Unit 2 WWI Flashcards
War of attrition
- Enemies try to wear down the other side
- Outlast/Out-suffer enemy
Total war
-All resources of nation organized to win war
Ways of paying for war
- Taxation
- F+ R introduced income tax
- war loans (repaid with interest after war)
- Borrow from other countries (USA)
Battle of Marne
- G threw all forces at French east of Paris (stopped at battle of M)
- denied Germany quick victory in West
- two-front war a reality
- dug in : trench warfare
Battle of Verdun
-G attacked F at Verdun
Battle of Somme
- B attacked Somme but never broke through
- meant to relieve pressure at Verdun
Eastern Front
-G+R
-G ended early Russian success at Tannenburg and Masurian lakes
-G heros in east:
Hindenburg
Ludendorff
-E front =longer, more vague than western
Gallipoli Campaign
-intended to force way through straits of Dardenelles into Black sea
-enable B to attack G+allies from east and open a supply line to Russia
outcome:
-not enough troops sent
Anzacs
- troops from Australian +New Zealand army corps
- suffered great losses in Gallipoli campaign
Battle of Jutland (war at sea)
- defeat on one side meant the other side would have complete control of trade routes to and from Europe
- inconclusive
- instead on naval war developed war of blockade
Convoy System
-merchant ships bringing supplies gathered and went out in fleets surrounded by battleships for protection against G u-boats.
Lusitania 1915
- G sank a British passenger ship
- some American lives lost
- beginning of shift from isolationism in America
Zimmerman Telegram 1917
- telegram intercepted from Germany-Mexico
- proposed alliance with mexico if USA didn’t remain neutral
- G promised Mexico lost states (Texas, new mexico,Arizona)
- changed American public opinion
Russian Revolution
-Riots, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated
-Provisional gov formed,led by democrat Alexander Kerensky
-His gov thought that Russian people wanted to continue war
3 groups wanting control:
1.army under Kornilov
2. Kerensky
3. Blosheviks and soviets
soviets=organization of revolutionary workers
and soldiers (communists)
Blosheviks=led by V.Lenin, took power Nov
1917 , opened peace negotiations with
Germany
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918
- Russia and Germany
- G got Poland,Lithuania, Ukraine
- Russia out of war
Unified command
- British + French forces placed under one command
- General Foch
Armistice, Nov 11 ,1918
- Germans signed armistice
- Ludendorff commander of German forces refused to sign armistice , civilians went instead
- German anti-war movement brought on bloodless revolution ,where Kaiser fled to Holland and democracy established in Germany
Effects of war
- 9 million killed
- $200 billion cost,most of Europe bankrupt\
- Austria-Hungary disintegrated into Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia
- Poland independent
- First Russian communist gov
The Fourteen Points 1918
-President Wilson announced rationale behind American involvement in Europe
-justify american sacrifice
What should happen now!
Deal with conquered German lands
Deal with new order in international affairs
Self-determination
Frontiers
International organization set up
Paris Peace Conference
- wide difference of opinion
- Realist vs Idealist
Realist=tough measures , led by Clemenceau (France)
Idealist=harsh terms means bitterness, led by Wilson of USA
Britain =in between, wanted revenge and reparations but still wanted G as a strong trading partner
Self- determination
- principle most accepted
- some exceptions
War guilt Clause (Article 231)
- Stated that Germany alone must accept responsibility for start of war.
- Germans angered but threatened to sign treaty of face resumption of hostiities
Treaty of Versailles
- Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
- restored Polish territory
- Mandates: G colonies surrendered , distributed among allies
- Military restrictions:conscription forbidden in G, army limited to 100,000 men
- German fleet surrendered to B
- Rhine Valley demilitarized
- League of Nations
- Anschuluss (union) forbidden between Austria and Germany
Winston Churchill
-Britian’s prime minister
Paul Von Hindenburg
- German general credited with major vicotry over Russia at Battle of Tannenburg
- promoted to commander in chief of German land armies
Vittorio Orlando
-Prime minister of Italy
Douglas Haig
-commanded British expeditionary force (BEF)
Kitchener
- British secretary of state for war (cabinet minister)
lloyd George
-PM of United Kingdom
Ebert
-President of Germany
Diktat
-statute, harsh penalty or settlement imposed upon defeated party by victor
Internationalism
-greater economic and political cooperation among nations for benefit of all
