Te Ara - New Zealand
Origins The First World War was caused by the destabilisation of the balance of power in Europe due to the rise of Germany. The war began in 1914 when Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia because of the assassination of an archduke. Countries had made alliances with each other, and soon most of Europe was at war. New Zealand was part of the British Empire, and when Britain declared war on Germany, in August 1914, that meant New Zealand was at war too. The two sides were called the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) and the Allies, which included the British Empire, Russia and France. New Zealand enters the war New Zealand decided to send soldiers to fight in the war for a number of reasons, including New Zealand’s strong ties to Britain and its concern with keeping trade routes open so it could continue to export to Britain. Within a month New Zealand troops had occupied Western Samoa, which was a German territory. Gallipoli Turkey had entered the war on the Central Powers side.
Anzac History World War I Letters from the trenches of WWI Gallipoli France
Letters written by Bert Smythe and published in the Jerilderie Herald and Urana Advertiser on 30 June and 7 July 1916. Corporal Bert Smythe, an old Jerilderie boy, writes an interesting narrative concerning trench warfare in Gallipoli in which campaign he participated. At time of writing the soldier was an inmate of a London Hospital. He says:- “It is about 6 o’clock in the morning, and we are in the rest trenches due to go into the firing line for four hours (approx.) sometime during the morning. “What the __ __ is the __ __ matter?” Jones sits up and considers things, and finally Smith and he go grumblingly to the cook house under the shelter (?) It’s your platoon’s turn for cookhouse fatigue so you again refer to your roster. Word is received that we relieve the 5th at 9.30 a.m. and in the meantime the trench must be tidied up. “Stop shovin', you __ __.” “Where’d she settle?” We were so afraid of instantaneous combustion. He then retired back to his job, spitting disgustedly.
Trench Foot
Many soldiers fighting in the First World War suffered from trench foot. This was an infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and insanitary conditions. In the trenches men stood for hours on end in waterlogged trenches without being able to remove wet socks or boots. The feet would gradually go numb and the skin would turn red or blue. If untreated, trench foot could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. Trench foot was a particular problem in the early stages of the war. Arthur Savage pointed out that trench foot had serious consequences: "My memories are of sheer terror and the horror of seeing men sobbing because they had trench foot that had turned gangrenous. The only remedy for trench foot was for the soldiers to dry their feet and change their socks several times a day.
WWI Battlefields
Trench construction in World War I | Diana Overbey
When people think of World War I, one of the first images that comes to mind is the trench. Here’s a look into how these major features were constructed, as well as their impact on the war. 1. When were the trenches in World War I first built? French troops waiting assault behind a ditch during the Battle of the Marne. After the Battle of the Marne in September 1914 (one month after the war truly began), the Germans were pushed back to the River Aisne. Over the next few months the equally-matched armies tried to outflank each other, continuously adding on to their trenches as they went. Because the Germans dug in first, they were able to seize the high ground. Trenches could sometimes flood as high as a man's waist. 2. There were two main ways to dig a trench. The other option was sapping, where a trench was extended by digging at the end face. These trenches were dug through the beautiful countryside of France, and often through private property, particularly that of farmers. Entrenching
NZ History Online - The Gallipoli campaign
Each year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders (and Australians) mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their homes, stormed the beaches on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Turkey. For eight long months, New Zealand troops, alongside those from Australia, Great Britain and Ireland, France, India, and Newfoundland battled harsh conditions and Ottoman forces desperately fighting to protect their homeland. By the time the campaign ended, more than 130,000 men had died: at least 87,000 Ottoman soldiers and 44,000 Allied soldiers, including more than 8700 Australians. In the wider story of the First World War, the Gallipoli campaign made no large mark.
WW1 Trenches: Facts About World War I Trench Warfare
Trench warfare is a type of fighting where both sides dig deep trenches in the ground as a defence against the enemy. The World War 1 trenches could stretch many miles and made it almost impossible for one side to advance on the other. The Western Front in World War 1, located in France, was fought using trench warfare. Facts about World War 1 Trenches It is estimated that there were about 2,490km of trench lines dug during World War 1. The trenches were dug by soldiers and there were three ways to dig them. More Amazing WW1 Trench Facts Looking for more information on World War I? Other Posts You Might Enjoy! World War I Facts World War 1 was a military conflict lasting from 1914 to 1918 which involved nearly all the biggest powers of the world. May 5, 2014 In "History" How Did World War 1 Start? Over 17 million people were killed in the First World War and the impact it had on the old empires and the politics of the world was enormous, but what were the causes of WW1 and how did it start?