What really happened?

1
What countries make up the Allied forces? What
countries are the Central Powers?
2
EARLY CAMPAIGNS

• (Caught between a rock and a hard place)

3
The Schlieffen Plan

• Developed by German General Alfred von Schlieffen
  in the 1800s
• He wanted to avoid a two-front war
• His solution? Send everyone to attack France,
  defeat them quickly, then send everyone to the
  Russian border (before Russia could mobilize)

4
(stage one)
French Army
5
Battle of the Marne

• September 5-12, 1914
• Germany pursued French soldiers retreating South,
  but this left their own flanks open to attack
• The French took advantage of the breaks in German
  lines and attacked from Paris
• The Germans were forced to retreat
• The Schlieffen Plan was aborted

6
(No Transcript)
7
Marne cont.

• The Germans retreat only 40 miles, digging in,
  and setting up trenches at the Aisne River
• The French catch up and build their own trenches
• Both sides move North, trying to outflank the
  other, until their trenches extend to the North
  Sea

8
Why it didnt work

• The problem? Schlieffen died. Later generals
  watered down the plan.
• Germany attacked France through Belgium and got
  within 30 miles of Paris
• But, Germany didnt bring enough men to finish
  the job (left too many men guarding the Russian
  border)
• Turned into a stalemate (tie)

9
Gallipoli Campaign

• 25 April 1915 9 January 1916
• Britain attacked the Ottoman Empire (OE)
• Allies want to open the strait to secure sea
  access to Russia and capture Constantinople the
  Ottoman capital
• Ends in terrible defeat for the Allies and
  massive casualties on both sides
• Almost 400,000!!

10
In Summary...

• Germany attacked France ? stalemate
• Russia attacked Germany and A-H ? stalemate
• The O.E. attacked Russia ? stalemate
• Italy attacked A-H ? stalemate
• Britain attacked the O.E. (the Gallipoli
  Campaign) ? stalemate

11
Stalemates
12
WESTERN FRONT