weapons

The automatic machine gun

Mounted guns that fired a rapid, continuous streak of bullets. Caused 90% of bullet casualties.

Poisonous gas

Gas that caused choking, blinding, severe skin blisters, or death. Only preventable by gas masks.

Tanks

Protected advancing troops as they broke through went defenses. Early versions were slow and clumsy

Submarines

German U-boats. They destroyed Allied shipping and brought the US into the war after sinking the Lusitania. Typical u-boat had a crew of 30 and could dive to 300 feet.

Air planes

At first they were used mainly for reconnaissance, but later flying “aces” engaged in air combat. They were equipped with machine guns

Artillery

It’s fire became deadly accurate in WW1, and made the battlefields look like the face of the moon.

Trench warfare (western front)

600 mile stretch of land in France where troops