The two cavalry regiments, the 9th and 10th, were retained. In 1869, the infantry regiments were reorganized into the 24th and 25th Infantry. They viewed the conflict as an opportunity to prove their loyalty, patriotism, and worthiness for equal treatment in the United States.įollowing the Civil War, the Army disbanded volunteer “colored” regiments, and established six Regular Army regiments of black troops with white officers. Even before the act was passed, African American males from all over the country eagerly joined the war effort. The standard volunteer system proved to be inadequate in raising an Army, so on Congress passed the Selective Service Act requiring all male citizens between the ages of 21 and 31 to register for the draft. When the United States declared war against Germany in April of 1917, War Department planners quickly realized that the standing Army of 126,000 men would not be enough to ensure victory overseas. Yet despite that, there were many African American men willing to serve in the nation’s military, but even as it became apparent that the United States would enter the war in Europe, blacks were still being turned away from military service. America was a segregated society and African Americans were considered, at best, second class citizens. By 1918, planes had been developed that could drop bombs on Berlin.As the people of the United States watched World War I ignite across Europe, African American citizens saw an opportunity to win the respect of their white neighbors. Heavier planes were developed that dropped bombs on the enemy. Later in the war, fighter planes were fitted with machine guns. They were more used for spotting the enemy and for gathering intelligence. They were used more effectively at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. However, they often broke down, got stuck in the mud and ran out of fuel. They were first used at the Battle of the Somme. It was believed that they would change the course of the war. Tanks were developed in order to break the deadlock and as a way to cross no-man’s land. Counter measures like gas masks were quickly developed to minimise the effects of gas attacks.It needed light winds, but light winds could change and blow the gas back towards where it came from. Despite its fearsome effects, gas never proved a decisive weapon.The German army was the first to use chlorine gas in 1915 at Ypres - when breathed in it burned the lungs.This war was the first in which chlorine and mustard gas were used. The use of artillery caused over 60 per cent of deaths on the battlefield during World War One.The constant noise of explosions and fear of death by shell-fire caused some men to suffer a form of nervous breakdown known as 'shell shock'.Soldiers zig-zagged their trenches to limit the effects of a blast.Big, heavy guns which fired large shells designed to cause maximum damage to enemy fortifications like trench systems, dug-outs and barbed wire were used.Trenches were essential in protecting soldiers from machine gun fire.Very heavy and manned by up to three men, it was used as a defensive weapon.This weapon could fire up to 600 bullets per minute.In the waters around Britain, Germany targeted any ship, naval or merchant, by using submarines called U-boats. Germany used new aircraft and airships called Zeppelins to bomb British cities. As the war progressed new weapons like poison gas and tanks were introduced to try and break the stalemate of trench warfare.Ĭivilians were not immune from advances in military technology. This can be explained by changes in weaponry and military technology.ĭuring World War One, developments were at a stage that gave the advantage to the defending army.ĭefensive weapons like the machine gun were much more effective than attacking weapons like the rifle and bayonet. World War One was mainly fought from trenches.
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