Practices of war

Question 1

What were the key characteristics, weapons, and turning points of WWI?

Answer 1

• Machine guns, artillery, barbed wire
• Trench warfare, a war of stalemate and attrition. A war of manufacturing capacity.
• TP: the entry of the USA in 1917 FINISH

Question 2

What were the key characteristics, weapons, and turning points of WWII?

Answer 2

• Tanks, aircraft, U-boats
• A war of movement, a war of manufacturing capacity.
• Battle of Stalingrad 1943 90,000 German troops surrendered.

Question 3

Why did a ‘war of movement’ turn into a war of stalemate by December 1914? [3]

Answer 3

• The Belgian army slowed down the Germans allowing the FB time to mobilize, Russians mobilized more quickly than anticipated.
• After the FB success in holding out at the Marne-Miricale (1914) , the German army entrenched themselves.
• Both sides ‘raced to the sea’ to outflank each other; led to continuous trenches to the English Channel.

Question 4

What was the role of guns and grenades in WWI? [3]

Answer 4

• The main weapon used by soldiers was bolt-action rifle
• Machine gun was far more lethal against mass targets; fired 600 rpm compared to 25 rpm.
• The submachine gun was a new innovation known as the ‘trench sweeper’.

Question 5

What was the role of artillery in WWI? [3]

Answer 5

• Inflicted 70% of all casualties; used to precede major attacks.
• Not very accurate; Battle of the Somme British fired 1.5M shells in 5 days but failed to destroy German trenches.
• Tactics and fire control tech improved during the war so that artillery became more accurate.

Question 6

What was the role of chemical warfare in WWI? [3]

Answer 6

• The first use of poison gas at Ypres by the German army disabled more than 6.5 km of trenches.
• Limited effect on stalemate; gas masks quickly developed, dependent on wind direction.
• Had a greater psychological impact - caused painful, drawn out death.

Question 7

What does a historian have to say about the role of technology in WWI on land?

Answer 7

John Bourne: ‘none of the technological developments {or the variations in tactics} were ultimately decisive during the fighting on the Western Front.’

Question 8

What was the role of tanks in WWI? [2]

Answer 8

• Able to advance ahead of infantry, crush barbed wire and clear a path.
• Slow and unreliable, many broke down before reaching German trenches, vulnerable to artillery.

Question 9

How did tactics help Britain survive the U-boat threat with tactics? [3]

Answer 9

• Q ships were armed decoy ships disguised as merchant ships; Germans responded by stopping warning ships of an attack
• Merchant ships travelled in convoys protected by British and US warships (introduced mid 1917)
• Allied shipping losses fell by about 20%

Question 10

How did tactics help Britain survive the U-boat threat with resources and weapons? [3]

Answer 10

• Massive output of shipbuilders; being produced faster than the U-boats could sink them.
• Mines destroyed more U-boats than any other weapon - protected ports
• Long range aircraft used to protect convoys.

Question 11

When and what was the significance of the Battle of Jutland? [4]

Answer 11

• 1916, although the German navy destroyed more enemy ships…
• The German High Seas Fleet stayed in Kiel for the rest of the war, allowing Britain more control over the sea.
• British able to transport 8.5 M troops across the British empire, move troops & supplies to France.
• British able to establish and maintain a blockade on Germany - crucial to the war.

Question 12

What was the role of air technology in WWI (summary) [3]

Answer 12

• The role changed dramatically during the course of WWI
• Technology improved enormously, the RAF went from 37 planes to 23000.
• Had significant impact on tactics of both sides but were not decisive in the Allied victory.

Question 13

How were airships used in WWI? [2]

Answer 13

• Early in the war used for reconnaissance, eg. locating U-boats.
• As airplane technology improved, airships became much more vulnerable.

Question 14

How was air technology used for reconnaissance during WWI? [4]

Answer 14

• By 1918 photographs could be taken as high as 4500 m
• Early airplanes were unreliable and highly dangerous
• Used to protect convoys
• Used to take aerial photographs of trenches and artillery targets.

Question 15

How was air technology used for air to ground attacks in WWI?

Answer 15

• Attacks on civilians used to undermine enemy morale:
• German Gotha plane caused nearly 3000 casualties in London and SE England.
• Had limited impact; aerial bombing tended to be inaccurate.

Question 16

What role did dogfights play in WWI?

Answer 16

• Successful fighter pilots such as the ‘Red Baron’ became the focus of propaganda campaigns to boost morale.
• In reality played a minor role; fighter planes mainly used to shoot down reconnaissance planes.

Question 17

How were the British able to succeed in the Hundred Days Offensive? [3]

Answer 17

• The German army had exhausted their resources, whilst the British were supported by the arrival of US troops in France.
• British outgunned the Germans; at Amiens, the BEF gained 8 miles and inflicted 27000 casualties, losing only 8000.
• The various branches of artillery, infantry, machine guns, tanks, gas and aircraft coordinated effectively.

Question 18

What were the features of the ‘Blitzkrieg’, and why was it so successful? [4]

Answer 18

• Use of new technology; tanks, motorized vehicles, aircraft and radio communication to achieve quick success at the start of the war
• Attacked on a narrow front, enabling them to punch early through enemy lines, strike deep into enemy territory
• Close communication between ground forces and Luftwaffe allowed for a coordinated attack.
• Used to encircle the Polish army 1939, cut off the BEF at Dunkirk in 1940.

