Causes of the First World War

Question 1

When did the assassination of Franz Ferdinand take place

Answer 1

28th June 1914

Question 2

Where is the town of Sarajevo

Answer 2

Bosnia (in Austria-Hungary)

Question 3

Which country had recently taken control of Bosnia

Answer 3

A-H

Question 4

Why was Serbia wanting to control Bosnia

Answer 4

There were many Serbs living in Bosnia

Question 5

Who was Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Answer 5

Heir of throne in A-H

Question 6

Why was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of A-H in Sarajevo

Answer 6

It was his wedding anniversary and it was a public attentions day

Question 7

Who assassinated Ferdinand

Answer 7

Gavrilo Princip

Question 8

Which nationalist group did Gavrilo belong to

Answer 8

A Serbian group called Black Hand Gang

Question 9

How did the murder of Ferdinand happen

Answer 9

2 shots and both were killed in an open top cart

Question 10

Name of the Emporer of A-H (not the heir)

Answer 10

Franz Joseph

Question 11

Who did Franz Joseph think supported the Black Hand Gang

Answer 11

The Serbian Government

Question 12

Why did A-H want to retaliate against Serbia

Answer 12

Because the heir was assassinated by a Serbain backed gang

Question 13

Why did the previous two Balkan Wars not turn into world wars, and why did this one turn into a world war

Answer 13

Triple Alliances and Triple Entente weren’t involved

Germany was an ally of A-H and gave a blank cheque promising to help A-H if Russia supported Serbia
Russia was an ally of Serbia and defended Serbia

Question 14

Who was A-H’s key rivals in Europe before the war

Answer 14

A-H concerned about the Serbs
Russia supported Serbs
A-H also concerned about Russia

Question 15

Who was France’s key rivals in Europe before the war

Answer 15

1870, Germany took Alsace Lorraine from France
France wanted support from Russia in case of attack from Germany

Question 16

Who was Germany’s key rivals in Europe before the war

Answer 16

Germany and France were rivals because of Alsace Lorraine

Question 17

Who was Great Britain’s key rivals in Europe before the war

Answer 17

Britain was concerned about the growing military strength of Germany

Question 18

Who was Italy’s key rivals in Europe before the war (if they had any)

Answer 18

Italy was a new country and wanted to join with stronger countries

Question 19

Who was Russia’s key rivals in Europe before the war

Answer 19

Russia was concerned about potential invasion by Germany

Question 20

Who were the six most powerful nations in Europe by 1914

Answer 20

Russia
Great Britain
France
Germany
A-H
(Italy)

Question 21

What were the 2 opposing alliances, when were they formed

Answer 21

The Triple Entente- formed in 1907 (Russia, France, Britain

The Triple Alliance- formed in 1882 (Germany, Italy, Germany)

Question 22

What was going on in Europe pre 1914 that could cause concern for countries

Answer 22

Germany- best army
A-H- taken over Bosnia and might want to take over others

Question 23

How could the alliance system avoid war

Answer 23

Countries might have to fight 3 countries at a time instead of 1 because of alliances making them stronger

Question 24

How could alliances lead to war

Answer 24

Not just fighting 1 country but 2 others in that alliance so more countries would be involved and it would escalate into a world war not just argument/dispute

Question 25

Why did the Anglo German Naval Race happen

Answer 25

Germans wanted to make their navy a little bigger than Britain’s so the British wouldn’t attack (risk theory) British made their navy equal in size to the 2 strongest navies in Europe at the time put together (two-power standard) They thought no other fleet would dare attack it

Question 26

Why was the British Dreadnought 1906 so special

Answer 26

Most powerful battle shop ever built Revolutionary design made other ships out of date Faster and more thickly armoured and could fight at long range

Question 27

What did the Germans begin work on after the British made the Dreadnought

Answer 27

The Rheinland a very powerful ship

Question 28

Who had the largest navy in 1914

Answer 28

Britain’s was bigger than Germany’s

Question 29

Was the German army bigger or smaller than the British army from 1900-1914

Answer 29

Bigger as they had introduced conscription but the British only introduces conscription in 1916

Question 30

When was the Schlieffen Plan made

Answer 30

1905

Question 31

Schlieffen plan action: Plan to avoid war on 2 fronts

Answer 31

Germany would have to split their forces which would make them much weaker

Question 32

Schlieffen plan action: Russian mobilisation

Answer 32

Germany thought it would take 6 weeks for Russia to attack after Germany attacked France

Question 33

Schlieffen plan action: France being attacked first

Answer 33

Germans thought it would be easier to defeat than Russia

Question 34

Schlieffen plan action: France via Belgium

Answer 34

Belgium had woodland so Germans could hide there and it would be a surprise attack It was flatter compared to South France They expected no resistance in Belgium

Question 35

Schlieffen plan action: Capture Paris

Answer 35

Psychological effect of taking the capital city

Question 36

Schlieffen plan action: Time taken

Answer 36

6 weeks to capture France

Question 37

Schlieffen plan action: Russia

Answer 37

The German troops would then go to Russia

Question 38

How could war plans lead to war

Answer 38

Preparing for a war to break out Increased tension between France and Germany Made war more likely since countries knew what they needed to do once war was declared

Question 39

How could militarism lead to war

Answer 39

Created intense military competition and rivalry between European powers but especially Britain and Germany

Question 40

Footsteps to war!

Answer 40

Ferdinand assassinated A-H wanting retaliation Germany supports A-H Sends Blank Cheque that if Russia supports Serbia, Germany will support A-H A-H sends ultimatum to allow their entry into Serbia to remove Black Hand Gang Serbia couldn’t do this as it would be end of their independence 28th July- A-H declares war on Serbia 29th July, Russia supports Serbia and mobilises her troops 30th July-1st August, Germany sends ultimatum to Russia to stop mobilisation Russia refused Germany declares war on Russia France begins to mobilise her troops (ally of Russia) 2nd August, Germany declares war on France German troops invade Belgium (to get to France) British send telegram ordering Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium Given until midnight 4th August to respond 4th August, German troops into Belgium Germans don’t reply to British 5th August, British at war with Germany