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World War One Battles Fought By Australia
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German New Guinea
Germany occupied many of the Pacific Islands form the mid 1800's, so they could trake cotton, copra and spices. They ruled Samoa, Noth Eastern New Guinea, some of the Solomon Islands, Caroline and Marshall island groups.
After the outbreak of WW1, Germany used the Islands for 95 navy bases and radio station bases to communicate with Berlin. (all Hannah)
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The British Empire Declared War on Germany
When Germany invaded Belgium, Great Britain declared war on Germany. Germany had the most powerful army, and this had turned Britain against Germany. But Britain also feared that Germany was getting to close their shores. Because Australia was part of the British Empire, Australia followed Britain’s lead and also declared war on Germany. Australia offered 20,000 men to fight overseas and the Australian fleet would be in Britain’s control. (Bridie)
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The British Empire Declared War on Germany
This was important to the war because Britain was one of the main country’s that took part in the war. It was also important that Australia took part in the war because Australians thought of themselves as citizens of the British Empire, and thought that the security of the Empire was important for Australia's own security. (Bridie) -
German New Guinea
In August 1914, New Zealand troops invaded Samoa and the Germans, they gave up withhout a fight.
In September 1914, Australian troops ianded in New Guinea and after some fighting, took control. They also occupied Naura. This was important as it stopped the communication with Berlin and The British took control of the area.
(Hannah) -
The Start of The Western Front
The Western Front was the Germans gave for the series of trenches that ran 700 kilometres from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border. Like as Gallipoli machine-gun fired a lot and the trenches were sometimes only metres apart.The British High Command needed troops urgently. So after the Gallipoli veterans were rested in Egypt. But Australia was sent to France to fight Germany. When the ANZAC's arrived at the Western Front, the first thing they saw were the line of wounded soldiers being -
The Start of the Western Front (all Hannah)
taken to the rear. As they got closer, they could feel the earth shake of the artillery shells. The sound was so loud it was enough to make their ears ring, because their companion for the next three years. The ANZAC's were soon realising that the Germans were not the only enemy. The winter of the 1916 was one of the worst things. They hand only two blankets each and they had to sleep as close as possible to another.
It was important as this was where most of the fighting took place. -
The Battle of the Suez Canal
The raid of Suez Canal was important becuase the British needed the Canal and the Turkish failed to take control. Also the Turkish lost more troops then the British. (Hannah)
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The Battle of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal was a man-made waterway through Egypt which connects the Mediterranean sea and the Red sea. It opened in 1869.
The british ruled Eygpt. It was vital as troops and supplies could get through to the Western front. In 1915, the Turkish army decided to launch an attack to take control of the Suez canal from the Eastern side. They smuggled pontoons through the desert and attempted to cross the canal. It was not successful 1,400 Turks died and only 150 British died -
Disembarking For Gallipoli (Gallipoli all Bridie)
The ANZACs had spent 4 months and a half in Cairo, Egypt, training for the western front. The Australians didn’t expect to spend this much time in Egypt. They were getting restless and many of the Australian was rude to the British generals. Then finally Australians departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula, with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France.This was important because the ANZACs needed training and finally Australia was getting involved in the war.
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Gallipoli landing
The British, French, Indian and Anzac (AIF and 10,000 New Zealand troops) landed on the beach of Gallipoli. The British commanders had not done enough planning and they were unexpectedly attacked by the Turkish. 744 Australian troops died on the first day of the battle of Gallipoli (the day they landed)
This was important to the war because it showed the new Australian troops on how ruthless war was and that war wasn’t just going to be an adventure.
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The Sinking of the Lusitania
The Lusitania was a ship that took passengers and cargo from the United States to The British Empire. On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania left port. On board were 1,959 people, 159 of them were Americans. Since WW1 had started, both sides of the war sunk each other’s ships if they had any war material. One of Germany’s submarines shot a torpedo at the ship thinking it had War materials on it. The torpedo caused an explosion on the ship and it sunk in a quick 18 minutes. (Bridie) -
The Sinking of the Lusitania
1,198 died and the toll of civilians killed in the disaster shocked everyone.The Americans were outraged that 128 of their civilians died in a war they were not taking part in. It was not in the rules of the war that you could sink this kind of ship. The sinking of the ship swayed America to join the war against Germany and its alliances.
This was important to war for The British Empire needed the help to sway the war in their favour. The Picutrue is a secondary source. -
The August Offensive
This was important to the battle because even though did attack some Turkish bases they failed and realised that being in Gallipoli was a dead cause. -
The August Offensive
The August Offensive was one of the last attempts to break the stalemate that had gone on since they landed. The offensive began with a diversionary attack at Lone Pine, which succeeded in taking a heavily defended Turkish trenches but it cost the lives of 2,000 men. There were a few other attacks but they all failed by August 10th. They had many ideas to take out the Turkish bases but in the end they had too many casualties.
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Battle Of Gallipoli ended
The failure of the August Offensive created doubts in London about the campaign, especially as the Western Front was becoming important. The British decided to abandon the battle and evacuate. The Turkish still held the land the British wanted, more than 8700 Australian troops died and over 2721 New Zealanders died.
This was an important battle to the WW1 for this was one of the biggest failures to the British; it is also today, one of the most famous battles fought by the ANZACs.
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The Battle of Verdun (Verdun all Bridie)
The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of World War One. Germany launched a massive attack on a narrow piece of land (Verdun) in France. Verdun contained twenty major forts and forty smaller ones that protected the eastern border of France. 140,000 German troops started the attack.
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The Battle of Verdun
This was important for it was one of the main causes that started the battle of the Somme. The Somme offensive was to mainly divert forces from Verdun. -
The Start of the Battle of the Somme
The Battle of the Somme was in France next to a town called Albert and British team up with France and them fort Germany. The British was planning to attack on a 24km between Serre, north of the Ancre, Curlu and north of the Somme. And five French would attack a 13km front south of the Somme, between Clurlu and Peronne. But the Germans were weeks before the attack and firing 1.6 million shells. But the British were so confident and they ordered their troops to walk slowly towards the German line -
The Start of the Battle of the Somme
walk towards the German line. But the Germans new that the British were coming and the British shells failed to explode. So the bombardment began and the Germans went underground and waited. On the 1st of July the whistles blew to signal the start of the attack, The Germans left their bunkers and set off. (Hannah)
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The Battle of Fromelles
This Battle was important because it was one the first major battle fought by Australia on the Western Front. -
The Battle of Fromelles
The battle of Formelles lasted only until the next day resulting in 5,533 Australian casualties. It was a disaster. The battle was an attempt to stop Germany sending troops to the battle of the Somme. Unfortunately the Germans had abandoned the lines where they were supposed to be and had set up new positions around 200m behind them where they had built concrete bunkers that held machine guns. (Bridie)
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The end of the Battle of the Somme
At the end of the war the British Army had suffered 420,000 casualties including nearly 60,000 on the first day. But French lost 200,000 men and the Germans 500,000. The British and the French didn't really know each other and they did work well too but they steel defeated the Germans. The Battle of the Somme was so important because it was a turning point to the war.
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The Battle of Verdun Ends
By the end of October 1916, the French had re-captured two forts at Vaux and Douaumont but the land where the battle had been was all wasteland. By the end of the battle it was estimated that the French lost over 360,000 and the Germans nearly 340,000.
This battle was important in the War because Germany intended to weaken the French and they thought it would Change the cause of war.
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The Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres)
The Battle of Passchendaele was fought by the British and their allies (includeing Australia) they planned to drive the Germans from the surrounding central ridges and even wished to reach the Belgian coast. For soldiers that fought in the battle, it was known as the 'Battle of Mud' (the weather was terrible) This was important to the war becuase the Allies were loseing to much war materials and they wanted to take out the German submarines on the coast. (Bridie) The Picture is Primary -
The End of the Battle of Passchendaele (Picture is a Primary source)
With a final attack the allies secured the rest of the high ground overlooking Ypres and detained it. This marked the end of the Passchendaele offensive. Even though technically the allies won, the battle of Passchendaele had been a very catastrophic battle. For only a few kilometres, the British had lost 310,000 men and the Germans 260,000. 36,500 of them were Australians, 3,600 New Zealanders.
This battle was important to the war because it weakened the Germans and helped defeat them. -
Charles Leslie Feore Death
Charles Feore fought in the Army and he was a Driver. He was 22 years old and was killed in action. Also William Edger Feore fought in the war and his death was unknown.
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The end of the wester front
About 65 millon men from both side mached to war and over 8 million never returned. Also 60,000 Australians died.
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(Hannah) -
End of World War One
As the British, French and American armies advanced, the alliance between the Central Powers began to collapse. Turkey stopped fighting at the end of October and Austria-Hungary followed on November 3. Germany signed an armistice and the war officially ended.
This was important because it was the end of the war when every surviving solider could go home to their family. WW1 was one of biggest Wars in history; it also may have caused WW2.(Bridie) The picture is a Primary source. -
The League of Nations
The League of Nations came into being after the end of World War One. The League of Nation's was to ensure that war would never break out again. Between 1920 and 1946 63 countries (including Australia) became members of the League of Nations but many withdrew or left.
This was important to the war because the league was trying to ensure that something like it would never happen again but unfortunately the league didn't last for long. (Bridie) The picture is a Primary source.
