Interesting World War One U-Boat Facts



Station 1: Long-term Causes of WWIStation 1 Response: Please copy the following acronym: I.N.A.M.E.New Imperialism Nationalism AlliancesMilitarismEthnic Tension in the Balkans Franz FerdinandStation 2: WW1 U-Boat FactsThe German U-Boat was a very effective World War One weapon. In fact in strange paradox you can say that these submarines almost won the war for Germany, by devastating the allies merchant shipping, and at the same time say they lost the war for Germany by being the reason the U.S. entered the war on the side of the allies. It was the sinking of the British ocean liner the Lusitania, killing numerous passengers including 128 Americans, and the sinking of several U.S. merchant ships by German U-Boats that prompted the U.S. to join the allies and declare war on Germany on April 6th of 1917. In the list of interesting facts below you will find information on why these weapons were so effective, where they were deployed, and what effect U-Boats had on WW1. Interesting World War One U-Boat FactsU-Boat is the abbreviation for "undersea boat". The abbreviation in German is U-boot for Unterseeboot.Although German U-boats were somewhat effective against weapons against enemy war ships their main impact was against enemy merchant shipping.At the beginning of WW1 Germany had about 38 U-Boats and by the end of the war they had built 334. There were never more than about 60 active at one time although at their peak, in October of 1917, there were 140 active.About 178 German U-boats were sunk during WW1.At the outset of WW1 Germany obeyed an international agreement dubbed "prize rules" which set forth rules for attacking ships during times of war. These rules did not allow for the sinking of any passenger ships and protected merchant ship crews stating they must be placed in a safe place before their ships could be sunk. Germany soon abandoned the "prize rules" and declared the seas around England a war zone where all ships, even those of neutral countries like the U.S., could be attacked.In an attempt to combat U-Boats the depth charge was invented during WW1. These explosives were set to explode at a specified depth. At first they were rolled off of ships into the water and later devices were invented to shoot them off of the ships. Although they created powerful explosions they were not very effective due to the fact they needed to explode close to the U-boat, approximately 10 to 20 feet to sink it.In 2013 forty one sunken German World War One U-boats were discovered off the coast of England. They were found at a depth of about 50 feet (15.24 meters).Station 2 Response: U-boatsIn your opinion, why were German U-boats so effective?Station 3: Recruitment PostersStation 3 Response: Recruiting PostersPick TWO of the following “common tools” and explain why the creators of these posters used this strategy in their mon Tools for Propaganda:Demonization of the enemyEmotional AppealName Calling (ex: “Commies,” “Japs,” and “Huns”)Patriotic (language or symbols)Exaggeration: Half-Truths and LiesCatchy SlogansVisual Symbols (flags, statues, mother and child, enemy uniforms)Humor or CaricaturesStation 4: Shell-Shock VideoShellshock was the blanket term applied by contemporaries to those soldiers who broke down under the strain of war. By the end of World War One the British Army had dealt with 80,000 cases of shell shock, including those of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. Joanna Bourke explores how the army tackled this extreme trauma, and how it was regarded by those back home.A Poorly Understood ConditionThe pace and intensity of industrialized warfare had profound effects on the human mind and body that were not related to wounds or physical injury. Poorly understood at the time and for many years afterwards, the crying, fear, paralysis, or insanity of soldiers exposed to the stress and horror of the trenches was often held by medical professionals to be the result of physical damage to the brain by the shock of exploding shells. Military authorities often saw its symptoms as expressions of cowardice or lack of moral character. Its true cause, prolonged exposure to the stress of combat, would not be fully understood or effectively treated during the war.Diagnosis and TreatmentDoctors knew very little of what we now term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and there were few treatment programs after the war for returned veterans who suffered from the mental trauma caused by war.Station 4 Response: Shell-ShockAfter watching the video and reading the station information, please define shell-shock in your own wordsStation 5: The Great MigrationWorld War One opened the door for many opportunities for African Americans. From 1916 to 1919 about 70,000 blacks migrated north during what became known as “The Great Migration.” War industries created a number of jobs and about 400,000 men enlisted in segregated unites in the military.