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The 20 th Century: The Age of Total War

The 20 th Century: The Age of Total War. The Character of World War I. Points to remember:. Modern Theorists I: Mahan and Corbett Mahan’s beliefs Corbett and sea control FFS, Corbett and Mahan Mahan’s Six General Conditions. The 20 th Century: The Age of Total War.

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The 20 th Century: The Age of Total War

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  1. The 20th Century: The Age of Total War The Character of World War I

  2. Points to remember: • Modern Theorists I: Mahan and Corbett • Mahan’s beliefs • Corbett and sea control • FFS, Corbett and Mahan • Mahan’s Six General Conditions

  3. The 20th Century: The Age of Total War The Character of World War I

  4. Educational Objective • To comprehend • the causes, • the character and • the outcome of World War I.

  5. The Players • France • Germany • England • Austria-Hungary

  6. Assassination and War • Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary • Serbian Nationalist

  7. World War I • Context • First major war since the Napoleonic Wars • A watershed – the beginning of modern warfare • Extensive use of railways • Unparalleled level of staff coordination • Development of indirect fire capabilities • Extensive logistic dimension • Cooperation between combat arms

  8. How are armies formed? Why do wars occur? Why do armies fight? How do armies fight? What is the relationship between the armed forces? Who directs their employment? How are armies sustained? How are wars ended? How is their period distinctive? What non-military factors affected the outcome? Fundamental Questions about War

  9. How are armies formed? • The Prussian Military Revolution • Conscription • Professional education and training • Pre-conflict planning

  10. Why do wars occur? • Crucial events • Division of Europe into two alliances • Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand • German “blank check” to Austria • Austria’s ultimatum to Serbia • Germany’s efforts to restrain Austria • Outbreak of war on Aug 1, 1914

  11. Unification of Germany Germany France England Russia Balance of power Nationalism Economic competition Colonial disputes An arms race Interlocking alliances Why do armies fight?

  12. Why do armies fight? • U.S. Goals • Wilson’s 14 Points • U.S. entry • Unrestricted submarine warfare • The Zimmerman Note • Wilson’s New World Order

  13. How do armies fight? • Character of WWI • From a war of movement to a stalemate • Increased centralized control by governments • Expanded war aims • Propaganda • Increasing body count • Distinction blurred

  14. How do armies fight? • Major military question • How to mount an attack? • How to cover the final 300 yards? • Firepower • Germans: Envelopment • British and French: Artillery bombardment • Germans: Defense in depth • The tank

  15. How do armies fight? • Most European armies ignored the lessons of the • Boer War • Russo-Japanese War.

  16. Western front: Stalemate and attrition Eastern front: Maneuver Dardanelles: Operational maneuver and tactical stalemate Palestine and Syria: Maneuver The Atlantic: Attrition East Africa: Maneuver Salonika: Stalemate and attrition How do armies fight?

  17. What is the relationship between the armed forces? • The alliances • Central Powers • The Triple Entente • The role of the AEF • Sea power • Air power

  18. Who directs their employment? • Operational level details. • Little influence on military matters • Friction • Clausewitz

  19. How are armies sustained? • Railroads • Industrial warfare • Artillery shells

  20. How are wars ended? • Armistice: 11/11/18 • Negotiations • Treaty of Versailles

  21. How is their period distinctive? • Modern War • Decisive battle • The people in arms • Lingering question • How to break the stalemate of the trenches?

  22. What non-military factors affected the outcome? • Industrial capacity • Economic warfare • Civilian Morale

  23. The Post War World • Search for an assailable flank • Mechanization • Airpower • The indirect approach • The colored war plans

  24. How are armies formed? Why do wars occur? Why do armies fight? How do armies fight? What is the relationship between the armed forces? Who directs their employment? How are armies sustained? How are wars ended? How is their period distinctive? What non-military factors affected the outcome? Fundamental Questions about War Questions?

  25. Issues for Consideration • Conditions for WWI • Causes • Continuation • Evolution

  26. Conditions • What were the conditions leading up to WWI? • Nationalism • Military planning • Unholy mix • An arms race • Colonial rivalries • Abdication of political leadership • Professionalization race

  27. What were the causes of WWI? • German unification • Balance of power • Social and economic changes • Nationalism and domestic conflict

  28. Continuation of the war • At the political level, why did the powers continue this costly conflict? • Equal opponents • Persistence • Stalemate • Prestige

  29. Evolution • How could leaders have prevented it from evolving into a self-destructive bloodbath? • Reducing objectives • Aligning goals and capabilities • Trinity

  30. WWI Who finally won the war?

  31. The 20th Century: The Age of Total War The Character of World War I Questions?

  32. Points to remember • Causes of the war • Failure of the Schlieffen Plan • German solution to tactical problem • Extraordinary number of casualties • War’s end

  33. Next Week • Modern theorists II • Air • Monday night • November 18

  34. Newspaper Headline: 2035 Microsoft Announced It Has Perfected Its Newest Version of Windows! - It crashes before installation is completed.

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