World War One (10) Flashcards
what was the spark that ignited WW1 + when did it happen?
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand + his wife
28 June 1914
who offered a ‘blank cheque’ to Austria-Hungary + what did this mean?
Germany - they would support them no matter what
when did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?
28 July 1914
why does Germany declare war on Russia, France + Belgium?
Triple Entente
Russia began partial mobilisation + Germany sent ultimatum (31 July) to demobilise but they ignored it
when does Britain enter WW1 + why?
4th Aug 1914
Germany invades Belgium - UK guaranteed neutrality of Belgium
what does MacMillan (2013) say about the beginning of WW1?
“Europe did not have to go to war in 1914”
(It) “could have been avoided up to the last moment on 4 August”
who does Fischer (1961) say had “a substantial share of the historical responsibility for the outbreak of the general war”?
German Reich
which historian proposes shared responsibility was important at the beginning of WW1?
Jorn Leonhard (2018)
what was August Excitement (Augusterlebnis)?
some greeted the war enthusiastically - but this was largely a myth
when was Burgfrieden (political peace)?
Aug 4 1914 - Wilhlem 2 said he doesn’t “recognise any parties”
what did Augusterlebnis + Burgfrieden do for society?
they became important in how conservatives + elites depicted the beginning of the war
how many German soldiers were injured + dead by the end of 1914?
560k injured, 240k dead
what was the longest battle in the war + how long did it last?
Battle of Verdun - 10 months
why was there a high no. of casualties?
new technologies of war - highly explosive fragmentation shells, bombs, flame throwers
why did Germans continue to fight WW1 even with all their loss?
- sunken costs
- Chancellor Holloweg said compromise would betray those who were killed
- huge losses impeded the willingness to agree to truce/peace treaty
when did America join WW1?
1917
how much did the no. of female workers in industrial plants grow by throughout WW1?
50%
how many Germans died of the flu during the final months of WW1?
around 175k
when does the OHL (Supreme Army Command) demand civilian gov obtains immediate ceasefire?
Oct 1918
when was the Armastice signed?
Nov 11 1918
when did the November Revolution begin?
Nov 4 1918 - general strike called in many German factories
what does the November Revolution lead to?
Nov 8 - Democratic socialists overthrow monarchy + proclaim a republic
when does Max von Baden become chancellor?
Oct 3 1918
when does Max von Baden announce the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm 2?
9 Nov 1918
