Significant events & the experiences of Australians at war

NESA: A specific campaign, eg the Western Front 1916.

Stalemate on the Western Front: Copy in Blue

War began with Austro-Hungarian troops fighting Russian and Serbian troops in eastern Europe, and German troops fighting France, Belgium, Britain and their allies in western Europe. By late 1914, all armies had begun to build trenches to protect their soldiers from the enemy and from the winter cold. Eventually, a line of trenches, known as the Western Front, stretched almost continuously from south-west Belgium across north-eastern France to the Swiss border.

No side could make progress without breaking through its enemy’s trench system. Attempts to do so resulted in a huge number of casualties as men went ‘over the top’ to face their enemies’ machine guns, rifles and artillery. Trench warfare, using these weapons so well suited to defence, meant that what had begun as a war of movement developed into a stalemate. The Gallipoli campaign, in which Australian soldiers first saw active duty, was part of an attempt to break the stalemate and resume a war of movement. It failed. Australian troops were evacuated from Gallipoli to reinforce British and allied forced on the Western Front.

*Western= The western part of Europe

*Front= Refer to the "the line of contact of two opposing forces."

Task 1: Copy Notes.

The Western Front, a 400-plus mile stretch of land weaving throughThe Western Front, which ran across the industrial regions of France and Belgium, was one of the most important battlegrounds during the First World War. It is where great battles were fought and where more than 295,000 Australians served between March 1916 and November 1918.

Australia’s losses on the Western Front were staggering, with more casualties in the first six weeks of our involvement than the entire eight-month Gallipoli campaign.

By the end of 1918, 46,000 Australians had lost their lives and 132,000 were wounded.

Task 2: Research where these following battles Australians were involved in took place.

a) Mark them on the map with a red dot and clearly label the following locations.

FROMELLES
POZIÈRES AND MOUQUET FARM
BULLECOURT
PASSCHENDAELE
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

Task 3: Group Work Reserach: 1 lesson only: 30 minutes to present to all groups.

Choose ONE of the battles Australians fought in on the Western Front. You will create a 5-6 google slide (or other mutlmedia) which communicates your research of the following:

-What was the plan/aims of the battle for the Allies? What Year did the battle take place.

-Briefly explain the nature of Australia's involvement in the battle.

-Outline a famous story/ incident involving Australians in this battle.

-Number of Australian casualties/outcome of battle.

-Choose ONE Primary Source from the battle and explain how it helps you understand the expereince of Australian soldiers in this battle

Extension: Research images of the Western Front. Use these are stimulus to write a letter back home to your parents, describing the nature of warfare from the perspective of an Australian soldier. (250 words)

Task 4: Trenchwarfare

a) View the short film to introduce you to the nature of fighting on the Western Front.

b) Post viewing: Complete the following thinking routine.

I Used to Think... Now I Think...

c) How is it different from the fighting conditions at Gallpoli?

Task 5: Copy Notes =: Each trench was dug in a type of zigzag so that no enemy, standing at one end, could fire for more than a few yards down its length. Each of the main lines of trenches was connected to each other and to the rear by a series of communications trenches that were dug roughly perpendicular to them.

Task 6: Sketch and label the trench into your books.

Weapons of WW1

Create a table with three columns: Label as follows: Name of weapon, description of Weapon and, what it was intended to do (purpose)

Research 3 weapons used in WW1 that show the destruction and record them in your table.
Evaluate which weapon do you think was the most barbaric or most deadly?
View the poem: Dolce et Decorum Est . How would this poem add to our understanding of what soldier's experienced on the battlefield?

Task 7: Source Analysis: Refer to Western Front Sources (included) and answer the following questions.

Using Source A, list the variety of experiences Private Edwards had after leaving Australia in November 1915. You may use dot-points or a mind-map to record your information.
Explain how Source B and Source C contribute to your understanding of Edward Edwards’ military service in the First World War.
Using Source C and Source D, describe the Battle of Pozières in 1916.
How might a historian use Source E to reflect on the Australians’ role in the Battle of Pozières?
Complete ONE of the following tasks in 300 – 400 words:
1. Describe Private Edward Edwards’ military service during the First World War. Refer to any three of the sources provided in your response.
2. To what extent were the military experiences of Private Edward Edwards typical of Australian soldiers during the First World War? Use any two of the sources provided and evidence from your own research in your response.

The Western Front Sources.pdf

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NESA: A specific campaign, eg the Western Front 1916.

Stalemate on the Western Front: Copy in Blue

Task 1: Copy Notes.

Task 2: Research where these following battles Australians were involved in took place.

a) Mark them on the map with a red dot and clearly label the following locations.

FROMELLES

POZIÈRES AND MOUQUET FARM

BULLECOURT

PASSCHENDAELE

VILLERS-BRETONNEUX

Task 3: Group Work Reserach: 1 lesson only: 30 minutes to present to all groups.

Choose ONE of the battles Australians fought in on the Western Front. You will create a 5-6 google slide (or other mutlmedia) which communicates your research of the following:

-What was the plan/aims of the battle for the Allies? What Year did the battle take place.

-Briefly explain the nature of Australia's involvement in the battle.

-Outline a famous story/ incident involving Australians in this battle.

-Number of Australian casualties/outcome of battle.

Task 4: Trenchwarfare

a) View the short film to introduce you to the nature of fighting on the Western Front.

b) Post viewing: Complete the following thinking routine.

I Used to Think... Now I Think...

Weapons of WW1

Create a table with three columns: Label as follows: Name of weapon, description of Weapon and, what it was intended to do (purpose)

Task 7: Source Analysis: Refer to Western Front Sources (included) and answer the following questions.

Using Source A, list the variety of experiences Private Edwards had after leaving Australia in November 1915. You may use dot-points or a mind-map to record your information.

Explain how Source B and Source C contribute to your understanding of Edward Edwards’ military service in the First World War.

Using Source C and Source D, describe the Battle of Pozières in 1916.

How might a historian use Source E to reflect on the Australians’ role in the Battle of Pozières?

Complete ONE of the following tasks in 300 – 400 words:

Describe Private Edward Edwards’ military service during the First World War. Refer to any three of the sources provided in your response.

To what extent were the military experiences of Private Edward Edwards typical of Australian soldiers during the First World War? Use any two of the sources provided and evidence from your own research in your response.