Artifacts
Lusitania. May 7, 1915.
Lusitania was a roughly 2,000 passenger ship that had been attacked and sunk by a German submarine. Germany had previously been attacking merchant ships that entered this territory. The Lusitania was warned to avoid this area by the British Admiralty or use evasive tactics that would confuse any German U-Boats. However, the captain ignored these suggestions and simply passed through. Then at approximately 2:12 in the afternoon, the Lusitania was hit twice by torpedoes. The ship was fully submerged under water within 20 minutes, leaving 1,198 to their demise.
This attack sparked rage in Americans as they claimed at least 128 of these passengers their own. As this news spread, Berlin had feared this would be the push the US needed to enter this war. However all this resulted in was a letter to Berlin, stating which submarines were to be left alone. Germany responded with no pity, as the Lusitania was transporting about 173 tons of weapons in the cargo, so they felt their actions were justified. Despite the rage that had been sparked, it wasn't until two years later did the US enter the war, using this incident as one of their reasoning's for entry.
Little Willie. September 6, 1915.
As trench warfare was becoming popular, troops needed a vehicle that allowed to easily get across broken ground and barbed wire. Ernest Swinton, a British colonel, and William Hankey, secretary of the Community for Imperial Defense, introduced the idea of a vehicle with conveyor-belt-like tracks to Winston Churchill and he believed in it. This allowed for the production of the tank, which was revealed in September of 1915. The initial presentation was disappointing as it overheated quickly and couldn't cross trenches, as well as it was slow. Many different prototypes came out after, each stronger and more practical then before.
Tanks, while they had a rough start, soon became one of the most influential weapons used as they assisted in the capturing of enemy grounds and troops. The first tank to be used in combat was revealed two years later at the Battle of Cambrai, know as Mark IV's. While the development began in Britain, it spread to almost every country and they became prominent on the fields in WWII.
Carrel-Dakin Wound Treatment. 1915.
As hygiene was not the main focus at the forefronts of the battlefields, many small injuries such as a cut on the foot further led to amputations. Amputations had been the go to treatment of infections 80% of the time, and while this was effective many patients were still dying due to the pain and shock from the surgery. Medical units needed a germicide to stop further sepsis which is where Henry Drysdale Dakin and Alexis Carrel come in. They saw that the survival rates were low so Dakin worked on the solution while Carrel constructed the equipment needed to use the solution.
Carrel and Dakin ended up creating an antiseptic solution that used sodium-hypochlorite as its main ingredient, advancing treatments on the fields farther then they've ever been. This solution had become so high in demand that the company Johnson and Johnson began to mass produce and distribute. They even had difficulty keeping up with the demand, as the solution had to be 100% precise or else it wouldn't disinfect the wound properly, the margin of error was big. The Carrel-Dakin treatment saved millions and lives and limbs, allowing for injured soldiers to go back to their lives after war quicker then ever before.
As hygiene was not the main focus at the forefronts of the battlefields, many small injuries such as a cut on the foot further led to amputations. Amputations had been the go to treatment of infections 80% of the time, and while this was effective many patients were still dying due to the pain and shock from the surgery. Medical units needed a germicide to stop further sepsis which is where Henry Drysdale Dakin and Alexis Carrel come in. They saw that the survival rates were low so Dakin worked on the solution while Carrel constructed the equipment needed to use the solution.
Carrel and Dakin ended up creating an antiseptic solution that used sodium-hypochlorite as its main ingredient, advancing treatments on the fields farther then they've ever been. This solution had become so high in demand that the company Johnson and Johnson began to mass produce and distribute. They even had difficulty keeping up with the demand, as the solution had to be 100% precise or else it wouldn't disinfect the wound properly, the margin of error was big. The Carrel-Dakin treatment saved millions and lives and limbs, allowing for injured soldiers to go back to their lives after war quicker then ever before.
Submarine Warfare. 1914-1918.
Germany began to form water fleets, sending submarines known as U-Boats out to attack enemy ships in response to the British fleets. However as the submarines proved to be too slow and weak against the warships, they began to target merchant ships. While they may have been weaker then some of the warships, they were not to be underestimated. They were successful thanks to the torpedoes they carried, as were more destructive then many anticipated. For example, on the 8th of June in 1916, SS Principe Umberto was transferring Italy's infantry regiment when they were torpedoed down by an Austo-Hungarian submarine U-5. It sank rapidly killing 1,926 on board.
Submarine Warfare advanced the warfare of Germany as in 1915, 396 ships were sunk by submarines where only 23 were by surface crafts. Germany was able to sink 6,394 ships, adding up to 11,948, 702 tons defeated. Germany would not had succeeded as long as they did if it were not for submarines. While they had to suspend their vessels due to the accusations of piracy from other countries, it did not stop them from using their submarine tactics for long.
Germany began to form water fleets, sending submarines known as U-Boats out to attack enemy ships in response to the British fleets. However as the submarines proved to be too slow and weak against the warships, they began to target merchant ships. While they may have been weaker then some of the warships, they were not to be underestimated. They were successful thanks to the torpedoes they carried, as were more destructive then many anticipated. For example, on the 8th of June in 1916, SS Principe Umberto was transferring Italy's infantry regiment when they were torpedoed down by an Austo-Hungarian submarine U-5. It sank rapidly killing 1,926 on board.
Submarine Warfare advanced the warfare of Germany as in 1915, 396 ships were sunk by submarines where only 23 were by surface crafts. Germany was able to sink 6,394 ships, adding up to 11,948, 702 tons defeated. Germany would not had succeeded as long as they did if it were not for submarines. While they had to suspend their vessels due to the accusations of piracy from other countries, it did not stop them from using their submarine tactics for long.
Flame Thrower. 1915.
Flamethrowers were first introduced in WWI by the troops of Germany. The first model was limited as to the damage it was able to conduct as the flames only shot out 20 yards. However, as they grew, the flames would shoot out 40 yards. This allowed for greater damage without having to sacrifice soldiers to run into the trenches outnumbered. As they grew in advancement, the weapon was passed onto British and French troops.
Flamethrowers were seen with the same fear as poisonous gas. The device was great help to Germany with clearing British trenches and pushing the soldiers out into the open. The flamethrower was most helpful with the German offensives on the Western Fronts in 1918. It had been used for 105 attacks within the span of five months. This carried into WWII, as it continued to be a weapon of fear.
Flamethrowers were first introduced in WWI by the troops of Germany. The first model was limited as to the damage it was able to conduct as the flames only shot out 20 yards. However, as they grew, the flames would shoot out 40 yards. This allowed for greater damage without having to sacrifice soldiers to run into the trenches outnumbered. As they grew in advancement, the weapon was passed onto British and French troops.
Flamethrowers were seen with the same fear as poisonous gas. The device was great help to Germany with clearing British trenches and pushing the soldiers out into the open. The flamethrower was most helpful with the German offensives on the Western Fronts in 1918. It had been used for 105 attacks within the span of five months. This carried into WWII, as it continued to be a weapon of fear.