“Great Migration.” 1916 – 1919 70,000War industries work.Enlistment in segregated units.The Great MigrationDeteriorating race relationsJim Crow Laws in the SouthBoll Weevil infestation of Southern cottonSharecropping woesExpansion of Northern Factory workWWI drafts white workersImmigration Act of 1924 halts foreign immigrantsGreat Mississippi Flood of 1927Station 5 Response: What do you believe are the TWO most common reasons why many African Americans migrated north during this time. Explain your opinion for full credit.Station 6: Trench WarfareIt is estimated that there were about 2,490km of trench lines dug during World War 1. Most trenches were between 1-2 metres?wide and 3 metres?deep.Life in the trenches was very difficult because they were dirty and flooded in bad weather.?Many of the trenches also had?pests living in the trenches including rats, lice, and frogs. Rats in particular were a problem and ate soldier’s food as well as the actual soldiers while they slept. Lice also caused a disease called Trench Fever that made the solders’ itch terribly and caused?fever, headache, sore muscles, bones, and joints.Many soldiers living in the trenches suffered from?Trench Foot.?Rain and bad weather would flood the trenches making them boggy, muddy and could even block weapons and make it hard to move in battle. The sustained exposure to the wet, muddy conditions could cause Trench Foot, which sometimes would result in the foot being amputated.?Cold weather was dangerous, too and soldiers often lost fingers or toes to frostbite. Some soldiers also died from exposure in the cold.Trenches weren’t dug in straight lines, but were instead dug in a zig-zag pattern.??The WW1 trenches were built as a system, in a zigzag pattern with many different levels along the lines. They had paths dug so that soldiers could move between the levels.Trenches typically had an embankment at the top and a barbed wire fence. Often, trenches in World War 1 would be reinforced with sandbags and wooden beams. In the trench itself, the bottom was covered with wooden boards called duckboards. These were meant to protect the soldiers’ feet from the water in the trenches to try and prevent Trench Foot.The land between the two enemy trench lines was called “No Man’s Land.”? No Man’s Land was sometimes covered with land mines and barbed wire. The distance between enemy trenches was anywhere from 50 to 250 yards apart.Station 6 Response: Trench WarfareWhy do you think the area in-between the two opposing sides was called “no-man’s Land?”Define trench foot in your own words.Station 7: TanksThe evolution of the tanks in World War 1 was quite remarkable, especially when you consider that they’d never been used in warfare before. Here are all the facts about WW1 tanks; the armored machines that would change warfare forever.Early WarIn World War 1 tanks first appeared at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September 1916. It was the first time tanks had ever been used in a military conflict.The British sent 49 tanks into the battle.WW1 tanks were very slow and couldn’t exceed 4 miles an hour.Tanks in WW1 played an extremely important role as they increased mobility on the Western Front and eventually broke the stalemate of trench warfare.End of the WarBy 1918 Britain and France had produced 6,506 tanks between them. Germany had produced just 20.Germany learnt to deal with WW1 tanks very effectivelyDuring the Battle of Amiens in 1918 72% of allied tanks were destroyed in just 4 days6 days before the end of World War 1 the British Tank Corps only had 8 tanks left. Modern TanksSmart weaponsApart from traditional high-explosive rounds, modern tanks are fitted with smart missile and shell weaponry!From the M712 Copperhead laser-guided direct-fire round to the M982 Excalibur GPS guided missile, tanks now have various weapons systems available to them to destroy enemy targets. One of the most notable, however, is the SMArt 155, a recently released 155mm artillery round that delivers two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget submunitions. Each submunition contains a high-penetration EFP warhead (a shaped charge designed to penetrate armour at a stand-off distance), that once separated from its carrier shell, descend downwards towards multiple targets, identifying their location through infrared sensor and millimetre wave radar.Tank designThree factors must be addressed when designing a battle tank: firepower, protection and mobilityProtection – Armour is a critical factor. Blocking and deflecting incoming kinetic energy penetrators (non-explosive rounds) and high-explosive anti-tank shells is of foremost importance – factors that have led to the development of