Ending WW1 - topic 1 Flashcards
1
Q
When did Russia leave World War I, and why?
A
- November 1917: Bolsheviks took power, promised peace
- 15 December 1917: Fighting stopped on Eastern Front
- March 1918: Treaty of Brest-Litovsk officially ended Russia’s involvement
2
Q
Why was there a new government in Russia in 1917?
A
- Tsar Nicholas II lost support due to defeats and poor leadership
- Riots, strikes, and mass desertions in early 1917
- Petrograd Soviet set up by workers and soldiers
- Tsar abdicated March 1917
- Provisional Government took over but failed to fix Russia’s problems
3
Q
What was the impact of Tsar Nicholas II’s leadership during the war?
A
- Took command of the Army but was a poor leader
- Blamed for defeats at Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes
- Left government in hands of unpopular Tsarina Alexandra and Rasputin
- Made Russia’s crisis worse
4
Q
What were the effects of the war on ordinary Russians by 1916?
A
- Over 1 million Russian soldiers killed
- 15 million men conscripted, causing worker shortages
- Food and fuel shortages; cities had power cuts
- Railways couldn’t cope
- People lost all support for the war
5
Q
What triggered the March 1917 Revolution in Russia?
A
- Riots and strikes over shortages and defeats
- Tsarina ordered troops to fire; they refused and joined protests
- Petrograd Soviet formed to coordinate protests
- Tsar abdicated after returning to chaos
6
Q
Who took control of Russia after the Tsar abdicated?
A
- Provisional Government formed in March 1917
- Promised elections and land for peasants
- Failed to end the war; July 1917 offensive failed
- Lost support as conditions worsened
7
Q
How did Lenin and the Bolsheviks take power in November 1917?
A
- Germany helped Lenin return from exile
- Bolsheviks overthrew Provisional Government in November 1917
- Promised “Peace, Land, and Bread”
- Lenin made peace with Germany
8
Q
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and why was it important?
A
- Signed March 1918 with Germany and Austria-Hungary
- Russia lost land, resources, and people
- Britain and France felt betrayed
- Freed German troops for the Western Front
9
Q
How did Russia’s withdrawal affect Germany’s war strategy?
A
- Germany no longer fought a two-front war
- Moved troops to the Western Front
- Gained land and raw materials from Russia
- Temporary advantage in early 1918
10
Q
When did the USA enter World War I, and on which side?
A
- April 1917
- On the side of Britain and France (the Allies)
11
Q
Why was the USA neutral at the start of the war in 1914?
A
- Saw it as a European conflict
- Many Americans were of German descent
- No tradition of fighting in European wars
- President Wilson wanted to stay neutral
12
Q
What was American neutrality like before 1917?
A
- Sold food, weapons, and goods to Britain and allies
- US banks lent $2 billion to the Allies
- Made big profits from trade
- Officially neutral but financially involved
13
Q
What happened to the Lusitania in 1915?
A
- Sunk by German U-boat in May 1915
- Over 1,000 killed, including 128 Americans
- Caused outrage in the USA
- Germany cut back U-boat attacks (temporarily)
14
Q
Why did Germany restart unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917?
A
- Wanted to starve Britain and France into surrender
- Sunk 8 American ships
- Increased pressure on USA to join the war
15
Q
When did the USA declare war on Germany?
A
- 2 April 1917 (ape with shoes holding american flag)
- Declared Germany had committed “acts of war”
- Congress agreed shortly after
15
Q
What was the Zimmermann Telegram?
A
- Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico
- Promised Mexico Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
- Discovered by the USA in March 1917
- Final reason for America joining the war
16
Q
Why did the USA enter World War I?
A
- German U-boat attacks on US ships
- Zimmermann Telegram
- To protect US trade and loans to Britain/France
- Growing anti-German feelings
17
Q
Why was America’s entry important for Britain and France?
A
- Gave morale boost after Russia left the war
- USA had huge resources: food, coal, oil, weapons
- US troops reinforced the Western Front
18
Q
How did America’s entry affect Germany?
A
- Badly weakened Germany’s chances of winning
- Germany rushed to launch a final attack in 1918
- Lost the advantage of Russia leaving the war
19
Q
How did military tactics and technology change between 1914 and 1918?
