Chapter 2 Key Terms Flashcards
Central Powers (4)
German Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria
Allies (5) (+2)
Countries against Germany during WWII:
- Britain, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- After 1941: U.S. and U.S.S.R.
Belgian neutrality and Germany
-What happened bro?
- Great Powers promised to remain neutral with Belgium
- Germany’s Schlieffen Plan: drive through Belgium to capture Paris, Triple Entente promised to protect France, and also not attack Belgium
Women and the war effort
-What did they get from this?
Women believed their contributions to the war effort should allow them to make decisions.
Women later received the right to vote
Sam Hughes
- What position?
- In charge of what?
- Minister of Militia
- In charge of Canada’s armament (military weapons and equipment) industry
- Poor administrator: Ministry of Militia was inefficient
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)
- Army of volunteers, basic training in Camp Valcartier in Quebec for 4 months, supported by Sam Hughes
- British expected CEF to be integrated into British units but instead, they fought independently (separate unit)
- Grew national identity and autonomy
Ross Rifle
- Shitty Canadian-made rifle provided by Hughes: always jammed
- Picked up Lee-Enfield rifles from dead soldiers instead
Internment Camp
Government-run camp detaining people who’re considered a threat
-In 1914, over 8500 recent German and Autro-Hungarians were held in isolation
Trench warfare
- Cold and damp in winter, flooded in heavy rains of France and Belgium
- Cesspools overrun by rats
- Disease spread, lice, trench foot
- Wounded would die on no man’s land because rescue was too dangerous
Nellie McClung (Suffragist) -Part of the... \_\_\_\_\_\_
-Suffragist: campaigned for women’s rights
-Part of Famous Five (Alberta women who fought for the political status of women)
-
British Declaration of War
Declares war on Germany to protect ally (France), leading to Canada into war as they are in the British Empire
French Canadian attitude to WWI
Had little appeal to fighting WW1 as they did not feel patriotism towards Britain as they were French
Women’s Suffrage
Women at home front believed their contribution to war effort should allow them to decide how the country would run
-Women received the right to vote (except for Aboriginal and immigrant)
Long range artillery
- Machine guns
- Planes equipped with machine guns and bombs
- 60-pounder gun was powerful and accurate (was heavy, commonly sunk into ground)
Tank
Sheltered soldiers from gunfire, crossing no man’s land, and drove through barbed wires that lined trenches.
- Solved trench warfare
- First used in Battle of the Somme to break German Lines
U-Boat
German submarine (Unterseeboot, under-sea-boat)
- Armed with torpedoes that sank large ships
- Attacked convoys of merchant ships and freighters carrying supplies to Britain
- Eventually captured by British
Gas Warfare
Germany first to use poison gas on battlefield
- Released clouds of chlorine gas at Ypres 1915
- Gas blinded and attacked respiratory system
- Defence: rags soaked in water/urine, anti-gas respirators/gas masks made poison gas less effective
Attrition
War of Attrition: military strategy based on exhausting enemy manpower and resources by heavy sacrifices.
Trench Foot
Turned feet swollen and black
Second Battle of Ypres (Belgium) 1915
- French and Canadians blinded, burned, or killed by German chlorine gas
- Battle lasted a month but neither side gained much advantage
- John McCrae wrote “In Flanders Fields” to commemorate Canadians serving in this battle
First Battle of the Somme (1916)
- Allies massive attack on German trenches near Somme River, France
- Failed attack: Allies shells did not destroy German defenses or barbed wire around trenches, marched on open fields and were shot down, heavy losses on first day (58,000 British)
- 5 Month Battle
- Captured only 13km land
- 1.25 million casualties, 24,000 Canadians, Royal Newfoundland Regiment lost 90% of men, all wounded/killed/badly shaken by slaughter
- Canadian troops distinguished themselves during battle and brought to lead assaults in major battles over course of WWI
Vimy Ridge (1914)
- German took control in 1914 (key position near Somme) as it contained a clear view of surroundings
- For two years, French and British forces tried to capture ridge but were unsuccessful
- Canadian troops lead new assault in 1916
- Was carefully planned
- Canadian Corps captured Hill 145 and took “the pimple” - last German position
- Losses significantly lower, Byng’s meticulous planning and training, Canadian professionalism and bravery paid off
- Marked first time Canadian divisions attacked together, brought national pride and reputation of being an elite fighting force
Passchendaele
Currie and CEF asked to break through German lines in Passchendaele in Belgium
- Earlier assault by Haig left massive shell craters which left muddy bogs
- Currie warned heavy casualties by Haig overruled him, causing 200,000 casualties
- Canadians captured victory, Allies only gained 7-8km, Germans soon recaptured town
100 days (Hundred Days Campaign)
Series of attacks by Allies
- Canada’s offensive were most successful and were led by General Currie
- Broke through German lines and won battles at Arras, Cambrai, and Valenciennes