Experiences of WW1 Flashcards
British Charactestics WW1
Very strong economy
Great Exhibition 1851
In the 19th century accounted for half of the world’s industry and trade in the mid 19th century.
This supremacy was lost to foreign competition by 1900.
King George V is the king, but most of the power is in the parliament.
Policy of splendid isolation.
Germany characteristics
Very young, but a lot of land. It is surrounded by a lot of powers and is surrounded, so if countries allied it would be very easy to invade. Germany unified in 1871.
Prussia was unified by Prussia.
Otto von Bismarck had an aggressive policy and called the rules ‘blood and iron’.
Kaiser Wilhelm II is obsessed with military and naval power, resents his English cousins and wants to make Germany dominant.
France characteristics
Old empire and wanted revenge as they got defeated by Germany. They had to give away a territory when they lost the war. President Poincare hated Germany and was also afraid because of the higher population and industrial power. Fading empire.
Russia characteristics
They had Tsars. It was enormous and went from Europe to Asia. A very rural community. Industrially backwards. In bloody Sunday, over 1000 peasants got shot for asking for help. 5% of the population owned 95% of the money. The leader is Tsar Nicholas II. Refused to share power, had a weak personality. Russia was ripe for revolution. Aimed to extend Russian power.
Austria-Hungary characteristics
Austria-Hungary is huge and 14 nationalities and different regional nationalities, but it has a lack of identity and unity.
Led by Emperor Franz Joseph II. He only cared about power and was very old
What can the:
Land of each great power be described as?
Britain- ruled a quarter of the land
Germany - large country
France- Colonolised lots of land in Africa(more than Britain)
Austria-Hungary - contains lots of resources
Russia- massive, mainly rural
What are the advantages of:
Britain
Very strong Navy
What are the advantages of:
Germany
Strong millitary
Millitariasm
Stong industrial capacities - higher than England
What are the advantages of:
France
High numbers and a lot of land
What are the advantages of:
Austria-Hungary
High numbers
Natural resources
What are the advantages of:
Russia
Lots of land
Very high numbers
How much trench line was dug?
2490 km
What was trench life mainly like?
boredom, getting trenchfoot… and fighting which usually resulted in deth
What was the reason soldiers would want to fight the most in the trenches?
Comradship
What were the reasons to joining up to the war effort
- Propogand
- Patriotism
- Fear of being invaded
- Shame in public - white feathers
- Pals Patalium to go to war with your friends
- Travel to a new place