world war one: key battles Flashcards
When was the battle of Verdun?
Feb - Dec 1916.
Who fought in the battle of Verdun?
Germany and France.
Who was Falkenhayn?
The German commander at the battle of Verdun.
What strategy did Falkenhayn develop at the battle of Verdun?
Attrition (to wear down the enemy).
Why was Verdun so special to the French.
It was in a salient and had never been conquered before.
How many men had been killed in the battle of Verdun by July 1916?
700,000 men.
Which army was close to collapse by July 1916 in the battle of Verdun?
The French Army.
When was the battle of the Somme?
July - November 1916.
Who fought in the Battle of the Somme?
Britain and Germany.
Why were Britain forced to launch the attack at the Somme in July?
To relieve the pressure on the French Army.
Who were the British led by in the battle of the Somme?
Douglas Haig.
Why did the 7 day artillery bombardment fail?
~50% of the artillery/shells were ineffective
~German trenches were fortified with barbed wire and deep dug outs
How many casualties did the British suffer on the first day of the battle of the Somme?
57,000.
How many casualties were on both sides by the end of the battle of the Somme?
1.25 million men.
Who managed to push the opposition back?
Britain.
When was the battle of Passchendaele?
Jun - Nov 1917.
What did the British do at Messines?
Detonated mines under the German artillery positions.
Why did the British infantry struggle to advance at Passchendaele?
Heavy rain made the ground extremely boggy.
Who fought at the battle of Passchendaele?
The British and the French vs the Germans.
How many men did the British and French side lose?
Over a quarter of a million.
How many kilometres were gained by the British/French at Passchendaele?
8km.
Whose side was Turkey fighting on?
The central power’s side.
What was Winston Churchill’s plan to break the stalemate?
By attacking through the Dardanelles Straight in the Middle East.
What would the British attacking through the Dardanelles Straight allow?
Supplies to be transported to Russia.
When did the British navy launch their attack of bombarding the forts that lined the Dardanelles?
March 1915.
Why did the attack at the Dardanelles fail?
The Turks lined the straight with mines and shell fire made it impossible for British ships to advance.
Which nationalities of troops landed at Helles beach in Gallipoli?
British, French and Anzac troops.
Why were the allied troops forced to dig their own trenches at Gallipoli?
As the beach was overlooked by hills and the Turks had dug trenches and strengthened their defences.
What are 2 naval tactics that were developed during the war?
~Radios were improved to allow ships to communicate
~Torpedoes were developed
Who effectively used submarines in the war?
Germany.
What and when was the only major sea battle in the war?
The Battle of Jutland in 1916.
How many ships were lost by both Britain and Germany in the battle of Jutland?
Germany lost 13 and Britain lost 14.
Who controlled the sea for the rest of the war after the battle of Jutland?
Britain.
The German navy surrender after the battle of Jutland meaning…
Their navy could never leave port again.
What was the main aim of the British navy?
To prevent supplies reaching Germany by creating a blockade.
What were the consequences of the battle of Jutland for Germany?
They were starving and there was a mutiny in the German navy.
What did the Germans use u-boats for?
To sink ships bringing supplies to Britain.
When was the American passenger ship the Lusitania sunk?
7th of May 1915.
What did the British develop to protect their ships?
A convoy system.
What were British large ships supported by?
Fast destroyers and other anti-submarine defences.
