First World War (1914-1918) Flashcards
1
Q
Treaty of London
A
April 1915
2
Q
What was the Treaty of London?
A
- Secret
- Britain and France
- Next month declared war on Austria
3
Q
What were Italian opinions on the outbreak of war in July 1914?
A
- Large vocal minority favoured entering war joining Britain and France
- Few favoured joining Austria
- Nationalists held meetings in piazzas
- Majority of parliament favoured peace
- King open to negotiations from both sides
4
Q
Battle of Caporetto
A
- 1917
- Italy defeated
- Government promised major reforms when war was over
- Raised expectations
5
Q
Vittorio Veneto
A
- 1918
- Smaller battle than Caporetto
- Italians remembered this, rather than defeat
- Expectations raised again
6
Q
Who were the majority of soldiers in the war?
A
- Southern peasant conscripts
- Skilled industrial workers required to stay in factories
- Soldiers bitter about industrialists
7
Q
What were conditions like for the soldiers?
A
- Low rations (600g bread, 250g meat, 150g pasta per day)
- 1/2 lire a day to each soldier
- Lacked modern equipment
- Thousands killed by cholera, typhus and frostbite
8
Q
Military statistics
A
- 5 million conscripted
- Trench stalemate
- 11 offensives in two and a half years
- Maximum advance was 12 miles
- 600,000 Italians killed
- 1 million wounded
9
Q
What was the economic impact of the war?
A
- State spent 148 billion lire
- National debt in 1914 was 16 billion lire, by 1919 was 85 billion lire
- Major industries saw massive expansion e.g. Fiat, Ansaldo
10
Q
What was the social impact of the war?
A
- Strict discipline in the war industries
- Working up to 75 hours per week
- Increased employment of women
- Real wages fell by 25%
- Rents frozen
- Some peasants paid off debts
- Bread riots 1917: 50 killed
11
Q
Armistice signed
A
1918
12
Q
Treaty of St Germain
A
1919 - peace terms with Austria
13
Q
Who was General Cadorna?
A
- Autocratic, stubborn leader of Italian army (1915-17)
- Scornful of soldiers welfare
- Sacked 217 generals
- Banned politicians from war zone
- Blamed failings on weak government
- Sacked after Caporetto
