World War I Flashcards
Militarism
A policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army prepared for war.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Became ruler of Germany in 1888. Did not want to share power with anyone, forced Bismarck to resign. Wanted to show the world how powerful Germany was. Lapsed treaty with Russia which then kickstarted the Triple Entente
Spanish Flu
Influenza- England and India in May. spread through Europe, Russia, Asia, and the United States in spring. Killed soldiers and citizens. Killed 20 million people world wide
Triple Entente
A military alliance between Britain, France, and Russia during World War I
Ultimatum
A final demand or statement of terms
Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungry. Known as the central powers because of their location is the heart of Europe
neutrality
Not helping or supporting either side
Western Front
A deadlocked region of northern France where the forces of the Allies and the Central powers used trench warfare to fight eachother
Trench warfare
A form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battle field
Eastern Front
The region along German-Russian border where Russians and Serbs battled Germans, Austrians, and Turks. Was more mobilized than the Western front.
Schlieffen Plan
Germany’s military plan at the outbreak of WWI, according to which German troops would rapidly defeat France and then move east to attack Russia.
Dreadnought
German boat with larger caliber guns than the British navy’s.
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany had unrestricted submarine warfare, which meant they could attack what they wanted, when they wanted. No rules applied.
total war
When a country devotes all supplies and support to the war.
rationing
the limiting of the amounts of goods people can buy–often imposed by governments during wartime, when goods are in short supply.
Propaganda
Usually biased or inaccurate information used to sell a political view or cause
armistice
An agreement that both sides fighting against each other stop fighting for a certain time (Ex: Western Front stopped for Christmas)
Gallipoli
A campaign that took place at Gallipoli Penisuala, the Allies hoped to win the strait in order to gain easy access to Constantinople, but neither side won anything because of large casualties.
shell shock
Psychological disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare. Specifically bombardment
Alsace-Lorraine
A region of northeastern France, bordered Germany and Switzerland. France lost it in the French-Prussian war but gained it back after WWI
Balkans
Region in southeast Europe. the “power keg” of Europe.
Baltic nations
nations that broke away from the Ottoman Turks: Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia.