannenberg-How did Germany Win?

• Russia’s Sketchy Army

○ Provisions ○ Uncoded wireless communications ○ Positioning

Battle of Tannenberg-Aftermath

• Important Figure: Paul von

Hindenburg

○ Now a national hero

• Diverted troops from Western Front

First Battle of the Marne-The Basics

• September 5-12, 1914
• French army and BEF take a stand on

the Marne

• Forced German retreat back across

the Marne

First Battle of the Marne-Details

• Germany’s positioning (and flanks)
• Means of battle
• German retreat

First Battle of the Marne-Aftermath

• Killed the Schlieffen Plan

○ “Miracle of the Marne”

• End of fast, mobile warfare

○ (It’s trench time)

• French morale improved

First Battle of Ypres- Basics

• October 19-November 22, 1914
• Battle on north coast of Belgium.
• Intended to control ports leading out

to the English Channel.

○ Between Germany and Allies

• Both sides suffered heavy losses
• The battle ceased when winter set in

First Battle of Ypres-Why did it Occur?

• Germany lost in the Battle of the

Marne

○ They were looking for their next strategic battle

• Both sides bagan to try to outflank

the other, eventually ending up on the Belgian coast.

○ This was later called the race to the sea.

The First Battle of Ypres- What Occured?

• Allied forces outnumbered, short on

artillery

• Germans pushed the front line back,

support from BEF brought back some ground

• War of attrition

○ Many small-scale attacks ○ Many casualties

Battle of Ypres- What Occurred? (Cont.)

• Germany attacked on the 20th, the this almost pushed

the allies back into Ypres itself, and because the allies were surrounded on three sides of the city, they tried to plans an offensive that would push Germany back a little.

• Both sides planned to attack first, Germany actually did
• The Allied line was broken, but Germany was not able

to take advantage of it.

• Fighting ending in winter

The First Battle of Ypres-Significance

• This battle marked the end of the movement of

the front lines.

• Both sides dug large and complex trench systems
• n their front.
• This battle showed how neither side could really

win, and was the first example of how the western front was just a big stalemate.

• Showed the first “war of attrition” and showed

how terrible of a battle this would be.

Christmas Truce

• December 25, 1914
• Official truce was proposed, warring countries

refused

○ Unofficial truce on Christmas of 1914

• Gesture of goodwill for the holiday

Christmas Truce-What did it entail?

• Most news reports focused on football

games

• Letters and parcels to the British

○ Even boxes for Germans

• Coral sing offs, festive wreaths, and table

top trees

• Resulted in truces being punishments

○ After this, there was to be no more truces.

Christmas Truce

• In Britain, German battleships killed

122 and injured 450 civilians

○ Gave need for a cessation of fighting

• Used to recover+bury dead, help

wounded, and shore up trenches

• Angered French, Indian, and Belgian

soldiers

○ Why show kindness to Germans, the enemy?

Christmas Truce

• Wasn't the first truce to occur, would

be the last.

• High Command made it treason

○ Long term=would hurt the war

In Summary

• These four battles were crucial in the

development of the Great War, in both means and mood

○ Trench warfare ○ Disillusionment ○ Long war