First World War

Question 1

Weaponry of WW1 1914

Answer 1

Hand grenades
Mortars
Machine Guns
Cavalry had no part to play on battlefield
Aircraft seen as new cavalry ‘knights of the sky’

Question 2

The Naval Arms Race

Answer 2

Usually stopped wars not cause them
Dreadnoughts race after 1906 British Dreadnought
Building ships get out of control

Question 3

The Alliance System

Answer 3

Nations with common aims/interests
Triple Enténte= Britain, Russiaz France
Tripped Alliance= Germany,Italy(switch), Turkey, Austria
The Balkans

Question 4

War in the Balkans- little states

Answer 4

War prior to this
Nationalism in Austrian Empire
Decline of Ottoman, Austro-Hungary Empires
Austro-Hungary Empire declared war on Serbia
Serbian nationalist assassinate heir to Austrian throne- Declared war

Question 5

German Imperialism

Answer 5

Unification 1871- victory of Franko Prussian War
50 years industrialised for Germany comparatively to Britain
Kaiser Wilhelm II aggressive- navy to rival Britain
Army biggest in Europe =more powerful

Question 6

Battle of Mons 23 August 1914

Answer 6

BEF (British Expeditionary Force) engage German army- Battle of Frontiers
BEF lost 1,638 casualties forced to retreat
Stopped Shleiffen Plan
War of movement= no trenches
Double German casualties
Germany too strong in this battle
Leader of BEF Sir John French
Outnumbered by Germany
Britain retreated to Ypres (prime homebase for British for war)

Question 7

Battle of Marne 6-12 September 1914

Answer 7

Mint British involvement more supporting French
Halted Shleiffen Plan
Known as ‘Miracle of Marne’ allied victory
Trenches hastily dug to lockdown territorial position

Question 8

Schliefflen Plan details

Answer 8

Surrounded by enemies- overreact
Attack France first, defeat them, Britain won’t fight without France.
90% geared to France, 10% on Eastern Front
Take Russia after, would take them 6 weeks to mobilise get France in this time
However, wrong Russia only took 10 days to mobilise
Schlieffen died and Moltke took over reduced percentages 75% France, 25% Eastern Front= fail

Question 9

Reasons Schlieffen Plan failed

Answer 9

1. ) Reduced percentages 75% France, 25% Eastern Front
2. ) Russia mobilised quicker than estimated only took 10 days
3. ) Novody expected quick British involvement- occured due to Germany breaking Belgiums neutrality

Question 10

Railways in Schlieffen Plan

Answer 10

Railways key in war= Industrialised war. Shleiffen Plan built around railways
Belgium invaded by Germany ended neutrality and stopped Shleiffen Plan as Britain had to declare war