A
- Soldiers in 1918 used more advanced weapons and new tactics than in 1914.
- Changes included improvements at sea, in air warfare, tanks, artillery, infiltration tactics, and overall command structure.
- New tactics aimed to break the stalemate of trench warfare and reduce casualties.
20
Q
What was the German U-boat campaign and its impact?
A
- German submarines (U-boats) sank millions of tonnes of cargo and killed thousands of sailors and civilians.
- Aimed to starve Britain by disrupting its supply lines.
21
Q
What new tactics were used to defend ships from U-boats?
A
- Minefields and depth charges were deployed.
- Q-ships (armed decoy vessels) were used to lure and destroy submarines.
- The convoy system grouped merchant ships with naval escorts for protection.
22
Q
What was the hydrophone, and how did it help?
A
- A new technology that acted like an underwater microphone.
- It could detect submarines several miles away by listening to underwater sounds.
- Improved anti-submarine warfare by 1918.
23
Q
What was the first aircraft carrier, and when was it used?
A
- HMS Argus was the world’s first aircraft carrier.
- In October 1918, it was the first ship to have planes land on its deck.
- The war ended shortly after, so Argus saw no action in WWI.
24
What was the purpose of "dazzle" painting on ships?
* Ships were painted with bold shapes, lines, and contrasting colors.
* This confused submarine commanders, making it harder to estimate the ship’s speed, size, and direction.
* Over 2,000 British ships were painted with dazzle camouflage.
25
What role did aeroplanes play at the start of the war?
* Mainly used for reconnaissance (spying and spotting enemy positions).
* Little offensive capability in 1914.
26
When and where were tanks first used in WWI?
* First used by the British at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
* Most broke down before reaching German trenches.
26
How did aeroplanes improve during WWI?
* Built with stronger materials, making them more maneuverable.
* Larger fuel tanks allowed longer flights and heavier bomb loads.
* Anthony Fokker developed a machine gun synchronization gear, allowing pilots to fire between propeller blades.
27
What new air warfare tactics were developed?
* Planes started flying in large formations by 1917.
* Patrol leaders tried to attack from above to surprise enemies.
* Planes supported ground troops by bombing trenches and slowing down enemy advances.
* By 1917, pilots could communicate with ground troops by radio, instead of dropping messages.
28
How did tanks improve by 1917-1918?
* At the Battle of Cambrai (1917), over 400 tanks crossed no man’s land, crushing machine gun positions and gaining 8 km of ground.
* At the Battle of Amiens (1918), around 600 tanks led an advance of 32 km, although fewer than 50 tanks were still working after five days.
29
What improvements were made to artillery during the war?
* Special shells destroyed barbed wire and exploded on contact with the ground.
* The “creeping barrage” allowed troops to advance behind a moving curtain of artillery fire.
* Anti-aircraft guns were developed to shoot down enemy planes.
* German “Paris Guns” fired shells 130 km (80 miles) into Paris.
30
What was the creeping barrage?
* Artillery fire moved slowly forward in front of advancing troops.
* Provided cover and protection from enemy fire.
* Timing had to be precise to avoid hitting their own troops.
31
How was mine warfare used in WWI?
* Tunnels were dug under enemy trenches and filled with explosives.
* Detonating the mines destroyed key enemy positions.
* Often carried out by ex-miners.
32
What were infiltration tactics, and who used them first?
* Small groups of elite soldiers attacked ahead of the main force to destroy key enemy positions.
* Armed with light machine guns, grenades, and flamethrowers.
* First used by Germany in 1917 after capturing plans from the French.
* German stormtroopers (Sturmmann) successfully used these tactics at the Battle of Riga and Caporetto.
33
How did infiltration tactics differ from earlier trench attacks?
* Replaced mass infantry assaults with smaller, targeted strikes.
* Soldiers advanced stealthily, often crawling close to enemy lines before attacking.
* Reduced casualties and increased success in breaking enemy defenses.
33
What was the unified command structure of 1918?
* Allied generals agreed to coordinate all British, French, and American troops under one commander.
