World War 1 Military Weapons
World War I (1914-1918) involved more countries and caused greater destruction than any other war up to its time. An assassin's bullets set off the war. A system of military alliances (agreements) plunged the main European powers into the fight. The war lasted four years. It took the lives of about 9 million troops and more than 6 million civilians. World War
I was originally called the Great War.
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Weapons of World War I Several developments led to the awful bloodshed of the Great War. Military drafts raised larger armies than ever before. Industries arose to equip those armies with advanced weapons. Each nation believed it was fighting a war of self-defense. Government propaganda whipped up support by making the enemy …show more content…
Soldiers had trouble keeping dry, especially in water-logged areas of Belgium. Except during an attack, life fell into a dull routine. Some soldiers stood guard.
Others repaired the trenches or kept telephone lines in order. Still others brought food from behind the battle lines or did other jobs. At night, patrols fixed the barbed wire and tried to get information about the enemy.
Artillery—large, mounted guns that hurl explosive shells—killed more soldiers than any other weapon in World War I. Trench warfare gave artillery gunners fixed targets. Bombarding the enemy’s front-line trenches before an offensive (assault) helped clear the way for the infantry. But it also gave away the advantage of surprise. As attacking infantry pressed deeper into enemy territory, the troops drew farther away from their supporting artillery and closer to the enemy’s artillery.
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Gas masks Both the Allies and the Central Powers developed new weapons, which they hoped would break the deadlock. For example, in April 1915, the Germans released poison gas against
Allied troops during the Second Battle of Ypres. The Allies also began to use poison gas. Gas masks became necessary equipment in the trenches. Another new weapon was the flame thrower, which shot out a stream of burning
I was originally called the Great War.
Picture
Weapons of World War I Several developments led to the awful bloodshed of the Great War. Military drafts raised larger armies than ever before. Industries arose to equip those armies with advanced weapons. Each nation believed it was fighting a war of self-defense. Government propaganda whipped up support by making the enemy …show more content…
Soldiers had trouble keeping dry, especially in water-logged areas of Belgium. Except during an attack, life fell into a dull routine. Some soldiers stood guard.
Others repaired the trenches or kept telephone lines in order. Still others brought food from behind the battle lines or did other jobs. At night, patrols fixed the barbed wire and tried to get information about the enemy.
Artillery—large, mounted guns that hurl explosive shells—killed more soldiers than any other weapon in World War I. Trench warfare gave artillery gunners fixed targets. Bombarding the enemy’s front-line trenches before an offensive (assault) helped clear the way for the infantry. But it also gave away the advantage of surprise. As attacking infantry pressed deeper into enemy territory, the troops drew farther away from their supporting artillery and closer to the enemy’s artillery.
Picture
Gas masks Both the Allies and the Central Powers developed new weapons, which they hoped would break the deadlock. For example, in April 1915, the Germans released poison gas against
Allied troops during the Second Battle of Ypres. The Allies also began to use poison gas. Gas masks became necessary equipment in the trenches. Another new weapon was the flame thrower, which shot out a stream of burning