Nature of WWI Flashcards
How was artillery used during WWI?
It became clear that only artillery could effectively destroy trench defences and give frontal attacks some chance of success. Most casualties on the battlefield were as a result of artillery. By 1916, the Germans had developed Howitzers which could fire a shell weighing nearly a ton.
What was the impact of gas during WWI?
The Germans first used gas at Ypres in 1915 (chlorine). With the development of gas masks, the impact of gas was minimised, however it was still largely feared.
What was the impact of tanks in WWI?
The Tanks were a solution to barbed wire, trenches and machine guns. Tanks were used initially at the Battle of the Somme but were first effectively deployed at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, though there were not sufficiently reinforced.
What was the impact of barbed wire during WWI?
Barbed wire was a deadly defensive weapon. It snagged on equipment and clothing, slowing attackers. Barbed wire made advancing across No Man’s-Land very difficult. It was especially effective when combined with the potency of machine guns.
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
At first, the German advance under General von Moltke made good progress. However, he stopped to re-evaluate the situation and did not fully implement the war plan. In the East, the Russians advanced into East Prussia. This necessitated Germany dispatching two army corps. However, Hindenburg had already defeated the Russians at Tannenberg. This had fatal consequences for the Germans as the French were able to slow the German attack and prevent the encirclement of Paris.
How effective was Plan 17?
The French plan to make a frontal attack on Germany if war broke out. They attempted to retake Alsace-Lorraine but were repulsed with huge casualties. General Joseph Joffre seemed unable to reflect reality with the war plan.
Why did Japan join WWI?
Japan quickly captured German territory in the Chinese province of Shantung. Japan’s primary interest was to strengthen its hold on China.
Why did Türkiye join the Central Powers?
Germany was able to offer Türkiye the annexation of Russian border territory and Britain had refused to hand over two warships that Türkiye had paid for.
Why did Italy join the Allied side?
Italy entered the war on the Allied side because the Treaty of London promised them a substantial amount of territory.
Why did Gallipoli fail?
(April 1915)
An earlier bombardment had deprived them of their element of surprise. The conflict rapidly degenerated into trench warfare. Troops were withdrawn in December. The failure in Gallipoli proved there was no easy fix and the war could only be won on the Western Front.
How successful was the German Eastern offensive in 1915?
Eight German divisions were moved from the Western Front to the Eastern Front, led by General August von Mackensen. A very successful attack was launched in Southern Poland in early May. The Central Powers advanced 150km within two weeks. In August, the Central Powers had advanced 200km to the east of Warsaw. The Russians suffered nearly 2 million casualties. However, Russia had not been defeated. In the autumn, the Russians had consolidated their positions. The Central Powers were still locked in a two-front war with no decisive victory in sight.
What was the Battle of Verdun? (1916)
The place that General von Falkenhayn decided to attack was the fortress at Verdun. Despite limited military value, it would be perceived as a major defeat for the French and so weaken their moral. The plan was for the Germans to make a series of intense artillery bombardments, make short advances and then consolidate their positions. Falkenhayn calculated that the French would be a victim of the German “mincing machine” (artillery). The French did suffer terribly but so did the Germans. The French sustained 362000 casualties, the Germans 337,000. The Germans withdrew in November.
What was the Brusilov Offensive? (1916)
The Russians initially achieved brilliant success (led by General Brusilov) on the Carpathian front against Austria-Hungary. Brusilov’s success was not exploited by any other Russian army corps and ground to a halt in the autumn.
What was the Battle of the Somme (1916)?
The British advanced on the German position in the Somme under the leadership of Field Marshal Haig. When the advance was halted in November, it had cost the British 415000 casualties. The British advanced only 7 miles.
What was the Battle of Jutland? (1916)
The Germans, led by Rear Admiral von Scheer, hoped that they could severely damage the British naval fleet, even if the German fleet was destroyed. Although the Germans inflicted more damage, bad weather and poor visibility meant that the Germans were forced to withdraw back to the German North Sea base. Despite some losses for the British under the leadership of Admiral Jellicoe, the situation had not changed strategically. The British fleet still had an overwhelming numerical superiority.
