EUH 2001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Central Powers, Ethnic Cleansing, Militarism
29 May 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Mobilization: conscription of civilians, enthusiasm, little readiness. Military: autocratic central powers, offensive war, short war, outdated tactics, ineffective logistics, war for territory, war of culture. Women working 12 hour shifts every day, because the men were all in the war: shortages, strikes, aerial attacks, ethnic cleansing, pogroms. More reliable than artillery, dropped straight down into trenches: airplanes bombers and fighters, dirigibles (blimps) and balloons, submarines, shrapnel, rifle clips. Post- war revolutions and wars: about 30 significant conflicts until 1924. German alliances made two front war inevitable. Belgium independence required for british safety zone. Schlieffen plan: attack france (6 weeks( 85% of forces, hold off russia 15% of forces (estimated 6-week mobilization, not enough room between belgium and switzerland, massive german right flank would sweep through belgium. Envelope france, cut supply line, encircle french forces, attack rear: weak french left would pull forward, belgium would not fight, modifications by moltke, french plan was to advance across border into germany.
