Weapons of World War I

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="list-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="The combination of 20th-century weapons and 19th-century tactics made World War I especially deadly. Learn more about the weapons used in World War I." /> <meta name="keywords" content="World War I, machine gun, chemical weapon, tank, battleship, fighter plane" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i" /> <title>Weapons of World War I | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "List", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.38", "date": 20241211, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "3764553302980153107" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "A" ,"adsTestVersion": "A" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20241211}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"listId": 6621 ,"pagesInfo": [{"url":"weapons-of-world-war-i","title":"Weapons of World War I"},{"url":"8-deadliest-wars-of-the-21st-century","title":"8 Deadliest Wars of the 21st Century"},{"url":"titanosaurs-8-of-the-worlds-biggest-dinosaurs","title":"Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs"},{"url":"10-best-sports-rivalries-of-all-time","title":"10 Great Sports Rivalries"},{"url":"5-wacky-facts-about-the-births-and-deaths-of-us-presidents","title":"5 Fascinating Facts about the Births and Deaths of U.S. Presidents"},{"url":"all-119-references-in-we-didnt-start-the-fire-explained","title":"All 119 References in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Explained"},{"url":"8-animals-that-suck-blood","title":"8 Animals That Suck (Blood)"},{"url":"6-questions-about-the-sun-answered","title":"6 Questions About the Sun Answered"},{"url":"major-events-in-the-life-of-constantine-i","title":"Major Events in the Life of Constantine I"},{"url":"7-deadliest-weapons-in-history","title":"7 Deadliest Weapons in History"},{"url":"12-questions-about-the-history-of-space-exploration-answered","title":"12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered"}] }, "GA": {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"List","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-131-A1301FE7/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="The combination of 20th-century weapons and 19th-century tactics made World War I especially deadly. Learn more about the weapons used in World War I."/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Weapons of World War I | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="The combination of 20th-century weapons and 19th-century tactics made World War I especially deadly. Learn more about the weapons used in World War I."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-131-A1301FE7/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"Weapons of World War I","description":"The combination of 20th-century weapons and 19th-century tactics made World War I especially deadly. Learn more about the weapons used in World War I.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-131-A1301FE7/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.38" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.38" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/list-page.css?v=3.130.38" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.38" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> </head> <body data-leg="A" class="list-page user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-ab-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","selected":true,"navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"History-Society","description":"Explore history and society; accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","keywords":"accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","classId":"HISTORY","sortOrder":1},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","selected":true,"navbarId":"HISTORY"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_GN_NAC_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=nav-login-box&utm_campaign=evergreen</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=evergreen" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline"> Now</span> </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY selected selected" href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"headline":"Weapons of World War I","image":{"url":"https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-131-A1301FE7/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg","@type":"ImageObject"},"author":[{"name":"Michael Ray","url":"https://www.britannica.com/editor/Michael-Ray/6392","@type":"Person"}],"keywords":"Weapons of World War I","url":"https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i","description":"The combination of 20th-century weapons and 19th-century tactics made World War I especially deadly. Learn more about the weapons used in World War I.","publisher":{"name":"Encyclopedia Britannica","@type":"Organization","logo":{"url":"https://corporate.britannica.com/wp-content/themes/eb-corporate/_img/logo.png","@type":"ImageObject"}},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"article"} </script> <div class="list-content"> <div class="md-article-container list-container qa-content" data-feature-id="6621"> <div class="feature-container container-lg p-0 pb-40 p-md-20"> <aside class="d-none d-lg-block feature-left-rail p-20 pb-60 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="feature-section"> <div class="label mb-15 font-serif">Discover</div> <div class="mobile-carousel-items"> <ul class="pl-0 lr-image-list font-14 m-0 mb-30 d-flex flex-md-column slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden discover"> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/women-in-world-war-i-a-photo-gallery" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/201753-050-0E5B3760/Womens-Overseas-Hospitals-staff-World-War-I.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="The first contingent of the Women's Overseas Hospitals, supported by the National American Woman Suffrage Association. (World War I)" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/women-in-world-war-i-a-photo-gallery">Women in World War I: A Photo Gallery</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/quiz/military-technology-quiz" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/67/166467-131-A29A8BDF/KC-135-Stratotanker-military-F-16-Falcon-US-Airforce.