WWI

Technlogy

Changes in Technology

Need modernizing of ground battle and a method safely crossing into enemy trenches and destroying barbed wire.

Introduction of Tanks

Little Wilie

First completed prototype of tank

Had many problems in design

Issues fighting in trenches due to design

Could only go 3.2 km/h

Not designed well for war

Led to more development and had it all done in secret

Secret trials in mock battlefield at Hadfield Park

Eventually led to completion of first tank, which was to be used in battle.

First used in Battle of Flers-Coulette on September 16, 1915 by British Army

32 of 49 tanks arrived

Had to be integrated into British assault strategy

Tanks used were British Mark I, nicknamed'Mother'

Still many issues

Cabin was too hot and many harmful gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Cordite

Tank could breakdown at any time due to mud and the large weight

Shrapnel from Bullets could still make it inside the tank

Eventually all of the tanks got knocked out or got stuck

British ordered development of 1,000 more tanks

Germans fled when seeing the tanks

Germans considered use of tanks in warfare inhumane due to their strength

Went as far as to complain to Red Cross

Battle of Cambrai, 1917

First time tanks were used in large scale

Almost 400

Tanks had the most crucial role in battle

Had to storm German trench lines to clear route of barbed wire for British and French soldiers

Tanks completed their part

Cavalry did not advance to further take more land

Major win for Army.

Some consider it as the greatest victory of the war

16 Tanks were lost

Tank used was British Mark IV

Close to a month later, Germans launched a counter attack

Started taking back land which they had lost

Not as hard as it was for the British since tanks are good for attacking and not defending.

Germans captured 50 tanks

Led to them making their own tank.

A7V

Only 20 were created

Germans wanted to focus more on artillery

Second Battle of Villiers-Brettoneux, 1918

Had the first ever tank vs tank fight

British Mark IV Tank beat the German A7V

2 of the 3 British Tanks were female

Male Tanks: Had 3 machine guns and one small cannon-like gun

Female Tanks: Only had 5 small machine guns

Last 100 Days

Tanks played major role in Last 100 Days Offensive

Helped chase Germans back to Germany

Germans eventually surrendered on November 11, 1918

Germans told public that the Tanks were too strong and blamed the war loss on tanks

Propoganda

Used as propaganda tool by British government

Many newspaper articles, posters being used as propaganda methods.

Used to boost morale of people

People were amazed by the tank

Movies made about tank during war

Led to people buying war bonds

Also liked it as tank was being constructed by their own local people which made people think they were contributing to the war

Everyone wanted to see one. Every media source wanted to be first to display it.

First picture was sold for $1,000

Also used a recruiting tool since Tank operators were needed

Easy to do as perception of tank among society was very good

Considered as the greatest vehicle on Earth