Fighting The War Flashcards
(27 cards)
Why did the Schlieffen Plan not work?
Britain declared war on Germany, France put up a good fight and Russian mobilised far quicker than expected.
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
Germany’s plan to end the war quickly by taking out France and then turning on Russia.
Name three early ‘open’ battles
Mons, Marne and Ypres
What is a stalemate?
When neither side can win.
What technological changes did we see in the war?
Aircraft, machine gun, gas, barbed wire, grenades, tanks.
What were conditions in the trenches like?
Very bad. Wet, dirty and terrifying.
What does ‘over the top’ mean?
When generals sent the men out of the trenches to fight.
How many British soldiers were killed on the first day of the Somme?
57,000
Who was the commander of the British forces?
Sir Douglas Haig
Name three battles over trenches
Ypres, Verdun and the Somme
What are the arguments supporting Haig’s tactics?
He had to win the war no matter what the cost, they had no better strategy, those terrible battles were needed.
What are the arguments against Haig’s strategies?
They cost so many lives, he could have waited for more tanks, he didn’t consider the weather
What was the Eastern Front?
The war between German and Russian forces.
Why did Russia drop out of the war?
The Russian Revolution
What was the Gallipoli Campaign?
The British Invasion of Greece to attack turkey. It was a disaster.
Why was the war at sea important?
Transporting of goods and trade was vital for supply, ports were blockaded, troops were carried, colonies were protected.
When did America join the war? Why?
April 1917? Germans sunk American ships and tried to get Mexico to attack America.
What was the Ludendorff Offensive?
Germany’s final plan to win the war with a massive breakthrough
What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Between Germany and Russia to have Russia leave the war
Why did Germany lose the war?
Too ambitious, fighting on two fronts against too many forces, America entered the war with fresh troops and massive resources.
How many horses participated in ww1?
About one million. Only 2 percent were in combat.
Why were horses important?
They helped transport goods and carried soldiers. Cars and automobiles were not very common at this time.
What was Lawrence of Arabia’s first job in Arabia?
He was an archeologist.
What did the British want from the Arabs?
To attack the Ottoman Empire.
