Major Developments in the First World War Flashcards

1
Q

The first world war

A

WW1 -> 4 years (1914-1918)
Allied Powers (Triple Entente; France, Britain, Russia) VS Central Powers (Triple Alliance; A-H, Germany)
Italy joined 1915 -> switched to Allies

spread throughout EU -> into far east
Central Powers defeated -> war end

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2
Q

How did WW1 end?

A

When the central powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany) lost in 1918.

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3
Q

WW1 time period

A

1914-1918

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4
Q

The Schlieffen Plan

A

feared attack on two fronts; France from west and Russia from east -> Germany’s clear plan for war by 1905
drawn by General con Schlieffen
1. strike France quickly
2. attack Russia on Eastern front
Russia needs 6 weeks time to mobilise army -> time to knock out France out of the war before fighting Russia

1914 declare war on France -> Germany carried Schlieffen Plan + attacked through Belgium

drawback:
Germany forces met Belgium resistance + advance to France was successfully resisted by the French and British forces

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5
Q

Trench Warfare

A

Failure of Schlieffen Plan -> each side dug long trench:
Belgian coast through Northern France to Switzerland
~600 miles of trenches
-» Stalemate: neither side could advance

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6
Q

Russia’s defeat to withdrawal

A

August 1914:
Eastern Front -> Russian armies invaded the East of German Province Prussia
-> Germans concentrated forces in East, trying to defeat Russia

1917
1. 2 million Russian soldiers dead
2. widespread dissatisfaction on the war
3. repeated defeats from Germany -> worsened Russia’s internal problems
March -> revolution -» czardom overthrown

New provisional gov decided to continue war
soldiers tired -> didn’t want to fight anymore
Lenin understood -> took leadership of the Bolsheviks (a group of revolutionaries) -> overthrew provisional gov
-> ended war against Germany

March 1918 -> Russia withdrew from war -> enable Germany to concentrate on Western front

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7
Q

reasons for Russian Revolution in 1917

A
  1. 2 million Russian soldiers dead
  2. widespread dissatisfaction on the war
  3. repeated defeats from Germany -> worsened Russia’s internal problems
    March -> revolution -» czardom overthrown
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8
Q

Entry of Italy

A

April 1915 -> Britain + France + Russia (The allies) signed secret treaty with Italy
-> promise territorial gains
Italy was originally uninvolved in the war -> ally of Germany of A-H
switched sides (BETRAYAL) -> joined allies

entry didn’t help the war at all

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9
Q

Fighting at sea

A

1915 onwards -> Germans tried to break Britain naval supremacy;
cut supplies from other parts of world using submarines (U-Boats) -> sink ships bringing supplies to Britain

May 1915 -> German U-Boat sank passenger liner Lusitania
sailing between US and Britain -> killed over 1k people (most were Americans)
death of Americans -> anti German in US
kaiser promised it wouldn’t happen again -> US remained neutral

February 1917 -> Germany began new campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare on merchant ships trading with Britain + her allies -> threaten security of shipping that had neutral states (US)

April 1917 -> President Wilson declared war on Germany (last straw)

Us support -> sent large amounts of supplies and soldiers to the allies -> reenergised them

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10
Q

US entry to war

A

February 1917 -> Germany began new campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare on merchant ships trading with Britain + her allies -> threaten security of shipping that had neutral states (US)

April 1917 -> President Wilson declared war on Germany (last straw after sinking of Lusitania

Us support -> sent large amounts of supplies and soldiers to the allies -> reenergised them

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11
Q

the End of the War, 1918

A

Germany -> running low on men + supplies
US troops poured back into France -> decline German morale
German troops driven back everywhere -> Allies superior
Central powers defeated:
1. Bulgaria
2. Turkey + A-H
3. Germany (November 1918)

Kaiser William abdicated (resigned)

END

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12
Q

When did Germany surrender

A

November 1918

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13
Q

November 1918

A

Germany surrenders

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14
Q

April 1915

A

The Allies sign a secret treaty with Italy promising territorial gains

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15
Q

The Allies sign a secret treaty with Italy promising territorial gains

A

April 1915

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16
Q

Lusitania sinks

A

April 1915

17
Q

April 1915

A

Lusitania sinks

18
Q

February 1917

A

Germany begins campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare on merchant ships trading with britain and her allies

19
Q

Germany begins campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare on merchant ships trading with britain and her allies

A

February 1917

20
Q

President Wilson declared war on Germany

A

April 1917

21
Q

April 1917

A

President Wilson declares war on Germany