WW1 Flashcards
Who are the triple Alliance? AKA Central Alliance
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Why did Germany form Triple Alliance?
Since the Franco-Prussia war had ended (Ger won) in 1871, they claimed the French land of Alsace-Lorraine, They needed more powers since France would be mad at Ger for taking their land (AL)
What did Germany want? What did AH want? What did Italy want?
- Germany wanted an empire to rival Britain’s and isolate France
- AH wanted Ethnic nationalism (Ger, Czechs, Serbs, Slovaks wanted independence from AH)
(Serbia & Russia didn’t want to be the same ethnic group as AH) (Ger could protect them armywise in case of attack from Russia) (1879) - Italy joined in 1882
Name a main diff between Triple (Central) Alliance and Tripple Entente agreement
Triple Alliance has the rule if 1 is at war/attacked than all are. If Entente is attacked you can discuss things with each other but don’t end to fight for each other
Name members of triple Entente (AKA Allies)
France, Great Britain, Russia
What where the triple ententes personal goals?
- France to protect its self against Ger (TA), since they are still mad about losing AL and worried about Ger power
- Russia, doesn’t like AH and concerned about Ger power
3.GB wanted to sign with Russia to protect themselves
What where the MAIN caused of WW1?
M= militarism (Eu power wanted to expand territory)
A= Alliances made tension (3E and 3A)
I= Imperialism (Colonization rivalries amount Eu powers (Africa))
N= nationalism (loyalty to ones own culture and country)
What was a main spark of WW1?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Why did men sign up for WW1
Nationalism. (They thought it would be over by Christmas)
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Designed to avoid War on Eastern and Western front
Ger wanted to invade France through Belgium so that Ger could focus on Russia
This avoids dividing forces into 2 fronts
What was plan 17
French want to attack Ger through Alsace Loraine
How did the Schlieffen plan result and go
German had more men, Belgium used forts to protect themselves, Ger had big birtha (Largest cannons) While Ger was invading through Belgium, Russia crossed the boarder of Ger and outnumbered them .
Describe the invasion of Belgium
Brit and french had time to mobilize while Ger invaded Belgium. Germans won and invaded by early august. Brits come in late august and push Germans back. They all raced to the sea to get the English Chanel
Describe why they build trenches?
-protect themselves from snippers and shell fire, later added machine guns and barbed wire .
How did the war on the western front end?
Reached a stalemate
How did germanys plan fail?
The Schliefen plan fails bc Frances does not fall in 6 weeks, Russia mobilizes much faster than expected, Germany is now fighting on 2 fronts
Why it failed: Ger assumed Belgiumwoldnt put up much a fight, Didn’t expect Britain to join and come Belgiums aid, Assumed Russia wouldn’t mobilize quickly
What is trenches? (Name parts)
The cross section barbed wire for defence, sandbagparapet for protection, fire step, duck boards, parados for artillery and canons
Who has the best trenches?
Germans along western front, with zig zag formation
Periscope?
Scope to look through without being shot
What is trudging?
Go to other side of enemy
Describe attack in the trenches?
The artillery barrage attack a sides artiliry bombards enemy trenches, once barrage ends attacking troops go over the top to NML and rush, defending troops rush out of their trenched to set up machine guns, defenders have an advantage swept attacking troops with machine gun fire, if the attackers captured a trench they had to hold it which often proved impossible
Conditions of trenches?
-Horrific conditions
-constant smell lice and rats
-little sleep since most activity’s wher at night, soldiers in front lines slept in d’ouïgours in the trenches
Describe gases.
The poisonous gas was first used by Germans at Ypres in 1915
Chlorine was the first gas used
What where the Allies reaction to gases used?
They made temporary gas masks out of cloth with urine, developed gases of their own, such as Phosgene gas and mustard gas
Tanks in WW1. When where the introduced? how fast they went and what did they do?
They where introduced in 1916, large and could transport troops and supply’s, useful for muddy conditions easy targets and broke down often (Went 6km per hour)
Describe Submarines.
Used mostly by Germans, they try to sink ships, moved undetected, and mines where placed underwater to destroy enemy ships, You boats where often used
Describe planes
They where used for spying and dropping bombs, later equip with machine guns,
Who had remained neural and why?
USA had remained neutral since They were benefiting economically. However USAs exports rode 200% between 1914-18, they supported allies (3E) with loans, shipped produce, goods and war materials t Europe
What are both sides doing in the seas?
They are trying to restrict their enemys access to supplies, Brits use boats and minefields (used to bomb U boats) blockade German ports
What do German do to British in the sea? And what does it lead to?
The German subs (U-boats) patrol the Atlantic sinking British supply ships and at times American shipos, In 1915 an American Luxury boat fro NY to UK was attacked with 1200 people dead and the Americans get very mad.This is a spark event that has USA join war later (Lusitania)
What are the 2 main reasons USA joins the war?
- After the Lusitania in 1915 Germany loosens Blockade but in 1917 they resume unrestricted warfare in Atlantic, if they hit a US ship they will declare war on Germany, Ger is willing to make this gamble because many Germans are dead from being mal nourished and cut off British supply forcing them to surrender before US soldiers arrive
- German minister Zimmerman sent a telegram proposing Mexico Invade New Mexico, Texas and Arizona, and Ger would fund Mexican army, This way Mexicans get land back and Germany can invade Europe.
Why does Britain tell the US about the telegram?
Britains want US to join the war so the Americans are told by Britain that Germanys plan is to invade through Mexico
When does US declare war on Germany and my who’s orders?
Woodrow Wilson says “The world must be made safe for democracy” and declared war on April6th 1917
What happens in russia of 1917?
The Russian Zsar is overthrown (Russian revolution) Russia is removed from the war,Russia lost 1/3 of population , land and coal reserves.
How can Germany focus on the Western front?
Russia gave up chunk of land (Ukraine) to Germany, In treaty of Brest Litosvak, Ger could relieve food shortages cause by the naval blockade by using agricultural products of Ukraine.
How are Germans pushed back in July-Oct of 1918?
With the help of 250,000 soldiers a month from American Allies,By end of October Germany surrenders one by one. On November 9th Kaiser Wilhem gives up the throne on Nov 9th. Germany asks US president Wilson to be a broker of a peace treaty based on his 14 points
What was the Armistice?
Peace treaty based on Wilsons 14 points, It is signed nov 11th at 11am. Fighting stops, Germans must evacuate all German occupied territory’s on Western front within 2 weeks, Demilitarization of German army
Who was Ferdinan Foch?
Supprime commander of allied forces
Why did Germany loose?
-they had no more reserves and troops where exhausted and ill equipped
- Severe food shortage in Germany
Morale was at an all time low, Allies where strong physically and mentally, had strong fresh troops from USA to provide amorale boost
What where the finally tally’s?
-9 million soldiers killed
-7 million civilans killed
21 million wounded
Thousands of square km destroyed, nations indebted
What were the 14 Wilson points?
- No secret treaty’s
- Free access to seas in peacetime or wartime
- Free trade between country’s
- All country’s work towards disarmament
- Colonies have a say in their own future
- German troops to leave in russia
- Independence for Belgium
- Alsace Lorraine to be returned to France
- Boarder between Austria and Italy to be adjusted
- Self determination for the peoples of Europe
- Serbia to have access to the sea
- Self determination for people of the Turkish empire
- Poland to become an independent state with access to the sea
- League of Nations to be set up
Who where the 3 main powers at negotiations?
- US
- France
- GB
Who was absent in Peace treaty?
Germans
