USAFA History GR 2

Cause of WW1

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Triple Entente

Great Britain, France, Russia

Schlieffen Plan

• Fear of 2 front war (Russia + France)

• Operational tactic - Decisive win

• Exploit railroads

• Swift march to English Channel

• Flaw: Had to go through Belgium

Schlieffen Plan Strategy

Annihilation

First Battle of Marne

War became stalemate and evolved into trench warfare

Battle of Verdun (Strategy)

• German strategy: Attrition

• French: “They shall not pass”

• German attack on Verdun was psychological (symbol of hope for France)

Battle of Verdun (Operational)

• Initial German Assault

• Germans aimed to capture forts and small territorial gains

• France used the “Sacred Way” to resupply front-lines

Battle of Verdun (Tactical)

• Artillery dominance

• Battles at different forts

• Close combat warfare

• Formations in air combat

Battle of Somme (Strategic)

• Britain wanted to relieve pressure from Verdun

• War of attrition

• Britain want to break German lines and get out of trench warfare

Battle of Somme (Operational)

• New technology: tanks

• Artillery bombardment (to destroy German trenches - failed)

Battle of Somme (Tactical)

• German defense (trenches, bunkers, barbed wire)

• Attempts to move through no man’s land

• Tanks

Pershing’s Offensive