University:
Bradley University
Course:
HIS 340 | Twentieth-Century Europe
Academic year:

2024
Views:

477

Pages:

1
Author:

Gudrunecg9m

Name Tanks In the early months of the war, the Germans had hoped their use of poison gas would break the stalemate _on tbe _w_esternJ cont.JJJeir_planJaiJe.d,_andJhe_w..ar__ ___ _ dragged on. By 1916 the British had a new weapon they believed might end the long period of trench warfare. This weapon was the tank. The vehicle was called a tank to disguise its true purpose. When the first tanks were transported to France, it is said they were covered and labeled ''water tanks for Russia." The word ''tank" stuck and has been used ever since. Although early tanks could travel only 3. 7 miles per hour, they were effective when they did not break down or get stuck in mud. Tanks could run over machine gun nests, destroy barbed wire barriers, and provide cover for advancing soldiers. They even carried logs that were used as bridges when the troops crossed trenches. Tanks first appeared in war at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The Germans were stunned when they first saw the monstrous vehicles lumbering toward them. Some German soldiers stood and laughed, but most fled in terror. Only 18 of 49 tanks saw action at the Battle of the Somme. The others were halted by mechanical problems and muddy ground. Tanks were used in mass formation for the first time at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. The results were similar to those at the Somme. Of the 378 tanks engaged in the battle, 114 broke down. The tank had a long way to go before it would be considered a reliable fighting machine. Respond to each of the following ''what if' questions about the use of tanks during World War I. 1. What if the Germans had been first to use the tank? 2. What if the British had built a more reliable tank? 3. What if the tank had been identified by the Germans as a weapon when it was first shipped to France? 4. Write a sentence that expresses your opinion about the effectiveness of tanks during World War I. © 2000 McDONALD PUBLISHING CO. 12 WORLD WAR I