WW1 Flashcards
Factor that led to the end of splendid isolation
1
After clashes in the 19th C, Britain and France made agreements over North Africa colonies and began to work together more often
Factors that led to the end of splendid isolation
2
From 1898, Kaiser Wilhelm II began to build Germanys military and talked about Germany becoming a world power. This was a threat to Britains position
Factors that led to the end of Splendid Isolation
3
The dual Alliance of Germany and Austria- Hungary and then Triple Alliance ( which added Italy ) formed in the centre of Europe
What is Weltpolitk
The Kaiser believed that Germany should be a global power
As part of this, he wanted an empire that could rival those of Britain and France
Germany began to conquer nations in Africa
What was the consequences of weltpolitik
The other European powers were concerned that Germany would try and take their colonies
In response to the increase in Germany navy, other countries built up their own navies and prepared for war
The arms race
Preparation on land
By 1914, the 6 major powers spent almost £400 million between them on increasing the size of and strength of their armies and navies
With the exception of Britain, the countries also introduced or increased conscription to the army
The arms race
Military plans
Britain:an army unit would quickly travel to France to support the French
France: troops would march through Alsace and Lorraine, then continue on to Berlin
Russia: millions of troops would attack the German and Austro-Hungarian borders
Germany: planned to attack France first and defeat it quickly before Russia could organise its troops (the Schlieffen plan)
Austria Hungary: developed a number of different plans that depend on which countries became involved
What is the naval race
Britain had the largest navy in the world. The kaiser wished to catch up
The kaiser passed a series of Navy Laws which increased the size of German navy
In response Britain created the dreadnoughts- the most powerful battleships ever built
Germany built its own version of the dreadnought, and Britain responded by building super dreadnought
What was militarism
Germany was a newly formed country and wanted to become a world power
Wanted other countries to go already had big empires e.g Britain and France felt threatened by this and formed alliances
To gain an empire it needed an army and navy
Building up an army and the navy made other countries feel threatened and do the same
What was the Schlieffen plan
German war pan as it was sandwiched between Russia and France (both members of the triple Entente)
Worried about fighting a war on two fronts. The plan:
1.march through neutral Belgium (therefore breaking the treaty of London) to get to France as the French German border too heavily fortified.
2.France would be defeated within 6 weeks
3.Britain would remain neutral
4.Russia would take a long time to mobilise
The Failure of the Schlieffen plan
August 1914, Belgium gave significant resistance
Britain honoured the ire treaty with Belgium and sent so,ideas in the form of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who were well trained and well equipped. This delayed the German advance by four or five days
August 1914, the German troops were exhausted and supplies were too far behind them.
The Russian army was ready in 10 days. Germany had to transfer 100,000 soldiers to the east. Germany was now engaged in war on two fronts, which the plan was meant to avoid.
The changes to the Schlieffen plan
The plan was dependent on Russias slow mobilisation and quick defeat of France. It also assumed that Britain would not honour its 75 year old agreement to protect Belgium. All of these assumptions were risky.
In 1906 the new commander, General von Moltke, changed the plan to reduce the risk. It involved fewer troops and no longer included advancing through the Netherlands
What led to the battle of Marne
General von Kluck doesn’t capture Paris.
Instead goes east, halting on the River Marne.
The combined British and French forces were able to stop the German advance which led to stalemate and trench warfare.
Russia mobilised their troops quicker than planned.
What is trench warfare
The western front was a line of trenches that stretched between the sea (west) to the Alps (east)
Stalemate (neither side could move forward) based on trench warfare developed from November 1914
Frontline trenches supported by reserve trenches and linked by communication trenches gave protection from snipers, shellfire, mines etc
Trench warfare introduced the infantry charge (attacking strategy to wear down the enemy)
After artillery charge, attacking army would ‘go over the top’ and race to get over the barbed wire into no mans land
What is stalemate
Stalemate caused dreadlock - no one can win
