The Great War Flashcards
How long did WWI last?
From 1914-1918
What were the main forces that drove WWI?
Militarism, Alliance System, Imperialism, and Nationalism
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The person who invented dynamite and created an annual peace prize.
What is militarism?
The glorification of military
What were some signs of militarism before WWI?
Tension, military expansion (Germany expanded it’s navy to compete with Britain), suspicion, military leaders gained more influence, etc.
When were the first alliances formed?
Otto von Bismarck’s day
What formed the tangle of alliances?
Nations signed treaties pledging to defend each other.
Which three countries formed the Triple Alliance?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Why wasn’t Russia part of the Triple Alliance?
Keiser Wilhelm II of Germany allowed the alliance with Russia to lapse.
Which three countries made up the Triple Entente?
France, Russia, and Great Britain (entente cordiale)
Who lost the Franco-Prussian War?
France
Which two provinces did France lose in the Franco-Prussin War?
Alsace and Lorraine
What did Russia consider itself pertaining to Slavs?
Defender of the Slavs/Mother of the Slavs
What was the nickname for the Balkan Peninsula?
“The Powder Keg of Europe”
What new Balkan nations broke off from the Ottoman Empire?
Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia
What did Serbia want to do pertaining to the Slavs?
Serbia wanted to unite all Balkan Slavs
What day did Archduke Francis Ferdinand visit Sarajevo?
June 28th, 1914
Which country is Sarajevo the capital of?
Bosnia
Which terrorist group assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand?
Unity or Death aka “The Black Hand”
Who assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand? How old was he?
Gavrilo Princips (age 19)
How many members of the Black Hand were involved in the actual murder of Archduke Francis Ferdinand?
7
What was Emperor Francis Joseph’s reaction to the archduke’s death?
He blamed Serbia and wanted justice.
When did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?
July 28th, 1914
Explain the alliance system.
Germany backed Austria, Russia supports Serbia, Germany declares war on Russia, France supports Russia, Germany declares war on France…
Who were the Central Powers?
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire
Who were the Allied Powers?
France, Russia, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, United States, etc.
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
German General Schlieffen’s strategy to avoid a two-front war- first defeat France and then quickly fight Russia
The Schlieffen Plan required Germany to march through which neutral country?
Belgium
Why did Britain declare war on Germany?
Germany invaded Belgium, a neutral country, and Britain, also being previously neutral, wanted to protect the neutral country’s rights
Which country lost the First Battle of the Marne?
Germany
What were some elements of trench warfare?
“No Man’s Land” between trenches, huge loss of life, small land gains
What were some new inventions used in WWI?
Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, etc.
How much land did Germany gain in th Battle of Verdun? How many died? How long did it last?
4 miles; both sides lost over 300,000; 11 months
How long was the Battle of the Somme? How many died? How much land di it give Britain?
5 months; about 1,000,000 people; 5 miles
Which front was the “Eastern Front”?
The German/Russian border
Which country lost the Battle of Tannenberg?
Russia
Where was the rest of the battles on the Eastern front fought after the Battle of Tannenberg?
Russian soil
How long did Russia manage to tie up German troops?
3 years
Which side did Bulgaria join on?
Central Powers
Which side did Italy join on?
Allied Powers
What was the battle known for being disasterous for Italy?
The Battle of Caporetto
How many Americans died in the sinking of the Lusitania?
128 Americans
What was unrestricted submarine warfare?
In which a country will take down any ship of their enemy’s, even merchant ships and passenger ships.
Who was the writer and recipient of the Zimmerman Note? What did it promise? Who decoded it?
Germany; Mexico; promised to help Mexico regain territories lost to the US; Britain
Who asked the United States Congress to declare war on Germany?
Woodrow Wilson
What is total war?
The devoting of a natio’s entire resources into a war effort
What is the draft?
Required all young men to be ready for service
What types of produts were rationed during WWI?
Food, gas, boots, etc.
What is propaganda?
Spreading of one-sided information designed to damage an opposing cause
What are atrocities?
Horrible acts against innocent people
What did the Women’s Land Army do?
Grow food
Who was Edith Cavell?
A famous military nurse
What was going on pertaining to the war in 1917?
Germany was hiring 15 year old recruits, Britain was almost bankrupt, there were extensive casualties, food shortages, the deserting of soldiers, and mutinies.
What was the name of Germany and Russia’s treaty?
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
What happened in the war during March of 1917?
German offensive pushed the Allied forces back 40 miles by July
How far back did the Allies drive Germany backwards in their counterattack after Germany pushed them back 40 miles?
Back across France and Belgium
When was the armistice to end WWI signed?
Noveber 11th, 1918
About how many people died during WWI?
8.5 million
Who were the “Big Four”?
Woodrow Wilson (US), David Lloyd George (Great Britain), Georges Clemceau (France), and Vittorio Orlando (Italy)
What were Wilson’s 14 points?
1: End secet treaties. 2: Freedom of the seas. 3: Free Trade. 4: Military Reduction. 5: Adjust colonial colonies. 6-13: Self determination. 14: League of Nations.
What was the Treaty of Versailles?
A harsh treaty between the Allies and Germany that forced Germany to take full blame for the war. It also forced Germany to pay 30$ worth of reparations, took a substantial amount of their territory, and severly restricted their military.
How many countries joined the League of Nations?
40+
