Paper 1-Section B- Part 2 Flashcards
Why did the battle of the Marne start?
French forces returning from the failure own their own Plan Seventeen in Alsace and Lorraine
How did the Germans alter the Schlieffen plan?
Instead of going west and encircling Paris there would now be a hammer blow attack on the city
What happen in the battle of the Marne?
A decisive battle took place at the Marne
When was the battle of the Marne?
5th -11th September 1914
During the battle of the Marne what was happening to the Germans?
They were tired
Struggling to keep the troops supplied
Got pushed back by Britain and France to the River Aisne
They dug trenches at the River Aisne
What happened after the battle of the Marne?
Both sides went northwards in an attempt to outflank each other.
Britain haunted Germany at Ypres
Britain could still going access to the channel ports meaning France and then could still be supplied with food
When did Stalemate set in?
After the failure of the Race to the channel
Both sides were digging trenches defender by guns and barbed wire
What was the western front?
Key battle zone of WWI
What the war of attrition ?
Stationary war with very little movement
Meaning wearing down the Enemy’s resistance
What did Trench warfare change?
The role of the infantry
What were the 3 attacks that would take place?
An artillery barrage
Barrage ended
Plan for infantry
What was an artillery barrage?
Artillery guns behind the front line would bombard the enermy
Could last for hours or days
Aim to smash enemy trenches
What would happen when the barrage ended?
Infantry would’ve sent over the top of the trench and advance into no mans land carrying heavy equipment
What was the plan for infantry ?
To overpower the remaining enemy soilders and capture their trenches
Did any of the attacks on the western front work ?
Artillery bombardment did not work because trenches were dug well and bombardment was not accurate enough
Infantry in no mans land worked because the enemy’s were an easy target with machine guns and they used the cross technique
What are the main causes of wounds to British troops
Shell
Rifle
Bomb
Baynoet
Where and when were tanks first used ?
Battle of the Somme
November 1916
Why was there no changes in tactics during WW1?
Because generals believed that there was no other way of fighting and the enemy would eventually wear down.
Explain what a trench was like?
2 m deep supported by sand bags
Bottom lines with duck boards
Dugout bunkers in the back
The were not straight but zig zag to prevent enemies from firing straight down
The fronts were filled with barbed wire
What was the accommodation like on the front line?
It was only a joke dug in the side of a trench
What was the routine work on the front line?
Digging, repairing trenches and barbed wire
Collecting men from no mans land
Getting equipment from support trenches
Listening through saps
What was the job of a sapper?
Miner or engineers who would dig tunnels below ni mans land and attempt to plant explosives
What was the sanitation like on the front line?
Unwashed men and horses
Sewage’s
Rotting corpses
In summer the soilders were infested with lice
Trench foot occurred
Rats
What did the soilders eat on the front line?
Bread
Biscuits
Tinned billy beef
Tea
What did the terrible conditions cause?
A massive fall in morale occurred and the men’s mindset changed
When was the battle of verdun?
Feb - September 1916
What was the Battle of Verdun?
Germany’s offensive designed to breakthrough at Verdun and open the way to Paris
They were going to bleed the French white
Describe the events of the battle of Verdun
German began shelling the city on February 21st 1916
French used many men and resources trying to battle
What were the results of the battle of Verdun
The city was In ruins but Germany had not broke through
Both sides suffered but the French were near breaking point
When was the Somme Offensive
July - November 1916
What was the Somme Offensive for?
French pressed Britain into launching the offensive in order to divert Germany from Verdun.
Who planned the offensive and who was involved ?
Planned by Haig
Involved Kitcheners army
Explain the events of the Somme
There was a 5 day bombardment of German Trenches, but this had no effect as the Germans were expecting it
The Germans had withdrawn from the front line and dug new trenches further back even deeper
July1- OFFENSIVE BEGAN -> involving 13 divisions going over the top , they were told to walk slowly as it was expected that German positions would have been destroyed
What were the results of the Somme Offesive ?
1st DAY-> Thousands of British troops were killed or injured but Haig still ordered more attacks with the same result.
SEPTEMBER - 50 tanks were sent into battle most broke down or got stuck
END- Britain and France put together had more casualties than German and had only advanced 9 miles
What was the battle of Passchendale?
Third battle of the Ypres
Passchendale was situated on an important ridge east of Ypres
It was an attempt for the British to capture the southern and eastern ridges break the Ypres salient and capture the German submarine base
How and when did the battle of Passchendale begin?
July 1917
British exploded mines simultaneously destroying German artillery positions and killing soilders
What was the result of the German bombardment at Passchendale?
Failed to destroy German defended which increased difficulty of an infantry advance over a flat plain
Why was the advance towards Passchendale impossible ?
Because due to heavy rain there was mud everywhere and it became so deep that men and horses were drowning in it
How and when was the village of Passchendale captured?
By the British and Canadian forced on November 6th
What was the result of the battle of Passchendale?
Ypres salient became larger
German position on the Belgian coast were not reached
Haig was strongly criticised due to his tactics with very little gain
When was the battle of Gallipoli?
1915
What was Gallipoli ?
A peninsula situated on the Dardanelles straits which provided access to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean
Who’s idea was it to have an attack of Gallipoli?
It was pressed on the British Government by Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George
What was the plan of Gallipoli?
Make a break through at Gallipoli which would enable he allies to provide support for the Russians on the eastern front
This would force Germany to divert their troops from the western front
What are the events of the attack of Gallipoli?
MARCH 1915- British warships bombarded the Turkish first along the Dardanelles straits
APRIL 1915- a force of British, French, Anzacs troops landed on helles beach. Turks with German reinforments had dug themselves trenches on the beach cliffs
November- harsh winter had set in. Soilders were not very equipped some died of frost bite
DECEMBER- withdrawal was made the only people who succeeded were the submarines
What was the British strategy for the war at sea?
DEFENSIVE
- guarded the British coast against attacks by German ships
- Transport troops across the Channel
- Protect merchant shipping supplies
OFFENSIVE
- Blockaded ports to send Germans into starvation
- Prevent merchant ships from reaching German ports
- intercept German ships and steal good
- patrol north seas for battle
What were German strategy’s for the war at sea?
-Keep British Navy at sea
-Ocassionally leave ports and shell British coat
-
What was the only major sea battle of war?
Battle of Jutland
When was the Battle of Jutland ?
May 1916
What happened the battle of Jutland?
The British fleet and German fleet were put on sea
A clash occurred
Why did the Clash occur at the battle of Jutland?
The Germans had better ships, guns, heavier, armour and overall better equipment
What were the results of the Battle of Jutland?
Both sides claimed victory
GERMANY- sank more ships and caused the British navy to stay in North Sea for the rest of war without being able to protect ships in the Atlantic
BRITISH- German ships went and remained in the port allowing British to continue blockade
How did the Germans operate their u boat campaign?
From the North Sea coats and their ports occupied Belgium
The boats attacked the British ships carrying food and war materials
When did Germany adopt unrestricted u boat ware fare?
February 1915
What did unrestricted u boat ware fare mean?
They would sink all ships approaching Britain
It was bad because some ships that were sunk e.g Lusitania which did not contain any war materials
What did the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 lead to?
U boat ware fare being dropped
When did unrestricted u boat ware fare resume ?
January 1917?
What problems did Britain face dure to unrestricted u boat warrfare ?
They only had 6 weeks of food left
Rationing has to be introduced
What were the results of unrestricted u boat warfare?
25% of merchant ships were lost
132 u boats were destroyed
Convoy system and mines saved Britain from defeat
