Conflict and Tension 1894 - 1918 Flashcards
Revise the causes, stalemate, and ending of the First World War. (101 cards)
1
Q
Who was Otto von Bismarck?
A
German Chancellor between 1871 - 1890
2
Q
What were Bismarck’s two biggest achievements?
A
Unifying Germany in 1871 / Creating alliances to keep Germany out of war (e.g. Reinsurance Treaty with Russia).
3
Q
What was the Bismarckian Nightmare?
A
Bismarck’s fear that Germany would be surrounded by enemies if France and Russia became allies.
4
Q
When was the Franco-Prussian War?
A
1871
5
Q
What was a consequence of the Franco-Prussian War?
A
France became determined to take revenge against Germany.
6
Q
What year was the Triple Alliance signed?
A
1882
7
Q
Who were the three members of the Triple Alliance?
A
Germany , Austria-Hungary, and Italy
8
Q
What year did Wilhelm become Kaiser?
A
1888
9
Q
Who was the Kaiser of Germany from 1888 - 1918?
A
Wilhelm II
10
Q
What does MANIA stand for?
A
Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, Assassination
11
Q
What is meant by the term Splendid Isolation?
A
Britain’s decision to not become involved in European politics (1815 - 1902).
12
Q
What is meant by the term alliance?
A
When two or more countries agree to defend each other if war breaks out.
13
Q
When was the Franco-Russian alliance signed?
A
1894
14
Q
When as the Entente Cordiale signed?
A
1904
15
Q
When was the Anglo-Russian Entente signed?
A
1907
16
Q
What term is used to refer to the alliance between Britian, France, and Russia?
A
The Triple Entente
17
Q
Which fellow Slavic country did Russia have an alliance with?
A
Serbia
18
Q
Why was Wilhelm envious of Britain?
A
Due to their superior navy and large empire.
19
Q
What is meant by the term militarism?
A
A belief that a country needs a strong military to grow in power.
20
Q
What does Weltpolitik mean?
A
World Policy. The Kaiser’s desire to make Germany more powerful.
21
Q
What did the Kaiser mean when he said Germany wanted ‘a place in the sun’?
A
He desired to expand the German Empire.
22
Q
What was the Anglo-German Naval Race?
A
Britian and Germany racing to build the largest Navy with the most dreadnoughts.
23
Q
What new type of battleship was created in 1906?
A
The Dreadnought
24
Q
How many Dreadnoughts did both Britain and Germany have by 1914?
A
Britain = 29 Germany = 17
25
What does rearmament mean?
When a country builds new weapons or replaces old ones
26
Who had the largest navy in 1914?
Great Britain (122 battleships and 64 submarines)
27
Who had the largest army in 1914?
Germany (2.2 million men)
28
What does imperialism mean?
A desire for a country to have or expand their empire.
29
What caused the first Moroccan Crisis in 1905?
France announced protectorate control of Morocco which angered Germany.
30
What happened during the first Moroccan Crisis?
Wilhelm made a speech supporting Moroccan independence. He actually wanted Morocco to become a Germany colony and to the test France and Britain's alliance.
31
What were the consequences of the first Moroccan Crisis?
The Algeciras Conference was held to determine the fate of Morocco. Only Austria-Hungary supported Germany. France was supported by Britain which showed the strength of their alliance.
32
What caused the second Moroccan Crisis in 1911?
French soldiers helped the Sultan of Morocco put down a rebellion. The French now had soldiers in Morocco which would allow them to make Morocco a French colony. Germany was furious at this.
33
What happened during the second Moroccan Crisis in 1911?
Kaiser Wilhelm II sends a gunboat (the Panther) to Agadir to 'protect Germans in Morocco.
34
What were the consequences of the second Moroccan Crisis?
Germany was forced to back down as it was not ready to declare war against Britain and France. Germany vowed to never back down again after this. Britain and France's alliance proved to be strong.
35
What does the term nationalism mean?
The belief that your countries national identity is superior to others.
36
What are the Balkans?
A region in south Europe consisting of countries such as Serbia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria.
37
What are Slavs?
People who live in the Balkans and speak Slavic languages.
38
What does Pan-Slavism mean?
A desire to create a strong Slavic nation in the Balkans. E.g. Serbia wanted to unite with Bosnia to create Greater Serbia.
39
What was the Bosnian Crisis of 1908?
Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia, greatly angering Serbia.
40
What role did Russia play during the Bosnian Crisis?
Serbia appealed to them for help. Russia asked Germany and Austria-Hungary to solve the matter diplomatically, but due to their military strength against Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary decided to ignore Russia's request.
41
How did the Bosnian Crisis impact Serbia?
The Serbian Nationalist terrorist group The Black Hand Gang is formed vowing to take revenge against Austria-Hungary.
42
What happened during the Balkan Wars 1912-1913?
The Ottoman Empire is defeated and pushed out of the region. Austria-Hungary is the only external influence in the Balkans.
43
What is meant by the term assassination?
The deliberate murder of someone due to political or religious reasons.
44
Who was Franz Ferdinand?
The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
45
Where was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. (28th June 1914).
46
Why was Franz Ferdinand in Bosnia?
To inspect the Austro-Hungarian army and to give a speech.
47
Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip - A member of the Black Hand Gang (Serbian terrorist group who took revenge for Austria-Hungary annexing Bosnia).
48
How did Austria-Hungary react to the assassination?
They delivered an ultimate to Serbia with 10 demands, beginning the July Crisis.
49
How did Serbia react to the ultimatum?
They accepted 9/10 points (they refused to allow Austro-Hungarian police to help with the investigation of the assassination).
50
What happened on the 28th July 1914?
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering the alliance system.
51
What is meant by the term the 'domino effect'?
The triggering of the alliance system: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, Germany declares war on Russia, then France and Belgium, Britain declares war on Germany, Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia. This is the start of the First World War.
52
When was the Schlieffen plan created?
1905 by Alfred von Schlieffen
53
What was the aim of the Schlieffen plan?
Germany would invade France through neutral Belgium, defeat France in six weeks and then turn east to defeat Russia who they assumed would take six weeks to mobilise (get ready for war).
54
Why did the Schlieffen plan fail?
The plan relied on assumptions. Belgium fought back, Britain joined the war due to the Treaty of London, and Russia took ten days to mobilise.
55
How is the Schlieffen Plan a cause of the First World War but also a reason the stalemate lasted so long?
Cause - Brings Britain and Belgium into the war
Stalemate - Leads to the creation of trenches along the Wester Front
56
What does the term stalemate mean?
Where neither side can gain an advantage during a war.
57
What happened at the Battle of the Marne?
French and British, soldiers force the Germans to retreat to the river Aisne. Trenches are built marking the start of the stalemate.
58
What was the Race to the Sea?
After the Battle of the Marne, British and French forces try to outflank the Germans. Both armies advance north trying to gain an advantage, leading to trenches being built all the way through France and Belgium to the coast.
59
What is a trench?
A long narrow ditch built to protect soldiers.
60
What were the main features of a trench?
Barbed wire, dugouts, machine guns, sandbags.
61
What were the dangers of living in a trench?
Shellshock (PTSD), disease (spread by rats and poor hygiene) low morale and danger of being killed by the enemy.
62
What were pieces of technology used during the war?
Artillery, Machine Guns, Poison Gas, Rifle, Grenades, Flamethrowers.
63
What happened during the Battle of Verdun (Feb - Dec 1916)?
German offensive where they aimed to capture strategic forts from the French using a strategy of attrition.
64
What was is a strategy of attrition?
Constantly attacking the enemy to wear them down into surrender.
65
Who decided to use the strategy of attrition at Verdun?
German General Erich von Falkenhayn, he wanted to 'Bleed the French White'.
66
What was the outcome of Verdun?
Germany failed to break the stalemate. France lost 380,000 men and Germany lost 280,000. The British launch the Somme offensive earlier than planned to take pressure off the French.
67
What is an artillery bombardment?
Explosives fired at enemy trenches to destroy defences and kill soldiers (60% of casualties during WW1).
68
How did offensives start during The First World War?
Artillery bombardment > soldiers go over the top > soldiers try to capture enemy territory.
69
What happened during the Battle of the Somme (July - Nov 1916)?
The British lead an offensive in an attempt to break the stalemate and relieve pressure on the French at Verdun.
70
Who led the British at the Somme?
Field Marshall Douglas Haig.
71
Why was Haig criticized during the Somme?
He continued to use the 'over the top tactic' and did not change his tactics. 56,000 British soldiers injured or killed on the first day of the Somme.