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="KC-135 Stratotanker refueling U.S. Airforce military F-16 Falcon. Transportation aircraft refueled in mid-air aka aerial refueling." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/quiz/military-technology-quiz">Military Technology Quiz</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/quiz/a-history-of-war" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/45/171645-131-FB9DD0D9/D-Day-soldiers-American-rifles-grenades-beachheads-bunker-June-6-1944.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/quiz/a-history-of-war">A History of War</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/8-questions-about-world-war-i-answered" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/135153-131-AD5091DA/battles-troops-site-town-British-West-Flanders-September-29-1918.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Photograph shows the ruins of the Cloth Hall after the Battle of Ypres during World War I in Ypres, West Flanders, Belgium, September 29, 1918." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/8-questions-about-world-war-i-answered">8 Questions About World War I Answered</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/quiz/weaponry-energy-and-power-systems-quiz" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/86/127586-131-7D7D8EC8/condenser-Artist-recreation-James-Watt-steam-engine-1765.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="James Watt as a young man, c1769. Scottish engineer and instrument maker. Invented the modern steam engine which became the main source of power in Britain's textile mills. His engine had a separate condenser in which steam from the cylinder; (see notes)" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/quiz/weaponry-energy-and-power-systems-quiz">Weaponry, Energy, and Power Systems Quiz</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/quiz/guess-that-historical-event-quiz" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/184753-131-8376A7BD/Battle-of-Antietam-Kurz-Allison-1888.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, lithograph by Kurz and Allison, circa 1888." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/quiz/guess-that-historical-event-quiz">Guess That Historical Event! Quiz</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/quiz/inventors-and-inventions" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/166065-131-7C59DB40/ball-bearing-friction-Automobile-Industry-Sphere-Wheel.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="ball bearing. Disassembled ball bearing. rotational friction Automobile Industry, Engineering, Industry, Machine Part, Metal Industry, Sphere, Steel, Wheel" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/quiz/inventors-and-inventions">Inventors and Inventions</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/titanosaurs-8-of-the-worlds-biggest-dinosaurs" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/196914-131-061D0CB0/Patagotitan-mayorum-titanosaurs.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="illustration of the walking titanosaurus, Patagotitan mayorum" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/titanosaurs-8-of-the-worlds-biggest-dinosaurs">Titanosaurs: 8 of the World's Biggest Dinosaurs</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/how-did-the-tradition-of-christmas-trees-start" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/202379-131-1EEF7D5C/Christmas-tree-holiday-pine.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Christmas tree, holiday, pine" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/how-did-the-tradition-of-christmas-trees-start">How Did the Tradition of Christmas Trees Start? </a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-buffalo-and-bison" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/187404-131-2839AF60/bison-American-buffalo-plains-prairie.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="American bison (Bison bison) also known as buffalo or plains buffalo on the prairie, western U.S." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/whats-the-difference-between-buffalo-and-bison">What’s the Difference Between Bison and Buffalo?</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/why-is-christmas-in-december" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/190024-131-988B5D32/Nativity-Scene-Adoration-of-the-Magi-Church.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Nativity Scene, Adoration of the Magi, Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Montenegro" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/why-is-christmas-in-december">Why Is Christmas in December?</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/12-questions-about-the-history-of-space-exploration-answered" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/189414-131-CB669572/Space-Shuttle-Columbia-Launch-Pad-39A-mission-July-1-1997.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="The Space Shuttle Columbia soars from Launch Pad 39A on July 1 1997 to begin the 16-day STS-94 Microgravity Science Laboratory-1 (MSL-1) mission." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/12-questions-about-the-history-of-space-exploration-answered">12 Questions About the History of Space Exploration Answered</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/6-questions-about-the-sun-answered" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/73319-131-21DE8879/Sun-ultraviolet-light-satellite-Earth-Solar-and.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/6-questions-about-the-sun-answered">6 Questions About the Sun Answered</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/10-best-sports-rivalries-of-all-time" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/53/189653-131-A7E9422A/Kevin-Garnett-shooting-Ronny-Turiaf-Boston-Celtics-2008.