There are 4 Focus Points in this section:
1. Why did the war become bogged down in the trenches?
2. What was living and fighting in the trenches like?
3. How important were new developments such as tanks, machine-guns, aircraft and gas?
4. What was the significance of the battles of Verdun and the Somme?
Use the Keynote Presentation below to explore all 4 Focus Points.
(There are also IGCSE History Past Paper Questions & Markschemes at the end of the Keynote Presentation too)
1. Why did the war become bogged down in the trenches?
2. What was living and fighting in the trenches like?
3. How important were new developments such as tanks, machine-guns, aircraft and gas?
4. What was the significance of the battles of Verdun and the Somme?
Use the Keynote Presentation below to explore all 4 Focus Points.
(There are also IGCSE History Past Paper Questions & Markschemes at the end of the Keynote Presentation too)
| ww1_--_why_a_stalemate.key |
Can you survive in the trenches?
Life in the Trenches Simulation - ActiveHistory.co.uk
Interactive History Simulation by Russel Tarr at www.activehistory.co.uk
what was trench warfare and how did it work?
Why was the fighting on the Western Front based around trench warfare? [6]
Describe trench warfare. [4]’
What was ‘No Man’s Land’? [4]
In relation to trench warfare, describe what was meant by ‘going over the top’. [4]
Why was artillery fire important in relation to trench warfare? [6]
Describe trench warfare. [4]’
What was ‘No Man’s Land’? [4]
In relation to trench warfare, describe what was meant by ‘going over the top’. [4]
Why was artillery fire important in relation to trench warfare? [6]
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What were conditions like in the trenches?
Describe the dangers faced by soldiers in trench warfare on the Western Front. [4]
Mud was the worst aspect of trench warfare.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
Mud was the worst aspect of trench warfare.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
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New weapons and technology
Aircraft
What were the limitations of aircraft when they were introduced on the Western Front? [4]
What were aircraft used for during the First World War? [4]
What use was made of aircraft on the Western Front? [4]
What were the limitations of aircraft when they were introduced on the Western Front? [4]
What were aircraft used for during the First World War? [4]
What use was made of aircraft on the Western Front? [4]
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Gas
Describe the use of poison gas in trench warfare. [4]
The use of gas had more of an impact than the tank on the course of the war.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Gas was the most effective new development used to try to break the stalemate on the Western Front.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Describe the use of poison gas in trench warfare. [4]
The use of gas had more of an impact than the tank on the course of the war.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Gas was the most effective new development used to try to break the stalemate on the Western Front.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
The Tank
Why was the use of tanks not as successful as expected in the First World War? [6]
The tank was the most successful innovation on the Western Front.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Why was the use of tanks not as successful as expected in the First World War? [6]
The tank was the most successful innovation on the Western Front.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
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The Machine Gun
Describe the use of the Machine Gun in trench warfare (4)
'The machine gun was the main reason for the stalemate on the Western Front' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer (10)
Describe the use of the Machine Gun in trench warfare (4)
'The machine gun was the main reason for the stalemate on the Western Front' How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer (10)
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Tasks: The First World War - Weaponry
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First World War.com - Weapons of War
Other sections of this site devote themselves to considerations of the causes and personalities behind the conflict. However no history of the war would be complete without an overview of the weapons of war, in all their varying forms. Thus this area of the site provides summary information of the tools by which the armies conducted war, and include many of the innovations war always brings to the development of weaponry.
Revision: The weapons of the first world war
| wwi_weapons.pptx |
Key trench battles: Verdun and the somme
The Varying Experiences of Soldiers - hsie-kingsgrove
Chapter 13.3 Experiences of soldiers in key battles on the Western Front The main strategy employed on the Western Front to break the stalemate was 'the big push', that is, a massive, concentrated attack at one point of the front to break the enemy's lines and renew a war of movement.
The BAttle of Verdun 1916
Verdun
Why did the Germans attack Verdun? [6]
What happened at the Battle of Verdun? [4]
Why did the French fight to save Verdun? [6]
Why was the Battle of Verdun important? [6]
The Battle of Verdun demonstrated that, on the Western Front, defenders would always prevail over attackers.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
‘Verdun was the most important battle of the First World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
Why did the Germans attack Verdun? [6]
What happened at the Battle of Verdun? [4]
Why did the French fight to save Verdun? [6]
Why was the Battle of Verdun important? [6]
The Battle of Verdun demonstrated that, on the Western Front, defenders would always prevail over attackers.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
‘Verdun was the most important battle of the First World War.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
The Battle of Verdun
The morning of February 21, 1916, marked the beginning of one of the longest, bloodiest and costliest battles in World War I and history. For about 300 gruesome days, the French and German armies exchanged a brutal cycle of attacks, counterattacks and bombardments. The battle plunged the region around the Meuse River, not even 10 km radius, into what was later called the “Hell of Verdun”. Hundreds of thousands of German infantries, heavy artillery, and bombardments were unleashed upon French armies positioned around forts and inside the fortified city of Verdun. Although the Germans planned for their attack to bleed France to death, the battle pulled both of them into a long and expensive impasse. By December 19th, the French were able to get the upper hand and regained their territory, but not before sustaining heavy causalities. The French and German armies suffered 800,000 men or more between them.
Why?
Why did the Germans attack Verdun? [6]
Why did the French fight to save Verdun? [6]
Why did the French fight to save Verdun? [6]
| mil_hist_-_wwi_battle_of_verdun___facts.pdf |
What happened?
| the_battle_of_verdun.docx |
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Why was it significant?
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| verdun_wsheet.doc |
The BAttle of the Somme 1916
The Somme
Why was the Somme Offensive launched? [6]
Why were many German soldiers able to survive the artillery bombardment prior to the Battle of the Somme? [6]
Why were there so many British casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme? [6]
Neither side won the Battle of the Somme.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
‘The Battle of the Somme was a military disaster for Britain.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
How successful a military leader was Haig? Explain your answer. [10]
Why was the Somme Offensive launched? [6]
Why were many German soldiers able to survive the artillery bombardment prior to the Battle of the Somme? [6]
Why were there so many British casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme? [6]
Neither side won the Battle of the Somme.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
‘The Battle of the Somme was a military disaster for Britain.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]
How successful a military leader was Haig? Explain your answer. [10]
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