Summary: The Nature And Conduct Of War On The Western Front

Tyler Wong Professor Saluppo HIST 1000 4/19/24 The nature and conduct of war on the Western Front.

Starting in 1914, the Western Front of World War I is a testament to warfare's brutal and relentless nature, characterized by trench warfare and technological advancements that revolutionized combat. Soldiers endured unimaginable hardships in the trenches, facing constant danger from enemy attacks, diseases, and a psychological toll. Despite the introduction of new weapons and tactics, neither the Allied nor Central Powers gained a decisive advantage, resulting in a prolonged period of stalemate and attrition. The battles of the Western Front were characterized by trench warfare, where soldiers endured hardships in the face of enemy attacks.

Advancements in military technology revolutionized warfare and shaped the course of the war on the Western Front. The Western Front became a testing ground for new weapons and technologies such as machine guns, artillery, poison gas, and tanks. Firstly, machine guns were reliable weapons capable of mowing down advancing infantry. M. Anthony Mills, a philosopher at the University of Notre Dame, examined the utility of machine guns during battle: "Machine guns were also used in novel ways. For example, they could be mounted on airplanes thanks to a clever innovation: the interrupter gear, which synchronized the gun's firing with the plane's propellers so that the bullets would not hit the propeller's blades" (Mills 5). Mounting machine guns on airplanes, strategists capitalized on the speed and maneuverability of the aircraft to deliver firepower from above. Mounting machine guns on airplanes is one of the many ways they can be used, illustrating their versatility and adaptability. At the same time, artillery bombardments became a staple in trench warfare as they inflicted heavy casualties and wreaked havoc on enemy positions. Artillery shells could destroy enemy

Continually, poison gas, including chlorine and mustard gas, was initially unleashed by the Germans at the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915, inflicting horrific casualties and leaving lasting physical and psychological scars on its victims. Mills goes on to examine the gruesome effects of chemical warfare: "Allied troops engulfed by the cloud of poison found themselves 'drowning on dry land as their lungs filled with fluid'...Their skin and eyes seared by the chemicals, they gasped painfully for air and coughed up a greenish froth flecked with blood'" (Mills 6). This quote offers a glimpse into the gruesome effects and reality of chemical warfare, highlighting its impact on both the physical and psychological well-being of soldiers as it caused burns, respiratory problems, blindness, and excruciating pain. Lastly, tanks were introduced at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 and offered mobile firepower and protection for infantry. They could easily traverse trenches, breaking through barbed and enemy lines to ultimately shorten the stalemate. The introduction of new technologies prompted adaptations in military tactics and strategies. Infantry