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/10-best-sports-rivalries-of-all-time">10 Great Sports Rivalries</a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="reading-channel list-type-IMAGE"> <div class="grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle"> <div class="grey-box-content mx-auto w-100"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/list/browse", "name": "Image List" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/list/browse/World-History", "name": "World History" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb mt-20 mb-30"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="link-gray-600">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/list/browse">Image List</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/list/browse/World-History">World History</a> </span> </nav> <div class="mb-5"> <a class="HISTORY font-weight-semi-bold super-category-badge rounded font-14" href="/History-Society"> History & Society </a> </div> <div> <div class="d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15" style="right:20px" data-feature-id="6621"> <button class="js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> Actions </button> <div class="md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 dropdown-menu"> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool " data-modal="[data-feature-id=6621] .sm-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="sm-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Michael Ray" data-title="Weapons of World War I" data-published-date="26 Oct. 2018" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool " data-modal="[data-feature-id=6621] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Weapons of World War I" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i">https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h1 class="content-title mb-5">Weapons of World War I</h1> <div class="d-none d-md-flex my-15"> <div class="mr-5"> <button class="qa-print-button md-print-button btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="print"></em> Print </button> </div> <div class="mr-5"> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal="[data-feature-id=6621] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Michael Ray" data-title="Weapons of World War I" data-published-date="26 Oct. 2018" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Weapons of World War I" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i">https://www.britannica.com/list/weapons-of-world-war-i</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing font-14"> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/Michael-Ray/6392" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Michael Ray</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Michael Ray is an assistant managing editor who has worked at Britannica since 2003. In addition to leading the Geography and History team, he oversees coverage of European history and military affairs....</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Michael Ray</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div></div> </div> <article class="topic-content content"><ul class="list-unstyled md-mendel-list"><li><h2>Depth charge</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/03/200603-050-E923072E/ship-British-depth-charges-vicinity-German-submarine.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236967"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/03/200603-050-E923072E/ship-British-depth-charges-vicinity-German-submarine.jpg?w=1000" alt="German activity at sea; another depth mine explodes; no year date on photo. (World War I)" data-width="1346" data-height="1600" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/03/200603-050-E923072E/ship-British-depth-charges-vicinity-German-submarine.jpg" data-href="*236967">depth charge</a><span>British ship laying depth charges in the vicinity of a submerged German submarine during World War I.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/depth-charge" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Depth charges</a> were first developed by the Royal Navy during <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-I" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War I</a> to combat German submarines.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-1"></span></li><li><h2>Military aircraft</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/200644-050-9C6BC631/airfield-British-Hendon-London-England-World-War.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236974"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/200644-050-9C6BC631/airfield-British-Hendon-London-England-World-War.jpg?w=1000" alt="England's army planes at Hendon, England, inspected by Major A.D. Carter; undated photo. (World War I)" data-width="1600" data-height="1204" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/44/200644-050-9C6BC631/airfield-British-Hendon-London-England-World-War.jpg" data-href="*236974">military aircraft</a><span>British airfield at Hendon, outside London, England, during World War I.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">World War I was a crucible for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/military-aircraft" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">military aircraft</a> development. Between 1914 and 1918, planes advanced from barely airworthy craft to effective weapons platforms.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-2"></span></li><li><h2>Rifle</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/200643-050-93044A76/infantryman-Serbian-Greece-Salonika-April-1916.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*237004"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/200643-050-93044A76/infantryman-Serbian-Greece-Salonika-April-1916.jpg?w=1000" alt="The newly equipped Serbian army arriving at 4th Coy. With British boots and French rifles, near Salonika, Greece; April 1916. (World War I)" data-width="1304" data-height="1600" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/43/200643-050-93044A76/infantryman-Serbian-Greece-Salonika-April-1916.jpg" data-href="*237004">World War I</a><span>Serbian infantryman near Salonika (now Thessaloníki), Greece, April 1916.