Question 19

Why did operation Barberossa fail?

Answer 19

GET NOTES

Question 20

What were the failings of the Blitzkrieg? [2]

Answer 20

• The flanks of the rapidly advancing mobile forces were vulnerable to counter-attack
• Germany was forced into a defensive war by 1943, and the Blitzkrieg was over.

Question 21

What was the significance of the Battle of the Atlantic? [3]

Answer 21

• Britain dependent on the Atlantic as a lifeline for troops, food, resources and equipment.
• U-boats were very effective in the early stages of the war, limiting Allied resources and delaying the opening of a second Front.
• Allied victory in the Atlantic allowed them to impose their own sea blockades on Italy and Japan > industrial weakness, made it difficult to move troops.

Question 22

What ways did the role of air technology change from WWI to WWII? [2]

Answer 22

• Used more for offensive; ground-attack aircraft destroy enemy strongpoints, far greater use of bombing.
• Supplying partisan movements and dropping supplies.

Question 23

How was air technology used for reconnaissance in WWII? [2]

Answer 23

• Identifying bombing targets and troop movements.

- Camera technology made photo-reconnaissance more effective.

Question 24

What was the role of the bomber in the war in Europe? (WWII) [3]

Answer 24

• Despite high losses of RAF planes 1942-43, bombers had horrific impact on parts of Germany, 40 000 killed in a firestorm in Hamburg
• 1944 the P-51B Mustang used to defend RAF bombers from Luftwaffe fighters: bombing much more effective.
• German innovations V1 and V2 missiles caused significant casualties in London, but could not be mass produced.

Question 25

What was the role of the bomber in the war in the Pacific? (WWII) [3]

Answer 25

• From 1944 the USAAF began targeting Japanese mainland; an attack on Tokyo destroyed 1/4 of the city, and killed around 80 000
• Absenteeism in Japanese factories rose to 50% with many fleeing to villages.
• The atomic bomb ultimately led to Japanese surrender.

Question 26

What was the overall impact of bombing in WWII? (summary + historian) [2]

Answer 26

• Though perhaps not a pivotal factor in the victory, bombing did have a significant impact in subduing the military economies of Germany and Japan.
• Peter Riddick points out that it was also necessary to maintain British morale and to placate Stalin.

Question 27

How did Britain counter the problem of manpower during WWI? [3]

Answer 27

• Propaganda used to strengthen anti-German sentiment; posters, leaflets, regular articles on German atrocities
• Over 2 million enlisted by 1916 - highly successful
• Conscription introduced 1916 to counter falling volunteer rates

Question 28

How did the government solidify their power during WWI? [2]

Answer 28

• DORA (gov act) passed in 1914 gave greater control of land and industry. Allowed them to take over crucial industries eg. coal, and impose censorship.
• DORA used to counter the ‘munitions crisis’ faced in 1915 by trying to force skilled workers to work in key industries and bringing women into the workforce.

Question 29

How did the government feed Britons during WWI? [4]

Answer 29

• In April 1917 Britain only had six weeks supply of wheat left.
• The Women’s Land Army set up in 1917 used to recruit women farmers.
• A campaign of voluntary rationing was begun in 1917—propaganda used to encourage moderation. Ineffective.
• Compulsory rationing of sugar, butter, meat and beer introduced in 1918 with a coupon system.

Question 30

How did the government maintain morale during WWI? [3]

Answer 30

• News was censored so that only positive news stories were reported. Sinking of the British battleship HMS Audacious 1914 was not made public.
• Some independent papers such as pacifist newspaper ‘Tribunal’ were closed down.
• British Topical Committee for War films was established to sell patriotic films to the War Dept.

Question 31

How successful was the government in maintaining morale in WWI?

Answer 31

• 1914-16 there was little opposition
• The Battle of the Somme 1916 was a turning point after which the gov began to face criticism from politicians and soldiers.

Question 32

What were some problems the government faced in WWII? [4]

Answer 32

• Evacuation (NEW)
• Manpower
• Food
• Information

Question 33

What were some of the features and impacts of evacuation during WWII? [3]

Answer 33

• 1.5 million people, mainly school children evacuated from high risk zones such as major cities.
• It freed mothers to get involved in war work and production and helped reduce panic and hysteria
• Significant social impact on younger generation who got to experience a new say of life—after the war many evacuees voted for politicians who promised social reform.

Question 34

How did Britain feed itself during WWII? [4]

Answer 34

• The gov’ tried to maximize food production by encouraging people to grow their own vegetables and animals.
• Produce yields increased; at its most successful, Britain only produced 80% of its own food.
• Under Lord Woolton the Ministry of Food worked out fair rations and gave diet advice.
• Coupons were used to buy all essential articles of food, clothing and personal items.

Question 35

What steps did the government take to organize the workforce during WWII? [2]

Answer 35

• Reserved occupations eg. medical work were not conscripted.
• Labour minister Ernest Bevin collaborated with trade unions to control wages, control prices and make production as efficient as possible.