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The Early BEF Flashcards

1
Q

BEF size in 1914

A

80,000

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2
Q

BEF size in 1917

A

3.9 million

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3
Q

Who was the original commander of the BEF?

A

Sir John French

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4
Q

Who was Sir John French replaced by?

A

Haig

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5
Q

When was Sir John French replaced?

A

December 1915

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6
Q

What did Sir John French have a reputation as

A

aggressive commander in Boer War

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7
Q

What was a limitation of Sir John French’s rule?

A

poor relations w Corps commander Dorrien

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8
Q

When was the Battle of the Mons?

A

august 1914

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9
Q

Who led the BEF at the Battle of the Mons?

A

Sir French

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10
Q

What did Sir French propose at the Battle of Mons?

A

complete withdrawal to coast

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11
Q

Who rejected Sir French’s proposal to have a complete withdrawal to the coast at the Battle of Mons?

A

Kitchener

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12
Q

BEF in comparison to Germans at Battle of Mons

A

outnumbered by germans

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13
Q

Position of French in Battle of Mons

A

offered British and Sir French little assistance

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14
Q

When was the Battle of the Somme?

A

July-November 1916

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15
Q

Where was the chosen site for joint B-F offensive?

A

River Somme

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16
Q

Why was it significant that the BEF had grown in size prior to the BoS?

A

Taken responsibility for defending more French territory

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17
Q

What was Germany’s aim for the French at the BoS?

A

get the French to “bleed to death”

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18
Q

When was the first British attack at the BoS? Who led it?

A

1st July 1916

Sir Rawlinson

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19
Q

Limitations in the first British attack at the BoS (X3)

A

200/1500 available guns fired heavy artillery for British

30% of shells failed to explode
barbed wire only cut by certain shells

German troops sheltered in deep bunkers

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20
Q

Why was the 2nd British bombardment more successful than the first at the BoS? When was it?

A

July 13-14

2/3 of guns used on more concentrated area

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21
Q

When were tanks used for the first time?

A

September 1916

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22
Q

How many tanks used in BoS?

A

49

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23
Q

Who ordered Rawlinson to include tanks in the BoS?

A

Haig

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24
Q

Why did many criticise Haig’s use of tanks in the BoS?

A

only tested and trained on months earlier

key tactic to keep them secret until more had been built was lost

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25
Who devised the battle plan for the BoS?
Haig
26
Why were the French weakened prior to the BoS?
had heavy attacks by Germans at Verdun
27
Why was the attack on the Somme brought forward from August to July?
French demanded it | had sustained bad losses at Verdun
28
Key aim of the BoS
to divert German resources in Verdun to defend the Somme
29
How many British casualties day 1 of BoS?
57,000
30
How many British deaths BoS day 1?
19,000
31
How many mines were detonated by British on 1st July 1916 at BoS?
17
32
What were soldiers at walking pace supposed to be protected by at BoS in 1st British offensive?
creeping barrage
33
How many total British casualties BoS?
420,000
34
How many total French casualties BoS
194,000
35
How many total German casualties, was this more than the British, BoS?
465,000
36
Haig's derogatory nickname after BoS
Butcher of the SOmme
37
Alan Clark's book on British WW1 Generals
Lions led by Donkeys
38
Lloyd George's publication which criticises Haig
"War Memoirs"
39
What did Lloyd George's "War Memoirs" criticise
actions of Haig
40
X2 impacts of the BoS on German strategy
Ludendorff offers unrestricted submarine warfare (ultimately brings USA into war) Expansion of war production (although undermines public support)
41
When was the Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres)
July-Nov 1917
42
What battle was July-Nov 1917
Battle of Passchendaele
43
What was the aim of the BoP?
destroy German submarines on Belgian coast
44
Who was the aim of the BoP opposed by?
PM Lloyd George didn't want German submarines destroyed on Belgian coast
45
Who advised that the BoP be carried out as Britains levels of shipping losses were hindering the war effort?
Admiral Jellicoe
46
Which poet criticises leadership of generals during war, but not the war itself? Name one of his poems which does this
Sassoon "The General"
47
Where was Sassoon's protests about the "political errors" of war read?
Out in House of Commons Published in Times
48
What was Sassoons position during war
Volunteered BoS and Battle of Arras Won Military Cross
49
Reason why Sassoon's views on war may have changed
death of his brother in war and experiences e.g at the Somme
50
Who led the BoP?
General Plumer
51
How long did it take the British to advance 5 miles in the BoP?
3-4months
52
Was the BoP a success territorially?
Advanced, yet short of Haig's aims
53
What tactic did Britain use in BoP against German trenches?
detonated giant mines under German trenches
54
What was created by rain at BoP?
Quagmire (muddy hell)
55
At which battle was a notorious quagmire (muddy hell) created?
BoP
56
Why was the quagmire at the BoP exacerbated?
Infantry attacks destroyed draining systems heaviest rain for 30years
57
When was there a stalemate at the BoP?
most ofAugust
58
When did the British achieve the upper hand at the BoP?
during October | e.g Battle of Polygon Wood
59
What were the results of the BoP?
+ some territorial gains + Passchendaele village captured by British + Canadians - G's submarines not destroyed - German morale not collapsed - more British than German casualties sustained
60
When was Passcendaele village captured?
6th November 1917
61
How many BEF casualties at BoP? was this more than German casualties?
310,000 Yes 50,000 higher than German casualties
62
Why was British success at the BoP important to the French?
would have improved morale of french soldiers (who had recently mutinied)
63
Why was Haig criticised after BoP?
for continuing long-drawn attack after lost any strategic value
64
Who was William Thomas?
dispatched for Daily Mail and Daily Mirror
65
What year was the German spring offensive?
1918
66
Why was German optimistic during their spring offensive?
March 1918: Russia had surrendered Ludendorff added 0.5million more troops Developed technique for breaking trench warfare deadlock
67
When did Russia surrender?
March 1918
68
In the 2nd offensive of Spring 1918 by the Germans what did they gain?
all ground lost in 1917
69
Who was the German's third offensive in their spring offensive stopped by?
USA after Germany had threatened Paris
70
When did the USA declare war on Germany?
April 1917
71
When was the Battle of Amiens?
August 1918
72
Who did Haig put in charge of the Battle of Amiens?
Rawlison
73
Comparison of British use of Lewis Guns between BoS and BoA
At BoS each battalion had 4 | At BoA each battalion had 30
74
Why was BoA a success compared to other battles in terms of timing?
under cover of darkness and surprise German defences taken
75
How many tanks were used in BoA?
over 400 British tanks
76
Within 4 days how many British tanks were still operational in BoA?
only 6
77
When did the Allies break the Hindenburg line at BoA?
September 1918
78
When did the German's surrender?
11th November 1918
79
What did Ludendorff refer to the British's most successful offence at BoA as?
"black day" of the German army

WW1 (15 decks)

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