* Ferdinand Foch was appointed as the Allied commander-in-chief.
34
Who was Ferdinand Foch, and why was he important?
* French general, artillery expert, and veteran of the Franco-Prussian War.
* Led French troops at the Marne and the Somme.
* In 1918, coordinated Allied forces to stop the German Ludendorff Spring Offensive and launched successful counterattacks.
* Honored with a statue in London for his leadership.
35
What was Ludendorff's Spring Offensive?
* Germany’s final major attack on the Western Front in **Spring 1918.**
* Aimed to defeat Britain and France before US troops arrived in large numbers.
* Known as **Kaiserschlacht** ("Emperor's Battle").
36
Why did Germany launch the Spring Offensive in 1918?
* Russia had surrendered,**freeing 500,000** German troops from the Eastern Front.
* Germany wanted victory before the USA fully joined the war.
* Hoped to break the stalemate and force Britain and France to surrender.
37
What was Ludendorff’s plan for the Spring Offensive?
* Attack multiple points along British and French lines.
* Focused on a weak section near Arras, recently taken over by British troops.
* Use stormtroopers to break through and cause panic.
38
Who were the German stormtroopers?
* Elite troops, lightly armed with machine guns, grenades, flamethrowers.
* Moved quickly and bypassed strong points to attack from behind.
* Created panic and confusion among British troops.
39
What was the ‘hurricane bombardment’ in the spring offensive?
* **5-hour intense artillery attack on 21 March 1918**.
* **1 million shells fired** – around 3,000 per minute.
* Aimed to smash British lines before the infantry advanced.
40
What happened on the first day of the Spring Offensive?
* Began early morning, **21 March 1918.**
* 20,000 British soldiers killed, 35,000 wounded, 20,000 captured.
* Largest breakthrough on the Western Front in three years.
41
How far did the Germans advance in the Spring Offensive?
* Pushed forward **60km** in some places.
* **Reached the River Marne**, just 120km from Paris.
* Regained ground around the River Somme.
41
What was the impact on Paris during the Spring Offensive?
* Germans fired 183 shells into Paris using the Paris Gun.
* Caused panic; many Parisians fled the city.
* Showed how close the Germans were to victory.
42
What problems did Germany face after their rapid advance in the Spring offensive?
* Supply lines couldn’t keep up – troops ran low on food and ammunition.
* Stormtroopers stopped to loot captured villages, slowing the advance.
* Lost 220,000 men by April 1918 with no reserves to replace them.
43
How did the Allies respond to the German advance?
* Appointed Ferdinand Foch as Supreme Allied Commander.
* Unified British, French, and later American forces under one command.
* Coordinated defense and prepared for a counterattack.
44
What role did American troops play?
* 50,000 US soldiers arriving every week by June 1918.
* Gave the Allies fresh troops to resist German attacks.
* Boosted Allied morale and strengthened their forces.
45
What was a ‘salient’ and why did it matter?
* A bulge in the front lines where Germans had advanced.
* Made them vulnerable to attacks from multiple sides.
* Foch used this to launch an effective counterattack.
46
What happened on 15 July 1918?
* Ludendorff launched his final attack, but advanced **only 2 miles.**
* Germans ran out of supplies and momentum.
* Allies counterattacked, pushing Germans back to the River Marne.
46
What were the results of Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive?
* Cost Germany around **500,000 men** between **March and July 1918**.
* The last major German attack of the war.
* Weakened German forces, setting the stage for the Allied Hundred Days Offensive.
47
Who was Erich Ludendorff?
* German general who co-planned the Schlieffen Plan revisions.
* Led German victories at Tannenberg (1914) and Masurian Lakes (1915).
* Supported unrestricted submarine warfare, helping bring USA into the war.
48
What was the Hundred Days Offensive?
* The final Allied offensive of the First World War.
* Took place between **August and November 1918.**
* Marked the defeat and collapse of the German Army.
49
When did the Hundred Days Offensive begin?
* Started on 8 August 1918.
* Launched with the Battle of Amiens.
* Called the "Black Day" of the German Army by Ludendorff.
50
Why was Germany close to defeat by August 1918?
