WWI Flashcards
MAIN
Militarism, Alliance System, Imperialism, Nationalism
Triple Alliance
“Bad guys;” Prussia, Austria, and Italy
Dual Alliance
in 1879, a alliance emerged b/w Germany and Austria; Based on German support for Austria
Russian-German Reinsurance Treaty
Promised the neutrality of both Germany + Russia; If either country went to war with another country; Kaiser Wilhelm refused to renew Reinsurance Treaty after death of Bismarck— can be seen as huge diplomatic blunder; France then courted Russia about becoming allies
Splendid Isolation
For Britain; Britain was only non-aligned power and enjoyed relative security as the World’s largest navy and protection by sea as a island nation
Anglo Japanese Alliance
Britain sought a Japanese agreement to Neutrality; wanted to counter the possible Russian threat in India; Ended Britain’s Isolation
Entente Cordial
1904; Due to Anglo-German Naval Arms Race; France + Britain settled all out standing colonial disputes in Africa; Britain recongnized French control of Morocco
Triple Entente
Britain, France, and Russia; Formed to check the power of the Triple Alliance; Not truly a formal alliance, just one done in principal
Anglo-German Arms Race
Militarism led to a belief in the inevitablity of a general European war; Germany overtook Britain industrially in 1890’s; 1898 when Kaiser Wilhem began expansion of German navy to protect it’s growing international trades; British policy was to have it’s fleet larger than the comprised feelts of any 2 rival nations
Haldane Mission
1912; Britain tried unsuccessfuly to end arms race with Germany
Encirclement
Germany became isolated, except for AUstria’s support; Germany complained about encirclement; Other powers blocking Germany’s emergence as a World Power
Balkans
Nationalism created a powder keg in the Balkans; The Ottoman Empire recceded from the Balkans, leaving the power vacume;
Pan-Slavism
A nationalist movement to unite all slavic peoples; Encouraged serbs, basnions, sloverns, to seek single political entity in SOuth Eastern Europe; Russia considered the big brother to slavs
Bosnian Crisis
The Young Turks set up parliamentary gov’t in Ottoman Empire; Wanted to modernize the empire, but regime seemed too weak to other Euro Powers
First Balkan War
Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria allied to drive Turks out of Balkans; Averted full-scale war for time b/c Russia was not ready and France was not willing to fight over Balkans
Second Balkan War
Bulgaria was angered that Serbia and Greece has acquired more territory in Macedonia and then attacked both countries; Serbians defeated bulgarians in its quest for macedonia and temporarity gained Albania; Russia back Serbia
Princip and the Black Hand
The man who shot the Archduke; Black hand was the Ultra Nationalist Serbian Black Hand Group
Kaiser Wilhelm and the Blank Check
He pledged unwavering support to Austria to punish Serbia
Blank Check
Austria made harsh demands on Serbia; Eventually Serbia greed to most of the terms, except a joint judicial proceedings; Austria thus declared war on Serbia; Which was first military aggression of the war
Central Powers
Germany Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire (also Bulgaria)
Allies
Britian, France, and Russia; Later Japan, Italy, Romania, and USA
Western Front
Refers to fighting West of Germany, largely in France; Started in Belgium which was a neutral country, to get to France quicker
Shlieffen Plan
German 42-day military plan to invade France through Beligum; However, failed due to Belgium’s suprising resistance to Germany, and Germany failed to lure French army, also Russia moblized quickly
battle of Marne
After Germans Came w/in sight of Paris, France and Britain forced pushed the German forced back; Battle of Represented the end of mobility on w front
Trench warfare
Resulted in stalemate and lasted four bloody
battle of verdune
Germany sought a battle of attrition that would “bleed France white,” and force it to sue for peace; War’s second bloodies battle
Battle of Somme
Bloodies battle of War; British and French offensive aimed to break through German lines; “All Quiet on the Western Front” by Erich Remarque
Machine Gun
Most important reason for large casualites that occurred compared to other wars; First to be used effectively by Germans
Tanks
Made Artillery mobile in contrast to cannons; Could navigate through terrain ; First used in Battle of the SOMME
Airplane
Initial air fights consisted of pistols fired from the planes; Germany developed first fighter plane (the FOKKER)
Poison Gas
Chlorine gas was used by Germans early in war; Impact of mustard gas was negated by use of gas masks by Allies
Submarines
U-boats; Initially used by Germans, had devastating effect on Allied shipping throughout war; German U-boats were most important reason for why USA eventually entered the war
Zepplins
Used by Germany to bomb London and other civilian targets as a weapon of terror; Eventually exploding shells were able to destroy them in the air
