Topic 2: The Era Of The Great War

Question 1

When did Britain declare war on Germany?

Answer 1

4th August 1914

Question 2

What did Europe feel about the war?

Answer 2

Excited, many people flocked to the streets and waved flags + sang anthems to show love for their country.

Question 3

Britain had a very… army

Answer 3

small

Question 4

Who was Lord Kitchener?

Answer 4

The British secretary of state for war, was responsible for launching a massive campaign to recurit soldiers

Question 5

What was Kitcheners aim?

Answer 5

To recruit 100,000 volunteers in the first year. They exceeded their target by November 1914 and there were almost a million soliders signed up

Question 6

What was the enlistment age and what checks took place?

Answer 6

Enlistment age was 19. Eyesight, general health, hearing, height, feet were all checked

Question 7

Patriotism

Answer 7

• This means being proud of your country
• Scotland already had a very proud martial (fighting) tradition and wanted to continue it.
• Men were desperate to fight and defend their country
• Scots were encouraged to join all Scottish regiments

Question 8

Propaganda

Answer 8

• This is information that is spead to make people think a certain way
• Propaganda posters were used to encourage young men to sign up
• Posters made the army look exciting. Some told men it was their duty. Some even tried to make them feel guilty

Question 9

Peer Pressure

Answer 9

• Many were under pressure from their family and friends to join, men had a ‘duty’ to sign up
• Guilty criminals were often pressured to enlist instead of going to prison
• Pressure on employers too. Earl of Wemyss threatened to dismiss any employee between the ages of 18-30

Question 10

Pals Battalions

Answer 10

• Were groups of men from the same towns/workplaces who fought together in special battalions.
• In Scotland, there were no offical ‘pals battalions’ but it was common for people from the same area to join the same regiment.

Question 11

Need for employment

Answer 11

• Scotland suffered higher unemployment and more widespread poverty than most areas in Britain
• It was fear of unemployment which resulted in 36% of miners in the Lothian coalfields enlisting
• The role of employers in Scotland was also important. Many promises of keeping jobs for recruits were quite common in 1914 when the economic impact of the war was uncertain.

Question 12

Anti German

Answer 12

• Scots were worried about stories of German spies being present in Scotland
• Scots read stories of terrible acts being commited by German soldiers - babies being bayoneted, their heads as footbals and nurses + nuns being raped by soldiers.
• The atmosphere at the time encouraged a fear of all things German

Question 13

Short War theory

Answer 13

• There was a belief at the time that the war would be quite short.
• Many thought the war would be over by Christmas

Question 14

Adventure

Answer 14

• At this time, many scots had never left their town/city they had grown up in + travelling abroad was not common
• Many scots felt trapped in low paid repetitive jobs

Question 15

Apalling Rations

Answer 15

• Soldiers did not starve but they hated the montony of their food.
• Recieved biscuits and they were similar to dog biscuits. Could of cracked their teeth
• Shortage of fresh water, often had to drink from ditches + puddles. Also often transported in emptied petrol cans.
• If rum was haded out, it indicated they would be fighting the next day + die (alcohol makes you braver)

Question 16

Boredom

Answer 16

• Once a soldier had completed his chores, he was often left bored + nothing to do
• Could not move around much due to the fear of enemy snipers. They would read, chat, smoke, sing + sleep

Question 17

Weather

Answer 17

• Scots had to deal with terrible weather.
• Intense heat that led to possible sunstroke and dehydration
• The rain filled the trenches with water, washed the contents of craters towards them. Many soldiers would drown because of the intense amount of flooding + rain
• Bitter cold would lead to frostbite

Question 18

Lice

Answer 18

• Lice would thrive in warm conditions so mens bodies and clothes were ideal. Lice would irritate the men.
• Because the men lived in such close proximity, the lice could jump from one person and the next
• This biting caused terrible itching + sores round the neck, waist, wrist, ankles

Question 19

Corpse Rats

Answer 19

• Decomposing bodies + food scraps that littered the trenches attracted rats
• One pair of rats can produce 880 offspring in a year
• They nibbled soldiers while they slept and spread disease

Question 20

Ilnesses

Answer 20

• Antibiotics were not available at the time. Wounds would of become infected overtime
• Trench foot was caused by standing constantly in the muddy trenches
• Trench fever was caused by the biting of lice. Although the disease did not kill, it was difficult to deal with the symptoms.

