Warfare of World War One

SASE MRS. WRIGHT

World War One, “The Great War” as many people then named it after the end, but why was it the ‘great’ war? There were great effects, therefore great battles, and therefore vast warfare to create such an effect on the world. Many new ideas were introduced and used in WW1 and I will go on to explain that and also other warfare of WW1.

Aerial fighters were a new involvement in combat as the first aeroplane was invented late1800’s. Development progressed on aircrafts from the start of WW1 in 1914 to the end of the Great War in 1918, creating not just in-flight combat weapons, but a new transportation for men and supplies to be used in and after the war. Aircrafts including Zeppelins, Fokkers, bombers, and fighter planes they were the history of aerial warfare in WW1. Britain and Germany lead the skies with about 200 planes from Britain and Germany have somewhat more. At first pilots took riffles and guns to shoot down the enemy, but later on guns etc. were added to the plane, and bombs were taken on board and dropped below onto the enemy. Being a pilot put you in a treacherous situation. Before they even went to war there was minimal training because of the small number of aircraft so there was no experience in flying, also no experience of flying in battle. The harsh flying conditions made it a tough journey for any pilot, and at a point in time a pilot would on average only last three weeks in the sky. This made fatal outcomes extremely high. Germans developed the Fokker E1 a good fighter plane over the British, and the Britain’s then later made the Bristol and Sopwith Camel. The planes went into attack as what we call ‘aerial dogfights’ a brutal battle in the sky between fighter craft. Zeppelins also were used to bomb cities of the enemy but were simple targets for the enemy to gun down from below, they were not awfully successful. Planes were not only used for fighting, but to carry and deliver supplies and men, take photographs of the situated enemy and their trench lines.

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Another important factor of WW1 technologies and warfare were the seas surrounding Europe. They were a means of travel opportunities and advantages over other countries, as a result fighting a separate war in itself. At the time of World War 1 Britain had the strongest navy in the world. By the start of WW1 England had a total of 42 warships, Germany had 26. Kaiser of Germany had said “All the years of my region the monarchs of Europe have paid little attention to what I have to say. Soon, with my great navy to endorse my words, they will be more respectful.” Britain learnt of Kaiser’s plan to create a well-built navy and then made more battleships so no other country would come to equal them. The production of the newer warships had many extra factors compared to the earlier ships. They were more powerful with many guns and only needed a small crew. In 1906, the first battleships were called HMS Dreadnought. So then the following ships were called Dread-nought-class battleships, these were then used. The British navy controlled the North Sea and the English Channel in the time of 1914-1915. Soon later though Gemany had the first submarines, U-boats, to conquer the waters as this was the only way (by water) to the Middle East and the Western Frount. The battle of Jutland was the fight Germany established to overcome the British marine line of defense in the North Sea. Noone won this battle and both the German and British fleets had endured the suffereing of many losses including men, ships and supplies. There was a last effort of a German U-boat attack to overcome Britain’s power of the seas. Americans joined the British Empire as they were allies and made the convoy system a success. This help blocked the Germans and yet again, there was not a gain in the situation for either sides but the British navy still kept their territory waters. The German U-boats were though successful at taking down ships carrying the supplies the British much needed.

Trench and tunnel warfare was the use of guns and other machines to fight against the enemy from trenches and tunnels. Heavy field guns were huge and created such an effect that up to 80 kilometers away you take notice of the sounds that they made. Flamethrowers were also used, periscopes and snipers were useful for the reason that each could see over the trench without soldiers having to show themselves and be shot.

Poison gas was used also, but not very popular as there was a chance of burst among the side. Gas masks were worn to protect soldiers from Mustard Gas, a yellow-green gas that attacked the nose, throat and lungs. Machine guns were used to gun down the enemy if they decided to run into no-mans-land, even with large amounts of men running through machine guns would for the greater part get 100% of the men. If not there would be injured men everywhere, either on the ground or in the barbed wire gradually dying.

Awful but great (meaning large) consequences were came about using technology, the new weapons in war. This new technology was then used in countries around the world after the war for the better use, but also to prepare and build up stronger defense-forces for future encounters with war situations.

All quotes, information and statistics have been extracted from the book ‘World War 1 Causes, Course & Consequences’ Vic Guest, Judith Lawrence, Joe Eshuys 1990.

DUE DATE: 25/3/02 (extension) BY EMMA CROSSLAND 962words