Impact of the First World War Flashcards
Empire was vital to allied success in the First World War. How did colonies help ?
- colonies sent approximately 2.5 million men to fight for the Empire between 1914 and 1918
How many men did the Dominions provide ?
- Dominions provided some 1.3 million men to the allied cause.
How many dominion soldiers died ?
- in Australia 58,500 died
- Canada 56,500
- New Zealand 16,000
Where and when was conscription introduced ?
- conscription was introduced in New Zealand in 1916 and Canada in 1917
main role/ impact of Australians and New Zealanders ?
- applauded for their bravery in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign
main role/impact of Canadians ?
- Canada for their part at the battle for Vimy Ridge in April 1917
- Canada also supplied Britain with munitions ( third of the munitions used by British army in France in 1916-17 ) and wheat.
What did General Smuts do ?
- formed the South African Defence Force , which fought successfully against the German Army in its colonies
Who was General Smuts ?
- was a member of Lloyd’s George’s Imperial War Cabinet and attended the London Imperial War Conference and even advised on military strategy in Europe.
What did the war trigger debate between the Dominions to the British Empire ?
- triggered debate about the Domion’s relationship to Britain and their long term future
Opposition to the war in the Dominions ?
- French Canadians in Quebec regarded the war as a pro-British affair
- protect riots against conscription in Quebec City in March 1918
- Australians rejected conscription in two referendums , In October 1916 and December 1917
- In South Africa, a republican movement led by J.B.M Hertzog grew and the Afrikaner movement questioned the imperial connection
How did the war affect the relationship between Dominions and the British ?
- war boosted emerging senses of distinctive national identity, affecting the relationship with Britain as the desire for independence from imperial control increased.
What desires did the war lead to in the Dominion ?
- desire of freedom from imperial control.
What was never introduced in India ?
Conscription
How many Indians fought in the war
- over 1.4 million servicemen , all volunteers.
role/impact of the Indian soldiers ?
- some fought on the western front
- others fought in the Middle East, making major contributions to the fighting
role/ impact of the Indian government ?
- contributed 100 million to Britain’s war effort
how many Egyptians were recruited to defend Egypt and the Middle East
- 1.2 million
Servicemen from West and East Africa were not permitted to fight where
- not permitted to fight in Europe.