The wider war Flashcards
Who were Turkey allied with?
Germany
Why was the idea of controlling the Dardanelles put forward?
It would allow the allies to get supplies to Russia. Also, an attack might force the Germans to withdraw some of this troops from other fronts, which may have broken the stalemate on the western front
Who created the invasion plan?
Winston Churchill, head of the Royal Navy
What was the original plan?
For ships to sail up the Dardanelles and destroy Turkish forts before reaching the capital Constantinople to leave Germany isolated and surrounded
When did phase 1 of the attack happen and what happened?
19th February 1915
British and French ships sailed up the Dardanelles and attacked Turkish forts
They gained control within days
When was phase 2 of the attack and what happened?
18th March 1915
Battleships and minesweepers entered the Dardanelles but were met with huge resistance and had to retreat
When did the ground invasion begin?
25th April 1915
Who were the allied forces mainly made out of?
ANZAC - Australia and New Zealand army corps
What was the flaw of the plan?
Greek generals advised that at least 150,000 troops would be needed but Lord Kitchener only sent 70,000
The Turks outnumbered them and lay waiting
Where was fighting most fierce?
ANZAC cove
What were some of the results of the Gallipoli campaign?
- Conditions were awful, around 80% of soldiers got dysentery
- In Britain, the leaders were heavily criticised and was seen as a total disaster
- Nothing was achieved, they could
not supply Russia and Germany was not isolated - initial attack did some damage and prevented Turkey from helping the Germans
- it cost 200,000 allied lives
Why was control of the sea so important?
It ensured that supplied reached the soldiers and the people at home
What happened in the Germany blockade?
In November 1914, Britain declared the North Sea as a war zone so any German ships could be boarded and have their cargo stolen.
This meant vital supplies could not get through
What were the impacts of the naval blockade?
- A lack of resources damaged the German industry
- lack of fertilisers led to food shortages, 420,000 starved to death
- lack of medicines led to more deaths
- the suffering inflicted meant support for the war massively decreased
When was the Battle of Jutland?
May 1916
What happened in the battle of Jutland?
The Germans attempted to surround the British fleet but the British had decided messages and knew.
Despite this, many British ships were destroyed
There were a few more firefights along the way before the Germans returned home
What were the results of the battle of Jutland?
Germans claimed victory because they destroyed more ships
British claimed victory because the Germans fled and their navy required substantial repairs. It also remained in harbour for the rest of the war
What were U boats used for?
To destroy cargo ships headed to Britain, which were usually American
What did Britain first try to do to combat the problem?
They used Q ships, which were warships disguised as cargo ships to try and deter attacks
What impact did U boats have on Britain?
They destroyed many cargo ships and by February 1917, it was said that Britain only had 6 weeks of food left
What was the new system Britain put forward to combat U boats?
The convoy system
This involved groups of warships and aircraft protecting cargo ships from attacks
What impact did the convoy system have?
It dramatically reduced the number of successful U boat attacks
What did the Germans do involving U boats, that played a part in America joining the war?
The sinking of the Lusitania
What did the first aeroplanes do in the war?
Took part in reconnaissance which allowed troops to be moved from danger
What did fighter planes do?
They fought each other in the air, in dogfights
Pilots who shot down many planes were known as aces
How did bomber planes change?
At the start of the war, they were primitive and bombs had to be dropped over the side by the pilots
By the end of the war, they could fly further and drop larger bombs
How were airships used?
Germany had zeppelins which attacked allied cities
What did Italy do in WW1
Despite being in the triple alliance, they did not join war until 1915, when they joined in the allies side instead
What happened to German colonies?
They were invaded by the allies and mostly all of them fell under allied control
What side of the war was Bulgaria on?
Germany’s side