* German Spring Offensive had ground to a halt.
* Running short of food and weapons.
* Suffering from heavy losses and low morale.
51
What was General Foch’s new strategy during the Hundred Days?
* Launch multiple attacks along the front, not just in one area.
* Stretch German forces and wear them down.
* Coordinate British, French, Belgian, and American armies.
52
# 1.
How did American troops help in the Hundred Days?
* Provided a morale boost and fresh soldiers.
* Brought new military equipment, food, and supplies.
* Played a major role in breaking German defences.
53
How were tanks used effectively at Amiens in hundred days?
* Heavy tanks attacked well-defended German positions.
* Smaller Whippet tanks supported advancing infantry.
* Helped probe and weaken German defences.
54
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55
What was the Hindenburg Line?
* A German defensive line of concrete trenches built in 1917.
* Final major defensive position for the German Army.
* Attacked by French and American forces in September 1918.
56
# 1.
What was the Meuse-Argonne Offensive?
* Part of the assault on the Hindenburg Line.
* Largest attack by American troops in history—1.2 million soldiers.
* Cost over 26,000 American lives—one of America’s deadliest battles.
57
What happened at Amiens on 8 August 1918?
* British, Australian, Canadian, and French forces attacked.
* Advanced 11 kilometres on the first day.
* Over 400 tanks supported the offensive.
58
What were the casualties on 8 August 1918?
* Allied losses: 6,500 men.
* German losses: 30,000 men and 17,000 prisoners.
* 300 German guns were captured.
59
What did Ludendorff call 8 August 1918?
* "Black Day" of the German Army.
* Marked a turning point as German morale collapsed.
* Signified the beginning of the end for Germany.
60
What other major battles occurred during the Hundred Days?
* Fifth Battle of Ypres—Belgian, British, and French troops attacked.
* Battle of St Quentin Canal—Britain, Empire, Australia, and America fought.
* Hindenburg Line completely broken by early October 1918.
61
How did the Germans respond to their retreat?
* Burned bridges, destroyed roads, cut down trees.
* Poisoned water wells to slow the Allies.
* Abandoned heavy guns, equipment, and supplies in panic.
62
What was the final result of the Hundred Days Offensive?
* Forced German military leaders to accept the war was lost.
* Led to the **Armistice of 11 November 1918.**
* Marked the collapse of the German Army.
63
What was the home front in WW1?
* The impact of war on civilians in countries at war.
* Ordinary people faced bombing, food shortages, and government control.
* Both Britain and Germany were targeted by enemy attacks, like Zeppelin bombings.
64
How did the war effort affect industry on the home front?
* Governments took control of industries like mines, factories, and railways.
* High production targets were set for weapons, ships, and tanks.
* Women replaced men in factories, farms, and services like the police and ambulance.
65
# 1.
What role did women play on the home front?
* Worked in weapons factories, shipyards, and steelworks.
* Took over farming jobs in Germany and Russia.
* Helped keep industries and services running while men fought.
66
How did food shortages affect Germany and Britain?
* Naval blockades caused major food shortages.
* Germany had no butter, cheese, eggs by 1916, and introduced meatless days.
* The **1916-17 Turnip Winter** in Germany saw turnips as one of the only foods available.
* Britain introduced rationing to share food equally.
67
# 1.
What was the impact of the war on Germany's home front?
* Severe shortages of food, coal, and shoes by 1916.
* Government set maximum prices on foods like sugar and potatoes.
* Ongoing blockade continued until the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919.
68
How did the war devastate the landscape in France?
* Over 2 million people were made homeless.
* 250,000 houses, 20,000 factories, 1,000 bridges destroyed.
* Areas the size of Wales were left unusable, with unexploded shells still dangerous today.
69
What were the casualty figures for Allied and Central Powers?
* Allies: 40 million soldiers deployed, 5 million dead, 13 million wounded.
* Central Powers: 23 million soldiers deployed, 3 million dead, 8 million wounded.
70
What led to anger and protests on the home front?
* High casualties, food shortages, and fuel shortages increased frustration.
* In 1915, 500 women protested at the Reichstag demanding men return.
