The Causes of the First World War Flashcards
What was the strategy of the right wing in the Schlieffen Plan?
Sweep through Belgium and take northern France
What did the Germans hope to achieve by capturing Paris?
Trap the French army from behind
What was the second gamble the Germans took in the Schlieffen Plan?
Britain would not join the war
What was one reason the German advance was slowed down during their invasion of Belgium?
Stronger than expected resistance from the Belgians
What was the name of the British military force sent to aid Belgium?
British Expeditionary Force
Where did the Germans reach by late August, where they were weakened, tired, and hungry?
The River Marne
What was the main reason the war was fought from trenches?
The weapons used by the two armies
What was the role of heavy guns in the war?
To fire huge numbers of shells to soften up the enemy
What was No-man’s-Land described as?
A deserted strip of devastated battleground
A deserted strip of devastated battleground
In petrol cans
What was added to the water to kill germs, making it taste awful?
Chloride of lime
What was “trench foot” caused by?
Standing for long periods in mud and water
What diseases were caused by germs in food and water in the trenches?
Typhus, cholera, and dysentery
What weather extremes did soldiers have to endure in the trenches?
Snow, frost, and regular rain
How high was the water at the bottom of the trenches frequently?
One Foot
