WW1 1914-18 Flashcards
Who were the central powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary
Who were the tripe entente
France, russia and Britain
Did any of the nations in the central powers and the triple entente want war in 1914
No, no country wanted war in 1914
Why may have Britain not fought in any conflict between France and Germany
Although Britain had made some joint plans, it was not strictly allied to either France or Russia
How many men were in the British regular army in 1914
247,432 officers and men
Who became Secretary of State for war on 5th of August 1914
Lord Kitchener
Was lord kitchner popular
The public greeted his appointment with enthusiasm and he vacant a figure of national unity
Did kitchner remain popular
No as his shortcomings in government soon became apparent
What was the vital contribution the lord kitchner we made to the war effort
He forecast a 3-4 year war and realised that Britain would have to rally up mass armies so he set plans accordingly
Why did Kitchener not enforce conscription
British politics at his time was heavily liberal and their was a worry it would infringe on a persons liberty
What change did kitchner make to recruitment
To recruit through regular recruiting channels rather than a territorial system
How many recruits volunteered for the army in August and September of 1914
761,000 recruits
What was the average number of monthly recruits until June 1915
125,000 a month
Why did so many men enlist
It was based mostly on patriotism and public school codes of duty
who was first to use gas
germany
what gas did the germans use
chlorine
what gas did Britain develop in response to chlorine
phosgene
what was fuze 106
device filled with musketballs that were propelled on explosion
when was the fuze 106 put into service
1917
what is creeping barrage
artillery bombardment followed by infantry attack
Why was the first day of the somme unsuccessful?
artillery bombardment was too early and warned Germans of attack
How many british soldiers were killed on the first day of the Somme?
19000 - greatest loss in british army history
how many british and French casualties from the Somme?
420,000 British
194,000 French
how many German casualties from the somme
465,000
was Haig responsible for the Somme
not entirely
he had to help France
problems in general facing the army to do with coordination
Battle of Arras
combined tactics resulted in 3.5 mile advancement for the Allies
Passchendaele
fortnight long artillery bombardment destroyed half enemies weapons also destroyed drainage system Germans were ready for attack Haig continued anyway less than 10,000 yards gained 70,000 British killed 170,00 injured
Cambrai
with help from 324 tanks allies advanced 3 miles
Germans quickly regained it
45,000 casualties
Wastage level 1917
76000 men a month
How was Lundendorf’s spring offensive successful?
yes
surprised the British
British troops fell back 40 miles
How was Ludendorff’s Spring Offensive a failure?
Germans lost momentum
BEF repelled Germans in Amiens
BEF strengthened by 500,000 troops
250,000 US troops arriving each month
When was Amiens and what happened?
1918
BEF gained 8 miles
inflicted 27,000 casualties
only lost 8,000
Reasons for british success
Britain outgunned Germany
Branches of military working together
Skilled artillery
How many casualties inflicted by BEF between Aug and Nov 1918?
264,383
German defeat
Nov German troops retreat
their allies surrendered
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated
Armistice signed
Military losses
750,000
What was different about deaths in WW1 to other wars
more from battle than disease
