World War 1
World War 1 took place between the years 1914 to 1918. On one
side of the war was Great Britain, France and Russia, also known as the Triple
Entente. On the other side were Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, also Known
as the Central Powers. The war was fought on land, at sea and in the air and
because of this it was known as a Total War. The war began when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated.
side of the war was Great Britain, France and Russia, also known as the Triple
Entente. On the other side were Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, also Known
as the Central Powers. The war was fought on land, at sea and in the air and
because of this it was known as a Total War. The war began when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated.
The War At Sea
The main battle at sea took place when Germany submarines known
as U-boats began using torpedoes to sink British supply ships. This meant that
people in Britain went hungry because they could not bring in food in from
abroad. One of the worst events was when U-boats sank the ship the Lusitania off
the coast of Kinsale in Co. Cork.
The British had a much stronger Navy than Germany and were able to defeat
them.
as U-boats began using torpedoes to sink British supply ships. This meant that
people in Britain went hungry because they could not bring in food in from
abroad. One of the worst events was when U-boats sank the ship the Lusitania off
the coast of Kinsale in Co. Cork.
The British had a much stronger Navy than Germany and were able to defeat
them.
The War in the Air
Airplanes were quite new at the time of World War 1. Most planes
were used to gather information about the enemy. Some planes were used for fighting; one of the most famous pilots was Manfred von Richthofen who was also known as the Red Baron.
Large balloon type aircraft were also used, these were called Zeppelins.
were used to gather information about the enemy. Some planes were used for fighting; one of the most famous pilots was Manfred von Richthofen who was also known as the Red Baron.
Large balloon type aircraft were also used, these were called Zeppelins.
Weapons
Many different types of weapons were used during the war.
Machine guns were used and these could fire 600 rounds per minute. Tanks were
used for the first time in 1916, they were slow at first but they became more
effective over time.
The Germans used mustard gas and chlorine as weapons in 1915 and as a result soldiers began to wear gas masks over their faces when they were fighting.
Machine guns were used and these could fire 600 rounds per minute. Tanks were
used for the first time in 1916, they were slow at first but they became more
effective over time.
The Germans used mustard gas and chlorine as weapons in 1915 and as a result soldiers began to wear gas masks over their faces when they were fighting.
The War on Land (Trench Warfare)
Most of the fighting on the land was done in the trenches. These were huge holes dug in the ground where soldiers would live and attack the enemy. Conditions were very harsh. The soldiers would walk around on the muddy ground and many diseases such as trench foot and trench fever occurred. Often times the enemy would shell other trenches which killed a lot of men and caused others to go insane, this was known as shell-shock. The area in between trenches was known as no-man’s land.
The War on Land (Trench Warfare)
Many times soldiers would go ‘’over the top’’which means they
would climb out of the Trench and run at the enemy. Many soldiers died while
doing this. Inside in the trench men would walk on pieces of wood called
Duckboards to stay out of the wet ground. Lots of mice and rats would be in the
Trenches with the soldiers.
would climb out of the Trench and run at the enemy. Many soldiers died while
doing this. Inside in the trench men would walk on pieces of wood called
Duckboards to stay out of the wet ground. Lots of mice and rats would be in the
Trenches with the soldiers.
Life in the Trenches
Life in the Trenches was very tough for the soldiers. They were two metres deep and two metres wide. There were three trenches. The soldiers at the front trench did the
fighting. The soldiers that weren’t fighting stayed in dugouts at the back of
the trench. The soldiers stood on a fire step to fire over the top of the
trench. The soldiers ate bread, biscuits and corned beef. The soldiers suffered
many problems such as trench fever and trench foot. These problems were caused
by the wet conditions in the trench. Many soldiers developed stammers and some went insane because of shells that exploded near the trench. Soldiers tried to attack other trenches by going over the top into no man’s land. Millions of men died in the trenches.
fighting. The soldiers that weren’t fighting stayed in dugouts at the back of
the trench. The soldiers stood on a fire step to fire over the top of the
trench. The soldiers ate bread, biscuits and corned beef. The soldiers suffered
many problems such as trench fever and trench foot. These problems were caused
by the wet conditions in the trench. Many soldiers developed stammers and some went insane because of shells that exploded near the trench. Soldiers tried to attack other trenches by going over the top into no man’s land. Millions of men died in the trenches.
Horses in World War One
Horses were heavily used in World War 1. They were mainly to be
used as a form of transport during the war.
When the war broke out in Western Europe in August 1914, both
Britain and Germany had a cavalry force that each numbered about 100,000 men.
Such a number of men would have needed a huge number of horses.
Horses in World War One
Before World War One the cavalry charge was often used in
fighting. This was when soldiers on foot and soldiers on horseback would charge
at each other with their weapons to try and defeat each other. However, in World
War 1, Trench warfare changed all of this. The soldiers could not charge because
the enemy would hide in the trench and shoot their enemy with machine guns as
they charged. Due to this change in the way the armies fought, horses were not
used for fighting as much as they used to be.
fighting. This was when soldiers on foot and soldiers on horseback would charge
at each other with their weapons to try and defeat each other. However, in World
War 1, Trench warfare changed all of this. The soldiers could not charge because
the enemy would hide in the trench and shoot their enemy with machine guns as
they charged. Due to this change in the way the armies fought, horses were not
used for fighting as much as they used to be.
Horses in World War One
However, horses were still valuable as a way of transporting
materials to the places where the battles were being fought. In World War 1
trucks were very new and caused a lot of problems. Horses, along with mules,
were reliable forms of transport and compared to a lorry needed little upkeep.
materials to the places where the battles were being fought. In World War 1
trucks were very new and caused a lot of problems. Horses, along with mules,
were reliable forms of transport and compared to a lorry needed little upkeep.
Horses in World War One
Such was the use of horses on the Western Front that over 8 million died on sides
fighting in the war. Two and a half million horses were treated in veterinary
hospitals with about two million being cured enough that they could return to
duty.
“He would work for 24 hours a day without winking. He was quiet as lamb and as clever as a thoroughbred, but he looked like nothing on earth, so we lost him. The whole artillery battery kissed him goodbye and the drivers and
gunners who fed him nearly cried.”