composite armours, which incorporate layers of ceramics, plastics and resin matrixes between steel plates.Mobility – Mobility is increasingly important in battle tanks, driven by the rapidly moving nature of the modern battlefield. Tanks must be able to traverse a variety of obstacles and terrains, as well as remain active for lengthy periods, capable of great operational ranges. Mobility is compromised by the weight of the tank’s armour and the size and number of its weapon’s loadout.Firepower – Modern tanks now have large, smooth-bore cannons for traditional direct fire destruction, as well as GPS/ laser-guided smart missiles for long-range, tactical strikes. However, the level of firepower is linked to a tank’s armour and mobility levels, with an increase in cannon size leading to an increase in hull/chassis size to maintain stability and firing 3 battle tanksChallenger 2 – Arguably the most armored I and best-protected tank in the world, featuring state-of-the-art second-gen composite Chobham armor, the details of i which are classified.T-90 – Packed with the largest cannon (125mm) currently on a battle tank, the T-90 can fire high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds capable of piercing up to 37 inches of steel.Abrams M1A2 – A vast suite of electronic defensive systems and countermeasures, with a 120mm main gun, laser-guided missiles and 50-cal heavy machine gun.Station 7 Response: TanksWhy were tanks invented (HINT: think about Station 6)Give TWO drastic differences between modern tanks and WWI tanks.Station 8: WWI Propaganda PosterStation 8 Response: In these propaganda posters, why are the creators trying to “demonize” the enemy? (HINT: What is a liberty bond? If you don’t know, ask someone that has seen the movie Captain America.Station 9: Poison GasWorld War One Poison Gas FactsIntroduction - World War One Poison GasLife for a World War One soldier involved in the trench warfare, which typified this war, was miserable and scary. For these soldiers death could come at any time and in various forms; however perhaps what scared them most was the sudden frantic ringing of a bell followed by panicked shouts of GAS! This would signal the beginning a poison gas attack by the enemy; one of the most horrible weapons of World War One. The soldiers would have to scurry to put on their clumsy protective masks or risk a slow and painful death from the thick green cloud of gas that was approaching their positions. Although not one of WW1's most effective weapons it was none the less terrifying. On this page are a list of interesting facts about poison gas and its use during the Great War written for both kids and adults.In August of 1914 the French were the first to use poison gas as a weapon during WW1. They used grenades filled with tear gas (ethyl bromoacetate) that were not fatal but rather an irritant.Numerous chemicals were used for poison gas attacks during World War 1; starting with tear gas, then moving on to more deadly gasses such as chlorine and phosgene. In 1917 the Germans introduced perhaps the most effective one, mustard gas. Mustard gas was not a particularly deadly weapon but did cause many casualties who would suffer with horrible burn wounds.The Battle of Bolimov fought on January 31, 1915 saw the first large-scale use of gas during World War One. The Germans fired artillery shells filled with tear gas at Russian positions near Warsaw. However; the freezing cold weather actually froze most of the gas making the attack ineffective.The use of chlorine poisonous gas as a weapon had its problems. First; the gas produced a greenish cloud and a strong odor making it easily detectable and allowing soldiers to put on their gas masks and brace for the attack. Also; chlorine is water-soluble so soldiers without a mask could cover their nose and mouth with a wet rag for somewhat effective protection.Although one of World War One's most horrible weapons poison gas was not one of its deadliest. Very few soldiers who were gassed died, probably somewhere under 5%; however this number is understated if you count the soldiers flushed out of their positions due to the gas and cut down by enemy gunfire.Not only humans but also animals had to be protected from poison Gas attacks. Masks and other protective devices were developed to protect horses, mules, dogs, and carrier pigeons.Casualties From Gas - The NumbersCountryTotal CasualtiesDeathAustria-Hungary100,0003,000British Empire188,7068,109France190,0008,000Germany200,0009,000Italy60,0004,627Russia419,34056,000USA72,8071,462Others10,0001,000Station 9 Response: Poison GasAlthough the French were the first to use poison gas, which country do you think use the most poison gas? (HINT: Think about casualties and which country would inflict those casualties due to poison gas. Also… Look at the geographical layout of