Section 2 Flashcards
When did the BEF land in France and meet the German Army?
On the 23rd August in Mons.
How did the British scare the Germans when they arrived?
The small but well trained force of soldiers gave the Germans a nasty shock.
Who were the troops at Mons led by?
Lieutenant General Douglas Haig.
What kind of guns were the BEF using in Mons?
Lee Enfield 303 bolt action rifles.
Why was Haig (leader of the troops at Mons) criticised?
Because he killed lots of people with his guns.
What did the French do when the war broke out?
Launched a direct attack on Germany through Alsace Lorraine.
What were the consequences of the French’s direct attack on Alsace-Lorraine?
They lost over 200,000 men in 12 days and regrouped their forces to defend Paris from the advancing Germans.
When did the Battle of Marne happen?
September 1914.
What did the Germans do when the Russians had got their armies ready quicker than they thought?
Von Kluck decides to advance straight towards Paris.
What did German supreme commander Moltke do?
He pulled 100,000 troops out of army in Paris because Russia had invaded Germany.
How did the French divert troops to Paris?
By rail and then on the front, some by taxi.
What was the situation like between France and Germany?
The French were trying to save their country.
Together, the British and the French soldiers were able to…
Stop the German advance along the line of the River Marne. They counter attached and pushed the Germans back to the rusher Alsne.
Were the Germans completely out the country?
No - not entirely out of France.
When was the first signs of Stalemate formed?
8th September - troops were digging trenches to protect themselves From snipers and shell fire. They even introduced machine guns and barbed wires.
After the battle of the Marne, the German generals realised…
That they could not break through the enemy lines. They tried to get round the end of the enemies lines. 12th October - ‘the race of the sea’
When the Germans moved towards the sea, the British and French….
Moved troops (by rail) to lock them whenever it seemed that the Germans were about to break through.
Why did Stalemate happen?
Because both sides were protecting themselves since the German’s plan failed and both the armies were now evenly matched.
What was the first thing that happened during an Infantry Charge?
‘Barrage’ attacker’s artillery bombarded the front line trenches of the enemy.
What was the second thing that happened during an Infantry Charge?What happened during the race?
The barrage is done so the attackers climb out he trenches. It’s a rave between attackers and defense. The defenders need to set up machinery guns before attackers got over the barbed wires of no mans land.
What was the third thing that happened during an Infantry Charge?
The defenders had the advantage and swept attackers with machinery guns which sometimes set up a cross fire.
What was the fourth and final thing that happened during an Infantry Charge?
If the attackers did capture forward positions, they had to hold them.
What were the chances of the attackers capturing a forward position during an Infantry Charge?
Usually impossible , they were forced back to their original positions.
What was an Infantry Charge?
An attack using soldiers on foot rather than cavalry.
What was introduced in 1916 as the war went on?
Steel helmets which gave protection against shrapnel from enemy shelling - was standard equipment.
What new tactics were in introduced as the war went on? (3)
Camouflage techniques, has masks and infantry/artillary attacks were more synchronised.
What jobs did Infantry Soldiers have? (3)
Digging or repairing trenches, carted supplies and equipment up and down communication trenches and spent long hours on sentry duty or secret listening posts in enemy trenches.
What were ‘Sappers’ and what were their jobs? (2)
They were ex miners who dug tunnels below enemy trenches and placed huge mines there. Also made patrols to no mans land or raided enemy trenches to capture prisoners or particular positions.
Why were trenches so unhygienic?
Millions of men and thousands of horses liver closely.
Soldiers were infested with….
Lice or ‘chats’ as they called them.
Why was the smell of the trenches so bad in the summer? (3)
Due to rotting corpses, sewage and unwashed soldiers.
What was trench foot?
In the wet weather, soldiers spent time putting their ankles or knees in water for hours or days - dirty.
What were trenches infested with?
Huge fat ‘corpse rats’ that thrived on dead bodies and rubbish made by armies.
What weapon causes the most casualties?
Artillery.
What were the 2 main jobs of the Artillery?
1) destroy enemy positions and defences so they can be captured.2) destroy enemy guns.
What were Artilleries like at the beginning of the war?
Not very accurate.
How did Artilleries change throughout the war?
By 1918 - artillery tactics were more sophisticated.
What were the vast part of the European industry doing?
Making shells for artillery.
Why did the British performance in the war become more effective after 1916?
Because the British industry were supplying enough guns and shells.
