Dossier #01

The Gallipoli Campaign

Dardanelles Strait | 1915-1916

Aerial
Intel

Churchill

M. Kemal

By 1915, the Western Front was locked in a brutal stalemate. Winston Churchill championed a plan to launch a naval and amphibious assault on the Dardanelles, controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The primary objective was to seize the capital, Constantinople, and open a year-round supply route to Russia, which was running dangerously low on ammunition and facing internal collapse due to the blockade.

The campaign led to a massive landing of ANZAC and British troops on the rugged beaches of the Gallipoli peninsula. Instead of a quick victory, the soldiers found themselves trapped on narrow strips of sand beneath fortified Turkish cliffs. The terrain was a nightmare of steep ridges and deep gullies, making any advance almost impossible under machine-gun fire.

Ottoman forces, fighting with fierce national pride, held the high ground under intense bombardment. By the time the Allies withdrew in January 1916, they had suffered over 250,000 casualties. The failure left Russia isolated, weakened Allied morale, and nearly ended the political career of Winston Churchill while establishing the Ottoman commander as a national hero.

Key Figures: Winston Churchill (British Admiral); Mustafa Kemal (Ottoman Commander).

Expert Group Discussion

1. How was this campaign supposed to help Russia?

2. Why did geography favor the Ottoman defenders?

Dossier #02

The Battle of Verdun

Northeastern France | 1916

Fort
Map

Falkenhayn

Ph. Pétain

Verdun was the longest battle of WWI. German Chief Erich von Falkenhayn targeted the ancient fortress city of Verdun to force the French army into a war of attrition. His strategy, known as "Bleeding France White," aimed to annihilate the French army through superior artillery fire, betting that the French would sacrifice every man to hold their national symbol.

The battle became a "meat grinder." Over 40 million artillery shells were fired, pulverizing the landscape. The French maintained a single supply road, the Voie Sacrée (Sacred Way), which saw 3,500 trucks a day carrying reinforcements. The road was the only artery keeping the French defense alive through months of industrial slaughter.

After 10 months, the French recaptured their lost forts. The battle resulted in over 700,000 total casualties. Verdun became a permanent symbol of French resilience, cementing the legacy of the "Poilu" (French soldier) who endured the horrors of the front lines.

Key Figures: Erich von Falkenhayn (Germany); Philippe Pétain (France).

Expert Group Discussion

1. Explain the "Bleeding France White" strategy.

2. Why did Verdun become a symbol of French pride?

Dossier #03

The Battle of Jutland

North Sea | 1916

Fleet
Intel

Jellicoe

Scheer

While the war on land was fought in trenches, the war at sea was fought for global supply lines. Britain’s Royal Navy maintained a crushing naval blockade of Germany, which prevented food and industrial materials from reaching German ports. By 1916, the German population was beginning to starve.

The Battle of Jutland was the only major clash between Dreadnought battleships. Over 250 ships traded fire. Although the German fleet claimed a tactical victory by sinking more ships, they were eventually forced to retreat back to their home ports to avoid total destruction by the larger British fleet.

Strategically, the battle was a British victory because the naval blockade remained completely intact. Because they couldn't win on the surface, Germany turned to unrestricted submarine warfare (U-boats), attacking any ship bound for Britain—a move that eventually provoked the US to join.

Key Figures: John Jellicoe (UK); Reinhard Scheer (Germany).

Expert Group Discussion

1. Why did the British naval blockade matter so much?

2. How did this battle lead to U-boat warfare?

Dossier #04

Entrance of the A.E.F.

Western Front | 1917-1918

Convoy
Log

Pershing

W. Wilson

For three years, the US remained neutral. However, Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram forced President Wilson to declare war in April 1917. The American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was formed to support the exhausted British and French armies.

The arrival of the American "Doughboys" was slow at first, but by mid-1918, the US was landing over 250,000 fresh troops every month. Unlike the veteran European soldiers who were demoralized, the Americans were aggressive, well-fed, and eager to fight, providing a psychological blow to the German troops.

Beyond manpower, the US provided a massive industrial boost. The realization that the US had unlimited reinforcements broke the German military's hope of winning. American factories produced the resources that allowed the Allies to launch their final successful offensives.

Key Figures: John J. Pershing (USA); Woodrow Wilson (USA).

Expert Group Discussion

1. Why did the US finally join the war in 1917?

2. How did American entry change the morale of the war?

Dossier #05

Russia Exits the War

Eastern Front | 1917-1918

Unrest
Report

Nicholas II

V. Lenin

By 1917, the Russian Empire was on the brink of collapse. Suffering from millions of casualties and famine, the Russian people rose up in revolution. The radical Bolshevik party, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power with the promise of "Peace, Land, and Bread," capitalizing on widespread war-weariness.

Lenin knew the government could not survive world war. In March 1918, Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, surrendering vast territories to Germany and losing 25% of its population. This allowed Lenin to focus on consolidating communist rule.

For Germany, Russia’s exit was a miraculous opportunity. Germany was able to transfer nearly 1 million veteran soldiers from the East to the West. They now had a final window to launch a knockout blow against the British and French before the Americans arrived.

Key Figures: Nicholas II (Russia); Vladimir Lenin (Russia).

Expert Group Discussion

1. What were the costs of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

2. How did this change Germany's strategy on the West?

Dossier #06

Operation Michael

Somme Sector, France | 1918

Offensive
Log

Ludendorff

F. Foch

Operation Michael was Germany’s final gamble to win before American resources overwhelmed them. General Ludendorff launched a massive surprise attack using elite "Stormtroopers"—small, units that struck deep behind Allied lines, creating chaos and panic.

The offensive was initially a success, with the largest territorial gain since 1914. However, the advance was so fast that supply lines collapsed; soldiers were starving and exhausted. Without proper food, the momentum failed and the advance halted.

Facing a unified Allied command under Foch and fresh American reinforcements, the German offensive ran out of steam. Germany had used up its last reserves of elite troops, leaving their army shattered and vulnerable to the final counter-attack.

Key Figures: Erich Ludendorff (Germany); Ferdinand Foch (Allies).

Expert Group Discussion

1. How did "Stormtroopers" change the war?

2. Why did the German army run out of steam?

WWI Dossier Handouts 1 Per Page

WWI Dossier Handouts 1 Per Page

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