WWI Flashcards
Censorship and Propaganda in WWI
- Used by all sides of the war to promote the war effort and dehumanize the enemy, control public opinion
- Used to evoke feelings of patriotism, nationalism, fear, unity,
Children in the war
- Germans enlisted 15 year olds to fight on the front lines
Death toll
40 million (more people that live in Canada)
Fate of German Empire
- Bc of Versailles Treaty:
- Pay reparations
- Territory diminished
- Guilt clause
- Not allowed to have armed forces
–> economic disaster and widespread misery
Fate of Russian Empire
- Backed out of the war, bc of revolution at home
- After Lenin dies, Stalin comes to power, setting up a cruel dictatorship
Fate of Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Smaller territory
Fate of Ottoman Empire
- Ottoman empire destroyed
Germany’s responsibility in WWI
- Declared war on Russia, and on France
Mobilization
- ## Russia mobilized troops even before Austria declared war
November 11, 1918 Armistice
Axis and Allies powers agree on a cease-fire, though later Germany is forced to take the blame in the Versailles Treaty
Paris Peace Conference
- a number of diplomatic meetings in 1919 and 1920 after the end of World War I, where the victorious Allies set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers
Treaty of Versailles
- Germany not consulted, forced to pay reparations (400 billion) and assume full blame; –> destroyed economy and caused resentment –> WW2
Role and experience of Women in WWI
- Took over jobs that kept the economy running
- after able to argue for more rights (e.g to vote)
Role of aircraft in WWI
- New technology
- Little to no great effect, though did drop bombs
Schlieffen Plan
- A how-to on fighting a war on two fronts for Germany
- Germany planned to invade Belgium first to defeat France quickly(failed, deadly stalemate), as it would take Russia longer to mobilize (false), and then focus forces on Russia
Stalemate/War of Attrition
- a deadlock where neither side wins, and both suffer loses of human life, and otherwise
- aggressive attempts to win a war by wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel, materiel, and morale
Self-determination
Freedom of the people of a given area to determine their own political status; independence
Triple Alliance
- Germany, Austria Hungry and Italy
Trench Warfare
- deadly stalemate between France and Germany; no winner, heavy casualties
Triple Entente
- France, Russia, and Britain,
( secret treaty) (entente with France, non-binding agreement to follow similar policies)
Unrestricted submarine warfare
- Germany’s policy –> public opinion of Germany gets worse
The Lusitania
- Germany unrestricted submarine warfare
- Britain created a blockade on Germany, Germany created a blockade, Germany sunk Lusitania –> unrestricted warfare paused
Wilson’s 14 points
- Focused on self-determination
- No secret treaties, free trade, no more arms races;
- ultimately compromised
- “peace without victory”
Woodrow Wilson
- US president, created the 14 points for peace and the League of Nations, but the US did not join the League of Nations
- viewed as a peacemaker
France
- Fought on the Western Front against Germany, deadly stalemate;
- After war, wanted to destroy Germany to make sure they would never threaten France again
Great Britain
- Fought on the Western front against Germany
- After war, wanted to build a Britain fit for heroes
- Used many Indians from their colonies to fight
Imperialism influence in World War I
Many Indians fought on behalf of Britain in the war effort, while people in India were starved because of British policies
Long-term causes of World War I
- League of Nation (failed)
- Treaty of Versailles (failed, caused 2nd WW)
- Economies and infrastructure destroyed
- Collapse of monarchy in Russia
- Loss of faith in democracy –> rise of fascist/communist regimes