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Infantry weapons underwent a massive change in the late 19th century, as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/repeating-rifle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">repeating rifles</a> entered widespread use. The World War I infantryman could produce a volume of fire that dwarfed that of his mid-19th-century predecessors.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-3"></span></li><li><h2>Zeppelin</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/104338-050-DF135929/zeppelin-harbour-Kiel-Ger-maneuvers-World-War.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*108954"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/104338-050-DF135929/zeppelin-harbour-Kiel-Ger-maneuvers-World-War.jpg?w=1000" alt="German Zeppelin flies over Kiel Bay, Germany during a World War I manuever." data-width="1138" data-height="834" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/104338-050-DF135929/zeppelin-harbour-Kiel-Ger-maneuvers-World-War.jpg" data-href="*108954">zeppelin</a><span>A zeppelin flying over the harbour at Kiel, Germany, on maneuvers during World War I.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">German airships achieved moderate success in long-range bombing operations, as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/zeppelin" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Zeppelins</a> could attain higher altitudes than the airplanes of the era.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-4"></span></li><li><h2>Chemical weapons</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/201029-050-DAD0EE7A/front-lines-soldiers-region-gas-mask-Alsace.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*237012"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/201029-050-DAD0EE7A/front-lines-soldiers-region-gas-mask-Alsace.jpg?w=1000" alt="French front. In Alsace, in a village close the border and exposed to bombardment. Soldiers demonstrating to the women how they can adjust on themselves the masks to guard against the murderous gas. (World War I)" data-width="1600" data-height="1151" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/29/201029-050-DAD0EE7A/front-lines-soldiers-region-gas-mask-Alsace.jpg" data-href="*237012">chemical weapons in World War I</a><span>Soldiers demonstrating the proper wearing of a gas mask to civilians near the front lines in the French region of Alsace.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Chemical weapons, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/diphosgene" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">diphosgene</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mustard-gas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mustard gas</a>, were employed extensively on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Western-Front-World-War-I" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Western Front</a>.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-5"></span></li><li><h2>Artillery</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/201024-050-3D369E37/American-railway-gun-firing-projectiles-German-troop.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236976"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/201024-050-3D369E37/American-railway-gun-firing-projectiles-German-troop.jpg?w=1000" alt="Fourteen-inch railway gun, manned by American coast artillerymen, sends its projectiles 20 miles away upon a German railway and troop movement center, such, at least, is the report of the airplane observer working in liaison with the gunners.(World War I)" data-width="1600" data-height="1248" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/201024-050-3D369E37/American-railway-gun-firing-projectiles-German-troop.jpg" data-href="*236976">World War I; artillery</a><span>American 14-inch railway gun firing projectiles at a German railway and troop movement center some 20 miles (32 km) away.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">U.S. Signal Corps/National Archives, Washington, D.C.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/artillery" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Artillery</a> literally shaped the battlefield in World War I. It ranged in size from the French 75-mm field gun to the massive 420-mm Big Bertha and the 210-mm Paris Gun.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-6"></span></li><li><h2>Cavalry</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/74/196074-050-A43E4F7F/Members-Australian-4th-Light-Horse-Brigade-Giza.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236988"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/74/196074-050-A43E4F7F/Members-Australian-4th-Light-Horse-Brigade-Giza.jpg?w=1000" alt="W.A.S. Dunlop and three other soldiers from the 4th Light Horse Brigade at Giza, Egypt, approximately 1915." data-width="970" data-height="756" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/74/196074-050-A43E4F7F/Members-Australian-4th-Light-Horse-Brigade-Giza.jpg" data-href="*236988">World War I</a><span>Members of the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade at Giza, Egypt, during World War I.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">National Library of Australia, nla.obj-148034768</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">Despite the advances in technology, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/cavalry" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cavalry</a> retained a significant role in World War I, and horses died by the millions in the conflict.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-7"></span></li><li><h2>Battleship</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/60714-004-3363E418/HMS-Orion-Royal-Navy-power-guns-ship-1922.