72
What was the outcome of the Somme?
620,000 British and French casualties. 500,000 German casualties. 150km of land gained by the British and French, stalemate was not broken.
73
What was the creeping barrage tactic?
Shooting your artillery just in front of your soldiers to destroy enemy defences and protect your soldiers.
74
What happened during the Battle of Passchendaele (July - Nov 1917).
Britain, France, and Belgian soldiers launch an offensive in an attempt to break the stalemate.
75
What tactic was used at the Battle of Passchendaele?
Bite = Small battles and attacks that gain a little bit of ground.
Hold = Keeping these positions and preventing counter-attacks.
76
What was the outcome of Passchendaele?
The attackers gained 4km of land. The attackers lost 310,000 soldiers and the Germans lost 260,000.
77
Why wasn't there a breakthrough at Passchendaele?
Bad weather made no man's land into a muddy swamp making it difficult to cross / Russia made peace with Germany.
78
What was the Gallipoli campaign?
An attack by British and ANZAC forces on the Ottoman Empire. The aim was to break the stalemate by defeating the Ottomans and proceed to Austria-Hungary.
79
What was the outcome of the Gallipoli campaign?
British and ANZAC forces fail to defeat the Ottomans and are forced to retreat. Britain/ANZAC lose 300,000 and the Ottomans lost 250,000.
80
When did the British Naval Blockade of Germany begin?
1914
81
What was the aim of the British Naval Blockade?
To force Germany into surrender due to lack of food and materials
82
What was the impact of the British Naval Blockade?
Lack of food meant Germans starved and suffered from malnutrition. Riots occurred across Germany due to food shortages.
83
What was a U-Boat?
German submarine (Underwater boat).
84
What happened at the Battle of Jutland (May-June 1916) ?
The British and German navies fight just off the coast of Jutland, Denmark.
85
What was the outcome of Jutland?
Britain lost 14 ships, Germany lost 13 ships but never used their navy again.
86
Who were the leaders at Jutland?
Britain - Sir John Jellicoe
Germany - Admiral Reinhard Scheer
87
Why did Russia leave the First World War?
There was a revolution where the Bolsheviks (Russian Communists) seized power and agreed a peace deal with Germany.
88
Whose side did the USA join during the First World War?
Britian and France
89
Why did the USA join the First World War in 1917?
The Zimmerman Telegram (Germany tried to persuade Mexico to invade the USA). The sinking of the Lusitania in 1916 also contributed to tension between USA and Germany.
90
How did the USA help the allies win the war?
Provided much needed materials and supplies like food and petrol. Allocated 4 million soldiers to fight. 1 million Americans arrived in Europe by 1918 and contributed greatly to the 100 Days Offensive.
91
What role did Douglas Haig play during the war?
Haig was in charge of the British forces from 1915 - 1918. Haig was seen as progressive in some areas (not Somme areas though, as mentioned above). He actively encouraged new tactics and the use of new weapons. He worked closely with Foch at the end of the war to plan the final attack against the Germans.
92
What role did Foch play during the war?
Foch was one the leading French generals at the start of the First World War and was given command of the French Army Ground North early in the war.
In 1918 he was made the Commander-in-Chief of all allied forces. This made him the most senior commander in the war.
Foch helped to plan the final attack on the Germans in 1918, alongside Haig. He ultimately oversaw the allied victory in the First World War.
93
Who planned the Ludendorff Offensive? (hint is in the name!)
Erich Ludendorff
94
How long did the Ludendorff Offensive last?
March - July 1918
95
What happened during the Ludendorff Offensive?
Germany breaks the stalemate by using lightly equipped Stormtroopers. Allies pushed back.
96
Why did the Ludendorff Offensive fail?
German Stormtroopers advance too quickly meaning they run out of supplies and become separated, allowing the allies to plan a counterattack.
97
Who planned the 100 Days Offensive?
Foch supported by Haig.
98
What happened during the 100 Days Offensive?
The allies begin a counterattack pushing German forces back to the Hindenburg Line (defeat was inevitable for Germany at this point).
99
What was the outcome of the 100 Days Offensive?
Both sides suffer 1 million casualties but Germany is forced to accept defeat.
100
When did the Kaiser abdicate?
9th November 1918
101
When was the armistice (the agreement to stop fighting) signed?
11th November 1918.
