WW1 Flashcards
Entente (2)
- A defensive agreement
- You defend one another but you don’t fight together
Annex
Absorbing a country or territory by threatening force
Militarism
When military is valued above all else by a country
Sarajevo (2)
- Bosnia’s capital where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated
- Austria- Hungary had just annexed it
Franz Ferdinand (2)
- The Archduke of Austria-Hungary
- Was assassinated by the Black Hand (Serbian terrorist group)
Franz Joseph
Uncle of Franz Ferdinand and dies then Ferdinand takes over
Who is in the Triple Alliance?
The alliance between Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary
Who is Kaiser William II?
The greedy new Kaiser/ emperor of Germany
Who is in the Triple Entente?
Great Britain, Russia, and France
What factors led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
- The countries in the Balkans were very nationalistic and encouraged independence
- Bosnia was annexed by Austria-Hungary
>Angered Serbia because they were planning to take Bosnia for themselves to make Yugoslavia
>Serbia also wants the Bosnians to have a revolution against Austria-Hungary because if they don’t do it soon, they will see that the Archduke will actually make them happy when he rules
What were Bismark’s major goals after 1871?
- Main goal was to isolate France to keep peace and prevent war
> This was also to prevent shattering his newly created Germany
What alliances did Bismarck make?
He made alliances with Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia
Why was Bismarck’s alliance with Russia and A-H bad?
Because they were both fighting for control over the Balkans
How was the Triple Entente formed?
- William II lapsed Germany’s friendship with Russia, leaving Russia all alone
- France, isolated as well, see’s this as an opportunity to make an alliance and they sign a treaty
- Soon, Great Britain sees that many countries had made alliances and friends, felt vulnerable, and signs a treaty with Russia and France, forming the Triple Entente.
How did Austria and Russia become rivals in the Balkans?
- Germany and Austria-Hungary wanted to build a pipeline for oil that comes from Bagdad and goes through the Balkans.
- Austria-Hungary also wanted to remove the Serbian influence to prevent revolutions in the Balkans and Bosnia/ their country to stop them from creating Yugoslavia.
- Russia also wanted control because they wanted warm-water trading all year long on the Ionian/Adriatic Sea since their ports freeze over the winter
How did POLITICAL LEADERS encourage the drift toward war in 1914?
Believed that war was the only way to settle international problems
How did MILITARY LEADERS encourage the drift toward war in 1914?
Wanted a chance to put their newly created plans, soldiers, and weapons, into action
How did POPULAR OPINION encourage the drift toward war in 1914?
People believed fighting or going to war was the truest form of patriotism.
Ultimatum
List of demands and if not met could result in consequences/war
Mobilize
Moving your troops in desired positions for war
Neutrality
- Policy of not supporting any side during a conflict
- Ex. Belgium
Aggressor (3)
- Person or country that makes unprovoked attacks
- Attacks first
- Threatening-like behaviour
Elan
Strong fighting spirit that the French believed they have and no one else does
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
- Attack France first through Belgium and capture Paris swiftly
- Then send their troops to the Russian border so they could utilize 100% of their army before the Russians have fully mobilized
Who were in the Central Powers?
The alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire
Who were in the Allies?
The alliance between Great Britain, Italy, Russia, France
Western Front
The battle or fighting in North East France between Germany and France through trenches
Eastern Front
The battle/fighting between Russia & Germany
Battle of Maine (2)
- Where the French were able to drive away the Germans
- The battle that creates Trench warfare
What was Austria-Hungary’s goal in sending Serbia an Ultimatum?
They sent an extremely harsh ultimatum so Serbia could say no and make Serbia look like the aggressor and start a war.
What was Serbia’s reply? What was the result?
- Serbia agreed to all but 2 and asked for arbitration rather than fully refusing
- Germany refused the arbitration and declared war.
- Soon after, Germany did as well
Why did Russia face particular difficulties in preparing for war? (2)
- Russia is a large country with a lot of land and dirt roads to traverse
- They also only have 1 main railway to transport soldiers and supplies
What action did Russia take due to their difficulties?
This led them to mobilize early
What brought Germany into the war?
After declaring war on Serbia, they soon declared war on Russia, France, then Belgium
How did France become involved?
Germany declared war on France and they invaded them soon after
How did Germany plan to solve the problem of a two-front war?
The Schlieffen plan
What developments thwarted the Schlieffen plan? (2)
- Belgium said no to Germany because they have a neutrality agreement
- Russia also mobilized early to the German border
Why did Great Britain enter the war?
- Because the fighting is too close to the Belgium ports which is in front of Great Britain
- And Germany had violated Belgian’s neutrality
How did the war become a stalemate?
- TRENCH WARFARE
- France had pushed back Germany and to stop getting pushed out further, they decided to dig trenches
- France would do the same and they would continuously extend and match each other
- The war last 4 years because it was hard to attack and fight against trench lines
