World War 1 Tactics

Conclusion

New weapons and vehicles meant new ways of fighting could be performed. Unfortunately since everyone was new to the idea many lives were lost, but everyone served a purpose and the war helped shape the modern world we live in.

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare was a very tedious and long form of warfare which left both sides halted at a stalemate. Neither side would take the chance on infiltrating the enemies trench and going through 'no mans land' which was the area between the two rival trenches.

This was the most common layout for ongoing battles and is done to hold a position and prevent the enemy from advancing. The opposition did the same and the sides lined up guns and artillery aimed at the other side. This meant the space in between was extremely hard to enter without being shot, meaning the two sides were often at stalemate. The military started to form new ways to try and attack the enemy.

Intro

Before the first world war the whole world was evolving, with innovation reaching it's peak at the time of the industrial revolution. This resulted in the dramatic change of weapons and vehicles, which then affected the way wars were fought. Generals created new techniques and even used some that were thought to be well out of date. Ultimately, it changed the way war was fought forever.

Gas Attacks

The Germans originally came up with the gas, made from mustard and chlorine, and used it to create devastating consequences. The gas would blind people, burn their skin and caused them to drown in their own lungs. They were thrown into enemy lines and at first proved very successful. The allies also adopted the gas bombs but soon both sides managed to supply soldiers with gas masks so the amount of successful gas attacks lessened.

Snipers

Communication

As weapons continued to develop, the sniper was made. A deadly, long range weapon that was extremely accurate for it's time. It meant battles could be fought at longer distances and allowed people to pick soldiers out easily, which was a major threat in trench warfare and caused many to lose their heads.

Creeping Barrage

This innovative method used by the allies involved a normal attack by soldiers on the opposition trench but with artillery firing at the same time. The soldiers would advance when artillery would fire 30-40 meters in front of them. Not only would this eliminate any enemy soldiers in their way, it would throw dirt up from the ground and linger in the air creating a smoke screen. One problem with the method though was that the artillery gave the attack away since there was so much noise and enemies could blindly fire into the smoke and hope to hit someone. However, it remains a very successful technique in comparison to others.

Communication was a major part of world war one. Inventions like the telegraph, F.M. radio, telewriter, and teleprinter really helped spread news and war plans across the world. These inventions helped inform the citizens and carry messages to soldiers, without it no news would have been heard or read.

Total Warfare

Although World War 1 is not completely considered a total war although it gave birth to the term and was definitely near the brackets. Total warfare is when a country or nation puts all of its production and work force into servicing the war in some way. This is mostly soldiers but is also made up of people operating telephone lines, producing ammunition and other necessary objects.

Kleinflammenwerfer

Grossflamenwerfer

Fortified Defensive Buildings

Tanks

Tanks were a new invention during World War 1 and when they started to be used they were very successful. The big machines frightened the opponent and provided passengers and anyone behind with decent protection. Most importantly, it meant heavy weapons could be used at much closer range. The first tank made was called the 'big willie' and although could only travel at 4 miles per hour, worked effectively for the allies in battle. Over time however, the Germans began finding ways to defeat the tanks. The tanks were slow, often malfunctioned and even toppled over when a hill was too steep. The Germans sent out 'tank teams' especially to damage and immobilize tanks and without these teams the war would've probably ended quicker.

Submarines

Some tactics were ones that had been used for centuries. A good example was fortified buildings. Bunkers and forts were built all across Europe and can still be seen today. They provided extra defense and made it harder for enemies to attack. France in particular used this tactic by using various bunkers in one area all connected by tunnels. Each tunnel had a job, it could be storage, a gas chamber or a defensive line. Below is Fort Vaux, located in France.

Subs, like most naval ships, were built to attack enemy vessels. Their main asset was stealth as they could remain undetectable until attacking. The Germans also introduced the unrestricted rule, allowing the subs to attack any other vessel without warning. This enabled them to cut off British supplies and also eliminate any vessel that may pose a threat. A lot of American ships were destroyed because of this and was one of the reasons America entered the war against the Germans. The Americans later adopted this strategy in World War 2 against the Japanese.

Tunnel Warfare

Flamethrowers

The Imperial German Army deployed flamethrowers on the Western Front attempting to flush out French or British soldiers from their trenches. Introduced in 1915, it was used with greatest effect during the Hooge battle of the Western Front on 30 July 1915. The German Army had two main types of flame throwers during the Great War: a small single person version called the Kleinflammenwerfer and a larger multiple person configuration called the Grossflammenwerfer

Submarine

Undermining/Tunneling

The stalemate situation in the early part of the war led to the deployment of tunnel warfare. After the first German Empire attacks on December 21st, 1914, through shallow tunnels underneath no man’s land and exploding ten mines under the trenches of the Indian Sirhind Brigade, the British began forming suitable units. In February 1915, eight Tunnelling Companies were created and operational in Flanders from March 1915. By mid-1916, the British Army had around 25,000 trained tunnellers, mostly volunteers taken from coal mining communities. Almost twice that number of "attached infantry" worked permanently alongside the trained miners acting as 'beasts of burden'. From here, regiments had to be wary of any attacks coming from beneath the ground.

World War 1 Tactics

By Chris Bettencourt