Question 21

Shell shock

Answer 21

• Caused by the strain of living in constant fear and noise
• Was also due to witnessing many deaths + injuries
• Today, it is recognised as PTSD

Question 22

Smell

Answer 22

• The trenches would have a pungent aroma due to human waste, decaying bodies and sweat.
• Men only had full baths 2-3 times a month

Question 23

Bold action rifle

Answer 23

• A: Could kill a person almost 1400 meters away. Fired 15 rounds per min
• D: Took a while to reload in No Man’s land. Awkward to move around in a battle.

Question 24

Machine Gun

Answer 24

• A: Little time to reload. High rate of fire - 600 rounds per min
• D: Could overheat very easily - breakdown. Needed to be fired from a fixed position

Question 25

Artillery Fire

Answer 25

• A: Caused approx 60% of all battlefield deaths. Capable of firing over a great distance.
• D: Only can be used from a fixed position. Shells had to be fired quickly that it would not work.

Question 26

Shrapnel

Answer 26

• A: Fragments of a bomb/shell. Managed by a timed-fuse. Shrapnel exploded in mid air above the enemys.
• D: Caused more injuries. Used to cut down enemys barbed wire but didn’t quite work.

Question 27

Gas

Answer 27

• A: Cleared a large section of ground in a short space of time and soldiers died. Cheap and easy to use
• D: Often unreliable as it relied on the wind. If not operated correctly, soldiers ended poisoning themselves.

Question 28

Tanks

Answer 28

• A: It can drive through trenches. Heavily armoured vehicles.
• D: Super slow, did not carry enough fuel to go long distances. It could be boiling hot inside

Question 29

Trench Motors

Answer 29

• A: Maximum range of 1200 yards meaning they had to operate in the front lines.
• D: Reliant on human measurements to be accurate and in a battle, one wrong move could lead to death

Question 30

Planes

Answer 30

• A: Could carry bombs, grenades, that could be dropped on the enemy trenches
• D: Quite fragile + big target for enemy snipers. Did not have a big impact in battles.

Question 31

Flame thrower

Answer 31

• A: Designed to be two large cans of gas, which a soldier carried on his back.
• D: Could malfunction and explode, causing people to die. Canister on the soldiers back could be shot and explode.

Question 32

Going over the top (military tactic)

Answer 32

Soldiers were ordered to march out of their trench and into No Man’s Land. The Scots however, were known for running through No Man’s Land which did prove more effective. All these assaults would see the Scots running head first towards the German Machine Guns. No Mans Land was very treacherous to cross.

Question 33

Barrage meaning

Answer 33

A long period of gunfire

Question 34

Bombardment meaning

Answer 34

A continous attack with bombs, shells or other missiles

Question 35

Artillery bombardment (military tactic) (4)

Answer 35

• Artillery was used to shell the enemy into submission.
• If the enemy did not submit to the pressure, the artillery was meant to destroy a lot of their defences.
• A basic barrage would fire 6-7 shells every 10 minutes.
• A artillery fire would also be used to destroy enemy barbed wire.

Question 36

Creeping Barrage (military tactic) (3)

Answer 36

• Shelling that moves progressively forward with the men following behind the explosions.
• Sometimes successful in allowing large numbers of men to cross No Man’s Land.
• Requried precise timing from the heavy artillery and soldiers.

Question 37

Machine gun tatics (military tactic)

Answer 37

Machine gunners fired into advancing troops. 95% of causalites at the Somme were caused by German machine gun. These tatics were demostrated in the Somme with devestating effects.

Question 38

Gas Barrage (military tactic) (3)

Answer 38

• Gas shells were produced to be used with heavy artillery.
• Increased the army’s range of attack and could tear large sections of ground.
• Helped protect troops when weather conditions were not ideal.

Question 39

Mining + tunnelling (military tactic)

Answer 39

Specialist miners dug tunnels under No Man’s Land. Exploded mines beneath enemy trenches. The infantry would advance towards the front line to take advantage of the confusion.

Question 40

Tank Barrage (military tactic)

Answer 40

This is used to protect the soldiers. It protected troops as they crossed No Man’s Land. It also crushed barbed wire and helped break the stalemate.