Western Front

Question 1

Schlieffen Plan/Belgium (1914)

Answer 1

Took Germans 2 weeks to capture Brussels, forced Britain to join war to protect Belgium (Treaty of London). Germans had to send troops to Russia. Resulted in Rape of Belgium (shot civilians, looted libraries) which was later used for British and US propaganda

Question 2

Battle of Marne (1914)

Answer 2

Largest land battle of all time. Paris is not captured, Schlieffen plan failed and makes war much longer

Question 3

Race to sea (1914)

Answer 3

Germany vs GB and France. Both sides attempted to outflank the other to cut them off. Built trenches which determines the type of war. Spanned from English channel to Swiss alps. Ended in bloody stalemate

Question 4

Battle of Ypres (1915)

Answer 4

Series of battles that ended the “Race to Sea”. Start of trench warfare, Germans used poison gas for the first time. Gas prevented progress for both sides

Question 5

Battle of Jutland (1915)

Answer 5

Largest naval battle off Denmark’s North Sea coast. Only time British and German fleets of dreadnoughts actually came to blows. Both sides claimed victory even though battle was indecisive.

Question 6

Stalemate

Answer 6

Trench warfare/new tech led to many casualties and little offensive movement on the battlegrounds between France and Germany. Neither side won clear victory

Question 7

Battle of Verdun (1916)

Answer 7

One of longest and bloodiest battles of war. Germans very close to winning until French received support from British. 800,000 casualties

Question 8

Battle of Somme (1916)

Answer 8

aims of battle: relieve French army fighting at Verdun and weaken Germans so they could not send troops to Eastern Front. Artillery and Tanks

Question 9

War of Attrition

Answer 9

Wearing down other side with constant attacks and heavy losses to an extent that their will to fight collapses.

Question 10

Hindenburg line (1917)

Answer 10

Germany drew behind it to defend, French/British continued offense. French soldiers mutiny. British advance is slower, Germany counterattacks successful

Question 11

Unrestricted submarine warfare

Answer 11

Attacks on American ships trading with Allies, leads to Lusitania (1915). Helps cause for US mobilization into WWI

Question 12

Zimmermann telegram (1917)

Answer 12

Germany desperate to bring war to end pleads for alliance with Mexico. Hopes to cut off US imports to GB. Is intercepted, US declares war on Germany and mobilized to fight on Western Front

Question 13

Ludendorff’s Peace Offensive (1918)

Answer 13

Germany on verge of starvation from British blockades and US is on the way. 4 German offensives charged British lines to break Allied lines. Broke the stalemate of trench warfare but caused German casualties and German morale plummets. Germany is overstretched and allies reach Hindenburg line. Ludendorf asks Kaiser to request armistice

Question 14

Armistice (11/11/1918)

Answer 14

Precursor to signing treaty. German troops leave France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Alsace Lorraine, Rhine, Eastern Front. Renounce Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (treaty between Russia and Central Powers); surrender weapons; stop navy. German government is handed over to Social Democrats