What Was The Fighting Like On The western Front? Flashcards
(31 cards)
Why did everyone have to adapt?
Western front was a new kind of warfare
What was change 1 and what happened?
Trench warfare. By 1915 they had developed into complex defensive systems
What was change 2?
Artillery became more powerful
What happened during change 2?
Artillery bombardments caused more casualties than any other weapon
Start of war-not very accurate
End of war- much bigger more accurate
What was change 3?
Cavalry became less important
Why did cavalry become less important?
Too vulnerable because of artillery
What did Calvary become useful for?
Transporting supplies and equipment
What was change 4?
Infantry became more important
What was the backbone of the army?
The infantry
What became standard in 1916?
Steel helmets (gave some protection)
What did the infantry charge replace and why?
The cavalry charge because of the trenches
Going over the top A.K.A…
… Infantry charge
What was very effective against the infantry charge?
Machine guns
What was the only attacking strategy generals had?
Infantry charge
What is attrition?
The thought that the infantry charge would eventually wear down the enemy and they could break through.
What was change 5?
Poison gas
When was the first gas attack?
April 1915.
What was released and by who on the first gas attack?
Chlorine by the Germans to the British
What was mustard gas?
Lethal gas. Burned, blinded and slowly killed
3000 is the number of…
… British troops that died of gas attacks
What was the main impact of gas attacks?
Psychological impact (living in fear)
What was change 6?
Tanks
Who invented tanks?
British
Who funded tanks?
Winston Churchill (head of the navy)
