world war one: key battles

Question 1

When was the battle of Verdun?

Answer 1

Feb - Dec 1916.

Question 2

Who fought in the battle of Verdun?

Answer 2

Germany and France.

Question 3

Who was Falkenhayn?

Answer 3

The German commander at the battle of Verdun.

Question 4

What strategy did Falkenhayn develop at the battle of Verdun?

Answer 4

Attrition (to wear down the enemy).

Question 5

Why was Verdun so special to the French.

Answer 5

It was in a salient and had never been conquered before.

Question 6

How many men had been killed in the battle of Verdun by July 1916?

Answer 6

700,000 men.

Question 7

Which army was close to collapse by July 1916 in the battle of Verdun?

Answer 7

The French Army.

Question 8

When was the battle of the Somme?

Answer 8

July - November 1916.

Question 9

Who fought in the Battle of the Somme?

Answer 9

Britain and Germany.

Question 10

Why were Britain forced to launch the attack at the Somme in July?

Answer 10

To relieve the pressure on the French Army.

Question 11

Who were the British led by in the battle of the Somme?

Answer 11

Douglas Haig.

Question 12

Why did the 7 day artillery bombardment fail?

Answer 12

~50% of the artillery/shells were ineffective
~German trenches were fortified with barbed wire and deep dug outs

Question 13

How many casualties did the British suffer on the first day of the battle of the Somme?

Answer 13

57,000.

Question 14

How many casualties were on both sides by the end of the battle of the Somme?

Answer 14

1.25 million men.

Question 15

Who managed to push the opposition back?

Answer 15

Britain.

Question 16

When was the battle of Passchendaele?

Answer 16

Jun - Nov 1917.

Question 17

What did the British do at Messines?

Answer 17

Detonated mines under the German artillery positions.

Question 18

Why did the British infantry struggle to advance at Passchendaele?

Answer 18

Heavy rain made the ground extremely boggy.

Question 19

Who fought at the battle of Passchendaele?

Answer 19

The British and the French vs the Germans.

Question 20

How many men did the British and French side lose?

Answer 20

Over a quarter of a million.

Question 21

How many kilometres were gained by the British/French at Passchendaele?

Answer 21

8km.

Question 22

Whose side was Turkey fighting on?

Answer 22

The central power’s side.

Question 23

What was Winston Churchill’s plan to break the stalemate?

Answer 23

By attacking through the Dardanelles Straight in the Middle East.

Question 24

What would the British attacking through the Dardanelles Straight allow?

Answer 24

Supplies to be transported to Russia.

Question 25

When did the British navy launch their attack of bombarding the forts that lined the Dardanelles?

Answer 25

March 1915.

Question 26

Why did the attack at the Dardanelles fail?

Answer 26

The Turks lined the straight with mines and shell fire made it impossible for British ships to advance.

Question 27

Which nationalities of troops landed at Helles beach in Gallipoli?

Answer 27

British, French and Anzac troops.

Question 28

Why were the allied troops forced to dig their own trenches at Gallipoli?

Answer 28

As the beach was overlooked by hills and the Turks had dug trenches and strengthened their defences.

Question 29

What are 2 naval tactics that were developed during the war?

Answer 29

~Radios were improved to allow ships to communicate
~Torpedoes were developed

Question 30

Who effectively used submarines in the war?

Answer 30

Germany.

Question 31

What and when was the only major sea battle in the war?

Answer 31

The Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Question 32

How many ships were lost by both Britain and Germany in the battle of Jutland?

Answer 32

Germany lost 13 and Britain lost 14.

Question 33

Who controlled the sea for the rest of the war after the battle of Jutland?

Answer 33

Britain.

Question 34

The German navy surrender after the battle of Jutland meaning…

Answer 34

Their navy could never leave port again.

Question 35

What was the main aim of the British navy?

Answer 35

To prevent supplies reaching Germany by creating a blockade.

Question 36

What were the consequences of the battle of Jutland for Germany?

Answer 36

They were starving and there was a mutiny in the German navy.

Question 37

What did the Germans use u-boats for?

Answer 37

To sink ships bringing supplies to Britain.

Question 38

When was the American passenger ship the Lusitania sunk?

Answer 38

7th of May 1915.

Question 39

What did the British develop to protect their ships?

Answer 39

A convoy system.

Question 40

What were British large ships supported by?

Answer 40

Fast destroyers and other anti-submarine defences.