Radio
Made communication more effective on battlefield; Germans took advantage of Russia’s lack of radio capability and tapped in Russian phone lines to discover Russian plans
Eastern Front
War was more mobile
General Von Hindenburg and Von Ludendorff
Defeated invading armies at Tannenburg; Which turned the tide of the war in the East
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Lenin, after Bolshevik Revolution, took Russia out of the war, but was forced to give Germans 1/4 of Russia’s Euro territory
Gallipoli Campagin
British, Australian, and New Zealand forced failed to take Dardanelles as step toward defeating the Turks; Would have allowed Russia to receive
increased supplies from the Allies and play a larger naval role in war against Ottoman
Gallipoli Represented one of the…
Great Ottoman Victories of War and huge defeat for Allies
Middle East
Britain took great steps to protect the Suez Canal in Egypt Gained support from Arab tribes who resented Ottoman domination of region
Arab revolts
Against the Turks; Ended Ottoman Empire’s Grip on Middle East
Armenian Genocide
By the Turks–resulted from Ottoman claims that the Armenians were cooperating with the Allies
Japan in East Asia and the Pacific
Sided with the Entente during war and increased its influence in region; Japan’s dramatic increase in size of navy and army led to its recongintion as one of the Great Powers in Post war global diplmacy
British and naval blockades
Britain’s goal was to Strangle the Central Powers; Used its superior fleet to cut Central powers off from overseas trade; Caused Germany to lose control of its colonial empire
Germany’s Response to British Naval blockades
Sinking allies vessels with U-boats; Lusitania — U-boat sank a British passenger liner killing 1200 civilians
Sinking of Lusitania
Turned American Public opinion squarley against Germany
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare by 1917; Sinking ALL ships with its u-boats; Most important reason for US entering war
Economic Changes
Economic production focused on war effort; Free-market capitalism was abandoned in favor of strong central planning of economy; Women replaced male factory workers; Labor unions supported the war and saw increased influenced and prestige due to incerased demands for labor; Rationing of food and scarce commodities; War bonds
Each side aimed at…
“starving out” the enemy by cutting off vital supplies to civilian population
Georges Clemenceau
In France, created a dictatiorship during the war
Germany was World’s first…
Totalitarian regime in order to conrtol war effort
War promoted greater…
Social equality, thus blurring class distinctions and lessening the gap bw rich and poor
Italia Irredenta
Neutral italy entered war against the Central powers (its former allies) with the promise of some Balakn territoy
Zimmerman Note
Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against USA but Mexico refused
Balfour Note
Arabs and Jews in Palestine were promised autonomy if they joined the ALLIES; New policy seemed to contradict British support for Arab nationalism
Fourteen Points
Woordrow Wilson; US plan to end the war along liberal, democratic lines; Provisions: Abolish Secret Treaties, Freedom of the Seas, Reomove economic barriers, Reduce armament burdens (demilitrization); Self-determination; Adjustment of colonial clams; German evacutation of Russia; Adjustment of Italy’s borders along ethnic lines; Cration of League of Nations
Self-Determination
Promise of independence to oppressed minorty groups
Central powers sought peace based on…
Fourteen Points bc they believed that they would get fiar treatment
Paris Peace Conference
The Central Powers were excluded from negotiations as France was concerned with its future security; Italy left conference agary that it would not get Balakan territories it was promised
Versailles Treaty
Mandates—crated for former colonies and territorires of defeated Central Powers; Article 231; League of Nations created
Mandates
Much of Middle East was now controlled by Britain and France
Article 231
Placed sole blame for war on Germany that resulted in its severe punishment; Germany forced to pay repartion to Britain and France; It’s army was severly reduced; Lost all its colonies
League of Nations
Germany and Russia were not included which weakend the League; US senate failed to ratify Versailles Treaty
Impact of WWI on Society
- Massive Casualities; War promoted greater social equality; Women received right to vote; nobility lost much of its influence; Irish Easter Rebellion; End to long-standing royal dynasties
WWI and geography
Political map of Europe was redrawn; Germany was split in two by Polish corridor
THe Economic Consequences of The Peace
Predicted the harsh terms of the traty would hurt Germany’s economy and thus the economy of the rest of Europe, and led to significant future political unrest