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*4030"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/60714-004-3363E418/HMS-Orion-Royal-Navy-power-guns-ship-1922.jpg?w=1000" alt="Figure 30: HMS Orion, super dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy. Heavier than HMS Dreadnought but just as fast, this ship mounted 10 13.5-inch guns of greater armour-piercing power in five turrets along the centreline of the vessel.The Orion was pre" data-width="550" data-height="233" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/60714-004-3363E418/HMS-Orion-Royal-Navy-power-guns-ship-1922.jpg" data-href="*4030">HMS <em>Orion</em>; dreadnought</a><span>HMS <em>Orion</em>, super dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy. Heavier than the HMS <em>Dreadnought</em> but just as fast, this ship mounted 10 13.5-inch guns of greater armour-piercing power in five turrets along the centreline of the vessel. The <em>Orion</em> was present at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and was scrapped under the Five-Power Naval Limitation Treaty of 1922.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">The National Maritime Museum, London</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The age of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/battleship-naval-ship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">battleship</a> reached its apotheosis in World War I, as even the <em><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dreadnought-British-battleship" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dreadnought</a></em>, the archetypal “big-gun” ship, found itself outgunned. Super dreadnoughts, such as the HMS <em>Orion</em>, ruled the waves; their reign was short, however, as developments in naval aviation would soon render such ships obsolete.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-8"></span></li><li><h2>Machine gun</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-050-133E7B13/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*199235"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-050-133E7B13/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg?w=1000" alt="German machine gunners occupy a trench during World War I." data-width="1600" data-height="995" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/177090-050-133E7B13/German-machine-gun-emplacement-World-War-I.jpg" data-href="*199235">trench warfare</a><span>A German machine gun emplacement during World War I.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Prints and Photographs Division/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital file no. LC-USZ62-136100)</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/machine-gun" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Machine guns</a> were an exceptionally lethal addition to the battlefield in World War I. Heavy guns, such as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Maxim-machine-gun" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Maxim</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/Hotchkiss-machine-gun" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hotchkiss</a>, made “no man's land” a killing zone, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Isaac-Newton-Lewis" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Isaac Newton Lewis</a>'s light machine gun saw widespread use at the squad level and as an aircraft armament.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-9"></span></li><li><h2>Tank</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/200901-050-BE42F690/Mark-IV-British-tank-trench-German-Battle-November-20-1917.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236573"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/200901-050-BE42F690/Mark-IV-British-tank-trench-German-Battle-November-20-1917.jpg?w=1000" alt="Mark IV (Male) tank of H Battalion ditched in a German trench while supporting the 1st Battalion, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, one mile west of Ribecourt, northern France during the Battle of Cambrai, November 20, 1917.(World War I)" data-width="1600" data-height="1254" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/200901-050-BE42F690/Mark-IV-British-tank-trench-German-Battle-November-20-1917.jpg" data-href="*236573">tank in the Battle of Cambrai</a><span>British Mark IV (Male) tank ditched in a German trench during the Battle of Cambrai, November 20, 1917.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Robert Hunt Library/Mary Evans Picture Library/age fotostock</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph"><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/tank-military-vehicle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tanks</a> were used primarily in a supporting role. The armoured vehicle would not truly come into its own until the doctrines of J.F.C. Fuller and Basil Liddell Hart were more widely adopted in World War II.</p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-10"></span></li><li><h2>Unexploded ordnance</h2><div><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/200607-050-A80B4173/shell-tree-France-Avricourt.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*236987"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/200607-050-A80B4173/shell-tree-France-Avricourt.jpg?w=1000" alt="A French blind projectile sticking fast at a tree new, Avricourt, France. (World War I)" data-width="1108" data-height="1600" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif "><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" target="_blank" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/07/200607-050-A80B4173/shell-tree-France-Avricourt.jpg" data-href="*236987">World War I</a><span>Unexploded shell lodged in a tree near Avricourt, France.</span></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.</cite></figcaption></figure><p class="topic-paragraph">The French government estimates that millions of unexploded shells from World War I remain buried or undiscovered in the French countryside. Every year, bomb-clearing units remove more than 40 tons of unexploded munitions from the Verdun area alone. </p><span class="MOD"></span></div><span class="LIST-ITEM-11"></span></li></ul><span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"List","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":11,"pageId":6621,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.38"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/list-page.js?v=3.130.38' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"List","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Weapons of World War I | Britannica