* By 1918, anger led to revolutions in Russia (1917) and Germany (1918), ending old governments.
71
Why did Germany lose the war by September 1918?
* The British naval blockade caused severe food shortages; people survived on turnips and bread.
* A deadly flu epidemic killed thousands, already weakened by malnutrition.
* **On 29 September**, General Ludendorff told leaders the war was hopeless.
72
What caused unrest and revolution in Germany in 1918?
* Protests grew after high casualties, starvation, and defeat on the battlefield.
* On 28 October, German sailors mutinied at Kiel, refusing to fight.
* Workers and soldiers took over cities like Hamburg, Cologne, and Berlin.
* The Kaiser lost support from the army and abdicated on 9 November 1918.
73
# 1.
What happened after the Kaiser's abdication?
* Friedrich Ebert, leader of the SPD, became temporary Chancellor of Germany.
* Ebert promised elections and peace to the German people.
* He sent Matthias Erzberger to negotiate an armistice with the Allies.
74
What were the main terms of the Armistice signed on 11 November 1918?
* Fighting ended on land, sea, and air within 6 hours.
* Germany had to evacuate Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Alsace-Lorraine within 15 days.
* The Allies would occupy the Rhineland (up to 30km east of the River Rhine).
* Germany withdrew troops from Austria-Hungary, Romania, and Turkey.
75
What did Germany have to surrender under the Armistice?
* 10 battleships, 6 battle cruisers, 8 cruisers, and submarines.
* Its largest weapons, railway trains, carriages, and trucks.
* The naval blockade on Germany continued.
* Germany had to pay reparations for damage caused by the war.
76
# 1.
How did the Germans react to the Armistice terms?
* German representative Matthias Erzberger was forced to sign the terms.
* One German delegate cried when the terms were read out.
* At 5:10am, on 11 November 1918, they signed; the war ended at 11:00am.
77
What was Marshal Foch’s reaction after the signing?
* Foch left the room immediately without shaking hands.
* This marked the formal end of WW1.
* Germany was humiliated but desperate for peace.
78
How did the naval blockade cause germany to lose the war?
* Germany imported only half the goods it needed by 1915, leading to shortages of food, fuel, and fertilisers.
* Caused starvation (420,000 deaths by 1918) and riots, weakening civilian morale and support for the war.
79
How did the USA entering the war cause Germany to lose the war?
* US entry in 1917 brought 2 million troops and vast supplies to the Allies.
* Forced Germany to launch the Ludendorff Spring Offensive in 1918, which failed, exhausting German troops.
80
How did the Russian (Bolshevik) Revolution cause Germany to lose the war?
- Russia’s exit in 1918 let Germany focus on the Western Front (leading to spring offensive.)
- Inspired revolts in Germany; soldiers and workers set up councils, fuelling revolution and the Kaiser’s abdication.
81
How did the development of tanks lead to Germany's loss?
* Germany made only 20 tanks, while Britain and France mass-produced thousands.
* Tanks helped break the stalemate, especially at Cambrai (1917) and Amiens (1918), starting Germany’s final military defeat.
82
How did the defeat of Germany’s allies affect them?
* Bulgaria (29 Sept 1918), Turkey (Oct 1918), and Austria-Hungary (3 Nov 1918) all surrendered.
* Left Germany isolated, fighting alone on the front.
83
What happened during the German Revolution (Nov 1918)?
* Kiel sailors mutinied, spreading revolt across Germany.
* Workers’ and soldiers’ councils took over cities → Kaiser abdicated (9 Nov 1918) → new government ended the war.
84
What role did Foch and Haig play in Germany’s defeat?
* Foch led final Allied offensives that broke German lines.
* Haig, despite criticism, led key victories in 1918, helping force Germany’s surrender.
85
Who was General Sir Douglas Haig?
* British Commander of the BEF, key leader in battles like Somme, Ypres, and Amiens.
* Helped set up the Royal British Legion, retired 1921, died 1928.
86
what were all the factors to germany losing the war?
* Bolshevik revolution
* USA entering war
* Spring offensive failure
* Tanks and tactics
* German Allies defeat
* German revolution
* British commanders/Generals
* War at sea/ naval blockade.
