Home > “They Shall Not Pass”: Verdun, the Somme, and the Use of New Technology
“They Shall Not Pass”: Verdun, the Somme, and the Use of New Technology
This discussion addresses the following outcomes:
- Evaluate the impact of new weapons technology such as chemical weapons and long-range artillery on the men caught in the fighting and on the outcomes of major battles (CO3, CO4, CO5)
As you read this week, the Western Front in 1915-1916 was mired in stalemate and, along with it, the physical and mental diseases associated with prolonged periods spent in the trenches. During this period, there were also several significant battles which attempted to break the stalemate. These battles, including Verdun and the Somme, resulted in incredibly high death tolls but little “victory” for either side. The staggering loss of life in these years was partially the result of new tactics and technology in warfare that no one correctly anticipated, transforming the way war was waged.
In preparation for this discussion, make sure you read the following: the Module Notes, Chapter 3 (Links to an external site.), Chapter 6 (Links to an external site.) and Chapter 7 (Links to an external site.) in the Neiberg textbook, Prados, J (2013), What WWI Generals Got Wrong (Links to an external site.), Warren, C. (2014), An International Red Line (Links to an external site.), and view Infancy of Air Warfare (Links to an external site.) and Battle of Verdun (Links to an external site.).
Then, in an initial post of at least 250 words discuss the following:
- What prompted the Battle of Verdun? Do you agree with the decision to deliberately provoke a battle of attrition? Why or why not?
- How did the use of new technology influence the war in places like Verdun and the Somme? Did the use of these help to hasten or prolong the fighting?