Europe on a map!) Station 11: WW1 FlamethrowersWorld war One trench warfare was hell on earth with commanders on both sides trying to come up with new weapons that could help them penetrate the dug in lines of the enemy. One such particularly horrific weapon was the flamethrower. As the name implies these weapons would throw flames, burning fuel, at the enemy from distances of up to 20 yards (18.3 meters). Below you will find listed interesting World War One flamethrower facts and information; including when they were first used in the WW1, how effective they were, and what they looked likeBasic World War One Flamethrower FactsAlthough perfected during WW1 the flamethrower was not a new weapon; in fact this type of weapon was used in various forms for centuries. Weapons containing combustible materials were used by ancient civilizations dating back to the 9th century BC.World War One flamethrowers usually consisted of a tank full of fuel worn on the soldiers back and a hand held hose used to spray the fire; although larger, less mobile, but longer range models were also used.Having a relatively short range when compare to artillery and guns the flamethrower was used mainly to clear forward trenches and enemy positions before the launch of an infantry attack. This short range greatly limited their effectiveness.The fear of being set on fire caused many soldiers to leap from safe positions into the open where enemy gunfire would mow them down. More soldiers probably died this way during flamethrower attacks than did from the actual fire produced by the weapon.The soldiers manning these weapons had very dangerous jobs. Flamethrowers were often an unpredictable weapon that could explode or leak burning fuel on the user. Also; the soldier using this weapon had to position themselves fairly close to the enemy front lines, in order for the flames to reach the enemy. This often made them easy targets for enemy soldiers anxious to eliminate them before they could unleash the flames on their positions.If captured a soldier manning a flamethrower could usually expect no mercy from enemy soldiers who had seen the effects of this horrific weapon.The German army had armed their soldiers with flamethrowers starting in 1911, before the war began, therefore this was not a weapon invented during the war.The German army used flamethrowers early in the war but its first major use by them was at the Battle of Hooge in July of 1915. Its use surprised and terrified the British soldiers. After this battle the Germans decided to expand their use of this weapon.One interesting fact that many historians ponder is why other countries didn't utilize this weapon to the extent that the Germans did. The British and French did use flamethrowers but no where near the extent that the Germans did.The United States did not use or develop flamethrowers until after World War One.At the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War One, Germany was forbidden to supply its army with flamethrowers; along with several other weapons.Station 11 Response: Flame ThrowersWhat is the most interesting fact your learned about WWI flame throwers?Station 12: Territorial Boundary ChangesEurope in 1914 before the war started.Europe in 1919 after the Treaty of Versailles.Station 12 Response: Trench WarfareList TWO major boundary changes you see as a result of WWI.Station 13: WWI AlliancesCentral PowersAllied PowersGermanyFranceAustria HungaryGreat BritainBulgariaRussiaOttoman EmpireSerbia(Turkey)USA (later)Station 13 Response: WWI AlliancesPlease copy the t-chartStation 13: WWI AlliancesCentral PowersAllied PowersGermanyFranceAustria HungaryGreat BritainBulgariaRussiaOttoman EmpireSerbia(Turkey)USA (later)Station 13 Response: WWI AlliancesPlease copy the t-chartStation 14: The Machine GunThe Machine Gun in 1914The 1914 machine gun, usually positioned on a flat tripod, would require a gun crew of four to six operators.? In theory they could fire 400-600 small-caliber rounds per minute, a figure that was to more than double by the war's end, with rounds fed via a fabric belt or a metal strip.The reality however was that these early machine guns would rapidly overheat and become inoperative without the aid of cooling mechanisms; they were consequently fired in short rather than sustained bursts.? Cooling generally took one of two forms: water cooled and, increasingly as the war developed, air cooled.? Water jackets would provide for the former (which held around one gallon of liquid) and air vents would be built into the machine gun for the latter.Water cooled machine guns would still overheat relatively quickly (sometimes within two minutes), with the consequence that large supplies of water would need to be on hand in the heat of a battle - and, when these ran out, it was not unknown for a machine gun crew to solve the