WW1, TRENCHES,BATTLES,LEADERSHIP,PLANS,ALLIENCES Flashcards
In what year did the Battle of the Somme take place?
1916
How many casualties were suffered on the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
Approximately 60,000 British casualties.
What is another name for the Battle of Passchendaele?
The Third Battle of Ypres
What year did the Battle of Passchendaele occur?
1917
What were the conditions like during the Battle of Passchendaele?
Extremely muddy and waterlogged, leading to difficult fighting conditions and many soldiers drowning in the mud.
What was the strategic significance of Passchendaele?
To capture ridges that would provide a strategic advantage and potentially allow for an advance to the Belgian coast.
Leadership of Douglas Haig Who was Douglas Haig?
A British senior officer during World War I, who served as the commander of the British Expeditionary Force.
What role did Douglas Haig play in the Battle of the Somme?
He was the commander responsible for planning and executing the battle.
How has Douglas Haig’s leadership been historically assessed, particularly with the quote ‘lions led by donkeys’?
His leadership has been criticized for being overly cautious and for the high casualties, reflected in the phrase ‘lions led by donkeys’, implying brave soldiers were led by incompetent commanders.
What was the main criticism of Haig’s tactics during World War I?
His persistence in using frontal assaults and attrition warfare, resulting in massive casualties with limited territorial gains.
Trenches Why were trenches created during World War I?
To provide protection from enemy fire and to hold ground in the face of artillery and machine gun fire.
Describe the main features of a typical trench system.
Trenches included front-line trenches, support trenches, and reserve trenches, connected by communication trenches; they featured barbed wire, sandbags, and dugouts
Which side, the Allies or the Central Powers, had better trench systems, and why?
The Central Powers generally had better trench systems, as they were often more established and better constructed due to holding defensive positions for longer periods.
What are traverses in trench systems, and what purpose did they serve?
Traverses are zigzag patterns in trench lines designed to prevent enemy fire from sweeping the length of the trench and to contain blasts from shell explosions.
Types of Trench Warfare What is mustard gas, and how was it used in trench warfare?
Mustard gas is a chemical weapon that causes severe blistering, blindness, and lung damage; it was used to incapacitate enemy troops and force them out of their trenches.
