T2 stuff Flashcards
Who were the central powers?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria
What was the Russian army known as?
The Russian Steamroller
When was the Battle of Tannenberg and Masurian Lake? What is significant about these battles?
August 1914 (approximately), was the first battles which the Russians fought against the Germans.
Why did the Russians lose the battle of Tannenberg? (List reasons)
- Poorly led
- Badly equipped (some regiments had only one rifle for every 10 men)
- German commanders Hindenburg and Ludendorff were able to decode the secret Russian Battle plans in advance
How many Russian prisoners were taken in the Battle of Tannenberg and Masurian Lake?
135 000 Russian prisoners
Who was the Russian Tsar at the beginning of WW1
Nicholas II
When and Why did the Russian Tsar take charge of the Russian Army?
In 1915 - To attempt to improve the morale of the army, and help alleviate the situation
Which General took the place of the Tsar in leading the Russian army in 1916?
General Alexei Brusilov
How long was the eastern front which the Russians had to defend from the Germans?
8000 miles
When and how successful was the Brusilov offensive, and why was it eventually pushed back?
- Lasting 3 weeks, managed to capture 250 000 German prisoners.
- Lack of reserves led to Germans pushing Russians back, causing 1 000 000 casualties in 4 months
What did the results of the Brusilov Offensive lead to some of the Russian soldiers doing?
1 000 000 Russian soldiers deserted from the army
Why is October 1917 a significant date for Russia?
Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown by a revolution
Who was the Leader of the Russian Revolution, and what significant actions did he make?
Bolshevik leader Lenin seized power in Oct 1917 and wanted to make peace with Germany by signing a treaty
When and What was the name of the treaty which was signed between Russia and Germany? What did it entail?
Treaty of Brest-Litovskreaty shows that Germany had gained a large amount of territory from Russia. -Under the treaty 1/3 of wheat producing land, 1/4 of its population and 6,000 million deutschmarks was given to Germany for war damages - After the signing Russia was out of the war
What is a war of attrition?
A war where the opposing sides attempt to win the war by wearing down their enemies’ resources
What is a stalemate?
A situation where neither side can gain an advantage over the other
How were battles usually carried out in 1915?
Enemy trenches would be bombarded by artillery guns for 24 hrs, phase 2 usually involved infantry going over the top. The trenches were defended by barbed wire and machine guns.
When was the battle of Loos?
September 1915
Who was the commander of the allied forces at the battle of Loos? Which Armies were sent there?
Commander Douglais Haig, with the British 1st Army and French 10th Army
The battle of Loos was part of which Person’s plans? What was the main aim of the overall plan?
Marshal Joffre, to use a two-pronged offensive to push the Germans back from Artois, which would boost the allies morale.
Explain what happened during the battle of Loos.
On the 25th of Sep 1915 the British 1st army commanded by Sir Douglas Haig attacked German positions at Loos, using a two-pronged formation. Haig had found out that the area was flat and open to German machine gun fire. So he decided to attack on a very narrow frontage to have concentrated fire. He also discovered poison gas where he needed perfect conditions. However, as he needs to work with the French he could only attack on the 25th so if the weather was good he could release the gas and if not he would have to release the gas in the following days if weather permitted. The attack on Germany began successfully with 250,000 shells fired in 20 minutes. The gas was also released at 0515 but had no effect. However, in one place, the gas ended up poisoning 2632 of his own men. After the 1st day of the battle the reserve troops, who were meant to come earlier, finally arrived. These troops consisted of new soldiers who had just landed in France and forced to march 50 miles in 4 days.
When did the Gallipoli campaign begin?
February 1915