Study Notes on the First World War (1914-1916)

Overview of the First World War (1914-1916)

  • This section encompasses the onset of the First World War and the developments within the initial two and a half years from its inception in 1914 to 1916.

Key Points

  • Initial Cause of the War:

    • The war began primarily as a conflict between Austria and Serbia.

    • The initial squabble rapidly escalated, drawing in multiple countries into the conflict.

    • The war was expected to conclude quickly, yet it transformed into a prolonged conflict.

  • Nature of the War:

    • The First World War devolved into a war of attrition, where neither side could gain significant advantages over the other.

    • Stalemates predominated, leading to trench warfare.

Forces Involved

  • Two primary alliances emerged:

    • The Central Powers (primarily Germany and Austria-Hungary)

    • The Allies (including France, Britain, and Russia)

  • Soldiers were composed of:

    • Volunteer Soldiers: Individuals who enlisted voluntarily.

    • Conscripts: Individuals drafted into military service involuntarily.

The Schlieffen Plan

  • Overview:

    • Developed by Count Alfred von Schlieffen in the late 1890s, aimed to quickly conquer France by moving through Belgium and returning to face Russia afterward.

    • Relied heavily on speed:

    • Initial expectations were based on rapid troop movements (20-30 miles per day).

  • Failures of the Schlieffen Plan:

    • Overestimation of military and logistical capability led to issues in troop advance and supply chain management.

    • Resistance from Belgium and intervention from British marksmen delayed the advances significantly.

    • Changes during execution of the plan muddled original strategies, particularly in troop allocation.

Major Battles

  • First Battle of the Marne (1914):

    • Key response to German advance, turning point that led to the establishment of trench warfare.

    • Marked the cessation of high mobility tactics previously expected.

  • Battles of Ypres:

    • First Ypres (1914) and Second Ypres (1915) resulted in significant casualties and the introduction of chlorine gas as a weapon.

  • Battle of Verdun (1916):

    • Lasted most of 1916, became symbolic for French national pride embodying the sentiment of "They shall not pass."

  • Battle of the Somme (1916):

    • Aimed to relieve pressure on French forces at Verdun; marked by catastrophic losses (approximately 420,000 British, 194,000 French, 650,000 Germans).

    • Demonstrated failures of offensive strategies, only advancing mere miles at great costs.

Nature of Trench Warfare

  • Establishment of Trenches:

    • Both sides constructed extensive trench networks, with 25,000 miles of dugouts traversing approximately 400 miles of the Western Front.

    • Structures varied, with German trenches being more permanent while British and French viewed them as temporary.

  • Layout of Trenches:

    • Typical trench systems included:

    • Firing Trench: Closest front-line defense.

    • Cover Trench: Protection from direct fire.

    • Support Trench: Back-up support for troops.

    • Reserve Trench: Further back, where soldiers could be mobilized safely.

  • Living Conditions:

    • Harsh and uncomfortable; affected by mud, cold, and lack of resources.

New Weaponry and Warfare

  • Emergence of New Technologies:

    • Introduction of weapons like machine guns, artillery, poison gas, and explosives increased casualty rates.

    • Poison gas introduced English soldiers to an unanticipated death toll at the Second Battle of Ypres.

  • Psychological Impact:

    • The use of weapons such as gas resulted not only in physical harm but also psychological dread.

Economic and Social Aspects

  • War’s Financial Impact:

    • Concerns arose about the war-induced economic disorder reminiscent of that post-Napoleonic Wars.

  • Voluntary Enlistment:

    • High levels of enthusiasm were observed in the war's early days, with many young men keen to support their nations.

    • An estimate of 700,000 men from England enlisted within the first eight weeks of the war.

International Implications

  • Entry of Other Nations:

    • The Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria, and Italy joined the war, altering the battle landscape but failing to decisively change the outcome.

  • Naval Campaigns and Their Failures:

    • The Gallipoli Campaign, spearheaded by Winston Churchill, which aimed to assist Russia and open supply routes, ended in significant Allied losses and failures.

Conclusion

  • By the end of 1916, it was clear that the World War had changed into a drawn-out conflict characterized by stalemates and endless casualties, with about 7,000 British soldiers falling daily.

  • The war required an unprecedented mobilization of national resources and saw multiple countries grappling with the severe economic consequences due to a prolonged engagement.

  • The next lecture will focus on the latter part of the war and the resultant Treaty of Versailles in 1919.