causes of ww1 Flashcards
what was weltpolitik, how did this increase tensions
Weltpolitik aimed to copy Britain and build a global empire by gaining overseas territories. As Britain and France already owned a majority of the land Germany felt they were standing in her way of becoming a world power
When were the Morocco crisis
1905 and 1911
What were the Morocco crisis’
Germany tried to block France from controlling Morocco. Britain supported France and Morocco became a french colony
Who were the triple alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Who were the triple Entente
Britain, France, Russia
When was the treaty of London signed
1839
what was the treaty of london
Britain was obliged to protect belgium
How did the Naval race increase tensions?
Britain was concerned germany would over take her as the worlds largest economy, producing more iron, coal and steel.
In 1906 Britain launched the HMS dreadnaught
in 1908 Germany launched the Rhineland.
This started a naval race, the competition increased tensions
What boats were created and when for the naval race
1906 Britain launched the HMS Dreadnaught
1908 Germany launched the Rhineland
What tension was there between france and germany in 1870
France lost Alsace-Lorraine to Germany
What was the Bosnian Crisis
The balkan region was controlled by the Ottoman empire, but situated between Russia and Austria-Hungary who both wanted it.
Austria with Germanys help took over Bosnia in 1908 angering Serbia who also wanted it
Where did Archduke Franz Ferdinand get assassinated
when
Sarajevo, Bosnia
june 1914
Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand
Gavrillo Princip, with weapons provided by the Serbian Government
What was the blank cheque
Given to Austria by Germany, it was an assurance of assistance if war broke out
What was the ten-point ultimatum
Austria issued it to Serbia after realising they aided the assassination. Serbia only agreed to 9 of the demands as their independence would have been severely limited.
Austria then declared war on July 28th 1914
When did Britain join the war
Britain tried to maintain peace during July, but once German troops invaded Belgium, Britain too declared war
When was war first declared
July 28th 1914
What was the Schleiffen plan
created by Alfred Von Schleiffen to avoid fighting a war on two fronts
it failed
Battle of Heligoland Bight
august 1914, Royal navy ambushed enemy ships close to the german coast sinking 4 ships
december 1914 german fleet bonbarded 3 towns on the british coast killing 122 civilians
What happened at The battle of Jutland
New admiral Von Scheer was keen for a confrontation
he sent out a squadron of ships to draw out the british fleet and an additional ship behind for a surprise attack
british broke the codes and were waiting for an attack
british lost 14 ships, germans lost 11 ships
How many ships and lives were lost in the Battle of jutland
Britain- 14 ships, 6000 lives
Germany- 11 ships, 2500 lives
What’s a Q ship?
merchant ships that were secretly armed to sink U-boats
What were U-boats
German submarines designed to sink british cargo vessels
What was the Lusitania
An British passenger line which was sunk by the germans, killing 128 Americans.
This was used to create negative propaganda about the germans in america
How many tons of cargo did britain lose in 1914
how many in 1917
312,000 tons
6 million tons
What did the British Naval Blockade do?
blockaded german ports, preventing the delivery of food and raw materials (for weaponry)
What was the effect of the British Naval Blockade
After 1914, food production was at 70% of the nations needs
rationing was introduced in 1916
cost germany 300,000 lived through famine
german morale suffered, and german navy mutinied and forced the kaiser to exile
