WWI: "It'll Be Over By Christmas"

Question 1

What is the importance of “It will be over by Christmas”? /2

Answer 1

A saying that countries involved in the WWI believed

Showed overflowing pride in their own superiority and power over others

Question 2

Why was WWI called the Great War?

Answer 2

Since it was such a massive war with severe consequences

Question 3

What is a stalemate? /3

Answer 3

A.k.a STOP

Neither side know how to proceed into the fight

Both sides are evenly matched so there is no progress (same artillery/weapons)

Question 4

How was Europe swallowed into war? /8

Answer 4

1) AH declares was on Serbia by accusing them for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand
2) Serbia calls Russia for support
3) Russia complies since they have always supported Serbia
4) AH calls Germany for support (blank check) due to their alliance and AH is the weakest military
5) Germany gives Russia an ultimatum
6) Russia refuses
7) Germany declares war on Russia
8) Other countries get involved due to alliances (Triple Entente + Central)

Question 5

What is the cause and effect of the beginning of the WWI? /2(3)

Answer 5

Cause: Enthusiasm was high = NATIONALISM
Many thought it would be over by Christmas

Effect: Tens of thousands of volunteered for the was effort in the Central
and Allied countries

Question 6

How long did the governments train soldiers in WWI? /2

Answer 6

After barely a month of training, solders are deployed into the battlefields

Really basic training = how to use a rifle

Question 7

Who is Earl Kitchener? /2

Answer 7

Seen in the BRITISH “Your country needs YOU” sign (referenced by the US)

Has a town in Ontario named after him

Question 8

What was Germany’s plan that ultimately failed?

Answer 8

Schlieffen Plan

Question 9

What is the Schlieffen Plan? /6

Answer 9

Designed to avoid war at two fronts

First get rid of France

Second get rid of Russia

Invade Belgium as a way to avoid French confrontation (front)

Based off assumptions (Makes an Ass of U and Me)

Assumed Russia would take long to mobilize their army

Question 10

What did Germany get right regarding the Schlieffen plan? /2

Answer 10

That France would concentrate on the France-Germany border near Alsace-Lorraine

France ignorée Belgium

Question 11

Schlieffen plan:

How did German invading forces compare to Belgian army? /2

Answer 11

Belgium had 150,000

Germany outnumbered them 10 to 1

Question 12

Schlieffen plan:

What did Belgium put its faith in?

Answer 12

Put faith in their underground forts in the city of Liège

Question 13

Schlieffen plan:

What weapon did Germany use against this? Was it successful? /2

Answer 13

German weapon: Big Bertha
|-> world’s biggest canon/artillery

It was successful

Question 14

Schlieffen plan:

While Germany was invading Belgium, what was Russia doing? Who came out ahead? /2

Answer 14

Russia was mobilizing their army faster than expected

Russia came out ahead of Germany

Question 15

Did the Schlieffen plan succeed?

Answer 15

Nope. FAILED

Question 16

Why was Germany shocked that the Schlieffen plan failed? /5

Answer 16

Did not believe Britain would join in the fight in Belgium : Britain defends Belgium

Taking over France took longer than expected

Russia mobilized their army much faster than Germany predicted (3 weeks rather than 6)

Belgium held Germany off better than expected

France’s defence on Paris was stronger than expected

Question 17

Why did Britain help Belgium?

Answer 17

Due to their alliance/contract/deal

Question 18

What was the purpose/goal of the Great War?

Answer 18

Taking over territory

Question 19

What is the BEF? /2

Answer 19

British Expeditionary Forces

Left the UK to fight in another region (Belgium)

Question 20

What happened in the fight in a Belgium? /3

Answer 20

The BEF slows down German invasion BUT are hugely outnumbered

BEF and Belgian soldiers are pushed back into French territory

French come to the rescue and support the defence

Question 21

Why did it take France a while to help support Belgium?

Answer 21

Due to French concentrating their forces at Alsace-Lorraine

Question 22

What is the 1st Battle of Marne? /4

Answer 22

Early September

Germans had advanced to within 40km of Paris at the River Marne

Combined French and British forces pushing Germany back to the River Aisne

Early into the war = trenches not invented yet

Question 23

Why were all of Paris taxis brought into the war? /2

Answer 23

Taxi drivers were ordered to transport (French) soldiers as close to river Marne

From the train station from Alsace-Lorraine to Paris, then to the River Marne

Question 24

What happened October 1914? /4

Answer 24

Germans tried to outflank the Allies by racing to the English Channel (water)

Germans tried to block access to the French ports
|-> prevent the transportation of soldiers and supplies

Outflank: going around the allies

Thankfully, British and French troops blocked the German advance

Question 25

Where is the English channel?

Answer 25

Between France and Britain

Question 26

Why were the trenches invented? /2

Answer 26

Protect soldiers from snipers and shell fires

Enforced with wood or concrete

Question 27

What can you analyze at the Western front? /3

Answer 27

Stays the same for about 3 years

French and allied soldiers are present (British + Dominion of Canada)

Mostly fought on French soil/territory

Question 28

What proved that the Schlieffen plan failed?

Answer 28

Germany had to fight on two fronts by the end of September