An Unpredicted New kind Of Warfare Essay Example

more difficulties. The German army first used chlorine gas in April 1915 against the French army, which resulted in a slow and agonizing death due to the destruction of respiratory organs.

The use of poisonous gas as a method of attack during the war was unreliable since the wind direction could easily change and cause the poison to return to the attacker's troops, resulting in casualties. Moreover, once the element of surprise was lost, the gas could only be used to minimal advantage. However, both sides quickly distributed gas masks, resulting in the diminishing threat of gas attacks.
On the other hand, tanks were developed to combat the significant problems posed by barbed wire and machine guns. The tanks had armor plates to protect attacking troops and caterpillar traction to navigate hilly and muddy terrain. Despite this innovation, the first Mark I tank proved to be a feeble weapon. Though used during the Somme battle in 1916, it did not prove effective enough in terms of performance and numbers to turn the tide of the battle.

Tank warfare on a large scale was not employed until the battle of Cambrai in 1917, the tanks easily maneuvered over barbed wire and German trenches, creating gaping holes in the German defenses. Prior to 1914, armies were commanded by generals on horseback. However, after 1914, due to the development of telephones, battles could be directed remotely from behind a desk. Although this advancement in communication may seem like an accomplishment, it was not effective during attacks. Commanders lacked a clear perspective of the battlefield and did not have the same level of knowledge as they would have

while physically present on horseback. Consequently, troops often retreated due to insufficient communications and limited visibility of the battle.

Throughout World War I, the French and British armies faced challenges with trench warfare tactics. It took them years to adapt, causing obstacles and interruptions. Despite technological advancements, the French generals persisted with infantry charges as a crucial factor for success while the German leaders counted on dominant firepower and manpower to gradually overpower their adversaries. Nevertheless, France withdrew from its offensive strategy in 1917 due to significant losses that resulted in minimal territorial gains.

A term coined for this situation was the use of "cannon fodder." The Battle of Somme in 1916 serves as a harrowing example of poor decision-making from leaders on both sides, resulting in the loss of approximately 419,000 men from Britain for only a narrow strip of land spanning 25 kilometers in length and 6 kilometers in width. These staggering casualties were the result of inadequate planning, with untrained soldiers carrying heavy packs advancing towards the enemy on foot. These "big pushes," which were endorsed by British figures Kitchener and Haig, amounted to sacrificing troops as they marched directly into machine gun fire. The First World War marked the first conflict between two highly industrialized economies, with factories on either side producing unfathomable quantities of artillery and ammunition.

Industry faced severe pressure until 1917 when the munitions industry finally attained the capability to manufacture sufficient amounts of ammunitions. Railways were instrumental in moving troops, food, and other supplies from one region of the western front to another. The massive influx of men and supplies transported by trains and trucks kept both sides afloat.

Essentially, neither the central powers nor the allies suffered from shortages of resources.

At the start of the Western Front war, both the Allies and Germans were similarly matched in their strengths and weaknesses. Poor leadership caused numerous unnecessary casualties due to stalled attacks from the British and French. Germany utilized their troops in multiple fronts including the Eastern and Western Fronts. Some argue that focusing on a singular front may have resulted in greater chances of success instead of spreading their troops too thin across different areas.

The resolution of the stalemate on the western front in 1918 was a result of multiple factors, which included attrition and various new events and inventions. The submarine campaign played a critical role in providing resources and troops to support the war effort, ultimately dealing a significant blow to German morale. As such, it wasn't any single cause that led to the blockade but instead, a combination of different factors.

The rapid advancement of technology surpassed the adequate training of generals for trench warfare. A quote famously states that "The great war was fought with 20th century weapons and 19th century tactics". Despite being highly industrialized economies, neither side was able to eliminate the other during the war. Both governments directed their industries towards mass production of essential supplies such as uniforms, ammunition, ships, and explosives, allowing the war to persist.