WWI Essay plans

Question 1

Detail: Germany’s poor military decisions

Answer 1

The Schlieffen Plan
The Battle of Verdun
Unrestricted U boat warfare = entry of America
Poor leaders, failure of the Ludendorff Offensive
Historiography: Alexander Watson

Question 2

Detail: Problems on Germany’s home front, caused by rapid change

Answer 2

• German people ready for revolution
• Dire economic situation of 1918
• Rapid social and economic change = unhappiness
• Historiography: Jay Winter

Question 3

Detail: The Strength of the Allied forces military

Answer 3

• Entry of the US
• Technological advancements (Tanks in the Battle of the Somme) and fighting methods
• Breaking the Hindenburg Line
• General Haig
• Historiography: Gary Sheffield/ Pady Griffith

Question 4

Detail: The ability of the Allied Forced to sustain Total War

Answer 4

• Strong economies
• Efficient rationing
• Utilisation of women, unlike Germany

Question 5

Overview of the historiography:

Answer 5

Hmmm

Question 6

Assess the importance of technological advancements in determining the outcome of WWI.

Answer 6

1. War on land
2. War at sea
3. War in the air
4. See the ability for the Allied forces to sustain total war
5. See the strength of the Allied military

Question 7

Detail: war on land

Answer 7

• Trench warfare
• Machine Guns and Grenades
• Heavy artillery
• Chemical warfare
• Tanks

Historiography: John Keegan, Ian Beckett, John Bourne

Question 8

What were the reasons for Germany’s defeat in WWI?

Answer 8

1. Germany’s poor military decisions (one reason)
2. Germany was doing well in 1917, it was the entry of the USA that stopped this (final push)
3. The strength of the Allied Forces military (part of the reason)
4. The ability of the Allied forces to sustain Total War (fundamental reason)

NB: Germany’s chance was in 1917 after the fall of Russia, but they didn’t take it

Question 8

Detail: war at sea

Answer 8

• Mines and submarines
• Britain survived U-boat campaign
• The battle of Jutland

Historiography: a famous journalist

Question 9

Detail: War in the air

Answer 9

• Airships, bombs and civilian targets

* Aircraft

Question 10

Overview of historiography:

Answer 10

Hmmm

Question 11

Other things you should know about

Answer 11

1. The role of women in the war
2. How their status changed
3. Developments on the homefront

Question 12

Detail: the role of women in the war

Answer 12

• Jobs in the factories

* Role after WWI

Question 13

Detail: how the status of women changed

Answer 13

• Fuelled the Suffragette movement

* Status after the war

Question 14

Detail: developments on the Homefront

Answer 14

• Role of women
• Agriculture + rationing
• Government control of production