problem by urinating into the jacket.Whether air or water cooled, machine guns still jammed frequently, especially in hot conditions or when used by inexperienced operators.Consequently machine guns would often be grouped together to maintain a constant defensive position.Estimates of their equivalent, accurate, rifle firepower varied, with some estimating a single machine gun to be worth as many as 60-100 rifles: a more consensual figure is around 80, still an impressively high figure.Station 14 Response: The Machine GunWhat were TWO common problems with early machine guns?Dangerous-Hypothetical-Assassins Creed-Videogamer question: How might the American Civil War or American Revolution have been different if the machine gun would have been invented earlier than 1885?Station 15: Eddie Rickenbacker Reading (Page 381)Station 15 Response: Eddie Rickenbacker Reading (Page 381)Why was the most celebrated WWI pilot already a celebrity before he even fought in WWI?Station 16: The Spanish Flu is called the greatest medical holocaust in historyIt is estimated that the Spanish flu killed more people in 24 weeks than AIDS has killed in 24 years and more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. Hence it is referred to as “the greatest medical holocaust in history”. The pandemic which started in the final year of the First World War not only killed more people than the World War I but it killed more people than all the wars of the 20th century combined.It killed 3% to 5% of the world’s populationThe mortality rate of the 1918 flu was up to 20% of those infected which is 200 times the usual flu epidemic mortality rate of 0.1%. With nearly one third of the global population being infected it is estimated that three to six percent of the world’s population died due to the pandemic. 500 million people were infected across the world and 50 to 100 million of them were killed.The 1918 flu spread across the world even to remote areasThe 1918 flu spread across the world even to remote areas like Pacific islands and the Arctic. A large factor in the worldwide occurrence of this flu was increased travel. Modern transportation systems made it easier for people to spread the disease. By the end of the pandemic, only one major region on the entire planet had not reported an outbreak: an isolated island called Marajo, located in Brazil’s Amazon River Delta.It majorly killed young adults with strong immune systemsMost influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients. However the 1918 flu predominantly killed healthy young adults. Individuals between the ages of 20-40 accounted for nearly half of the fatalities. This abnormal result is believed to have been caused due to ‘cytokine storm’ in which the immune system over responds to the threat of infection. Thus the strong immune system of young adults ravaged their bodies while the population with a weaker immune system was able to recover.Station 16 Response: Influenza (The Spanish Flu)Using data and facts, please explain exactly how bad (to what degree) was the influenza pandemic during this time.Station 18 WWI HelmetsThis is the work of artist Michael Rakowitz ‘THE LORD, THE HOMELAND, THE LEADER INSTALLATION’ from left to right: a Japanese samurai headpiece, a World War I German Stahlhelm helmet, the Darth Vader helmet and mask, and an original Fedayeen helmetWhen Darth Vader was just a dark glimmer in George Lucas’s eye, the director told concept artist Ralph McQuarrie* he envisioned the character as a "dark lord riding on the winds, with an evil essence about him," French says. McQuarrie sketched Vader with a billowing cape and a sinister-looking breathing apparatus. Costume designer John Mollo took it from there, fusing elements of various real-life uniforms associated with war and evil. To design Vader’s infamous black helmet, Mollo looked to the black, shiny headgear Nazis wore during WWII. He then added a gas mask, a motorcycle suit, black leather boots, and a monk’s cloak found in the Middle Ages department of a costume warehouse. Darth Vader’s helmet isn’t the only German army reference in the films: his army of Stormtroopers are named after specialist German soldiers in World War I. Station 18 Response: WWI HelmetsIn your opinion, which helmet is the most functional (it has a useful design) and which helmet is the least functional? Why?Station 19: Schenck vs. US (1919)Please read page 396 in the textbook.What happened to the First Amendment right to free speech during the war? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling?Why can we not falsely yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater?Station 19: Schenck vs. US (1919)Please read page 396 in the textbook.What happened to the First Amendment right to free speech during the war? Do you agree with the Supreme Court’s ruling?Why can we not falsely yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater?Station 20: BRAT… The end of the warStation 20 Response: BRAT… The end of the warPlease copy the acronym B.R.A.T…. The main points of the Treaty of Versailles. ?You only have to copy each word of the acronym.Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war (Clause 231). Germany had to pay ?6,600 million (called Reparations) for the damage done during the war. Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. ? She could have a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men. ? In addition, Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France. Germany lost Territory (land) in Europe (see map). Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France. Station 20: BRAT… The end of the warStation 20 Response: BRAT… The end of the warPlease copy the acronym B.R.A.T…. The main points of the Treaty of Versailles. You only have to copy each word of the acronym.Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war (Clause 231). Germany had to pay ?6,600 million (called Reparations) for the damage done during the war. Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. ? She could have a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men. ? In addition, Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France. Germany lost Territory (land) in Europe (see map). Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France. Station 10: The Dough BoyIt’s unknown exactly how U.S. service members in World War I (1914-18) came to be dubbed doughboys—the term most typically was used to refer to troops deployed to Europe as part of the American Expeditionary Forces—but there are a variety of theories about the origins of the nickname. According to one explanation, the term dates back to the Mexican War of 1846-48, when American infantrymen made long treks over dusty terrain, giving them the appearance of being covered in flour, or dough. As a variation of this account goes, the men were coated in the dust of adobe soil and as a result were called “adobes,” which morphed into “dobies” and, eventually, “doughboys.” Among other theories, according to “War Slang” by Paul Dickson the American journalist and lexicographer H.L. Mencken claimed the nickname could be traced to Continental Army soldiers who kept the piping on their uniforms white through the application of clay. When the troops got rained on the clay on their uniforms turned into “doughy blobs,” supposedly leading to the doughboy moniker.However doughboy came into being, it was just one of the nicknames given to those who fought in the Great War. For example, “poilu” (“hairy one”) was a term for a French soldier, as a number of them had beards or mustaches, while a popular slang term for a British soldier was “Tommy,” an abbreviation of Tommy Atkins, a generic name (along the lines of John Doe) used on government forms. America’s last World War I doughboy, Frank Buckles, died in 2011 in West Virginia at age 110. Buckles enlisted in the Army at age 16 in August 1917, four months after the U.S. entered the conflict, and drove military vehicles in France. One of 4.7 million Americans who served in the war, Buckles was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.Station 10 Response: The Dough BoyStation 10 Response: Dough BoysWhich TWO modern combat features are the most important upgrades from “The Dough Boy” WWI foot soldier?Station 17: AirplanesAirco D.H.4 - 1917Airco D.H.4Designed in 1916 by Geoffrey de Havilland, the D.H.4 was the only British design manufactured by the Americans. It was easily identified by its rectangular fuselage and deep frontal radiator. Versatile, heavily armed and equipped with a powerful twelve cylinder engine, this biplane daylight bomber was fast.Sometimes called the "Flaming Coffin," its huge fuel tank was dangerously positioned between the pilot and observer, hindering communication. Produced in vast numbers, 6295, of which 4846 were built in the United States, many D.H.4s were modified for civilian air service after the war.Airco D.H.4Type: Tactical BomberCountry: Great BritainManufacturer: Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd.Entered Service: March 1917Number Built: 6,295Engine(s): Rolls-Royce Eagle VII, water cooled 12 cylinder, 375 hpLiberty 12, water cooled 12 cylinder, 395 to 421 hp (USA)Wing Span: 42 ft 4.5 in 12.92 mLength: 30 ft 8 in (9.35 m)Height: 11 ft (3.35 m)Loaded Weight: 3,472 lb (1,575 kg)Speed: 143 mph {230 km/h) sea levelService Ceiling: 23,500 ft (7,163 m)Endurance: 6 hr 45 minCrew: 2Armament: Guns: 2-4 machine gunsBombs: 460 lb (208.7 kg) of bombsStation 17 Response: AirplanesBeyond the obvious, what made flying the Airco D.H. airplane even more dangerous than many other WWI Aircraft? ................
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