communication & transport (WW1)

• How did transport affect the nature of warfare?

  Railways allowed for prolonged conflicts. Eg vital in halting the Schlieffen Plan. French used over 4500 trains in their initial mobilisation against the German advance (in which over 1 million Germans were transported via railway) which prevented a swift German victory. In the Race to the Sea over 800,000 Allied soldiers were moved by rail to prevent the enemy from being able to outflank them and ensuring the war would become more stagnated. In the Battle of the Somme, around 60 trains per week kept the Allies supplied with essential resources.
• How did communication affect the nature of warfare?

  The use of field telephones meant that generals could receive updates from battles as they unfolded and use them to make decisions. For example during the Battle of the Somme, Haig was able to position himself several miles away from the front. Field telephones also allowed artillery support to be requested quickly.