History (WW1) Flashcards
(35 cards)
Why did WW1 start?
- assassination of archduke franz ferdinand
(heir to the throne of austria-hungary) - black hand gang from serbia killed him
-austria-hungary declared war on serbia
-russia got involved because serbia is their ally
-germany declared war on russia because germany had an alliance with austria-hungary
(series of events, chain reaction)
What is a trench system?
a network of trenches with different purposes and different areas. eg frontline, communcation, support, reserve etc
Features of a frontline trench?
parapet, sandbag, firestep, dugout, dockboard, ammunition shelf, elbow rest, barbed wire
What was the Western Front?
line of fighting where the allies and the germans fought
What was the Eastern Front?
line of fighting where germans + austria fought against russia
Main battles of WW1 in order?
first battle of ypres- (oct-nov 1914)
second battle of ypres- (apr-may 1915)
battle of the somme- (jul-nov 1916)
battle of arras- (apr-may 1917)
third battle of ypres- (jul-nov 1917)
battle of cambrai- (nov-dec 1917)
What is a salient?
fighting ground where the enemy has most of the land. surrounded by the enemy on multiple sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable.
First Battle of Ypres summary:
-stop the germans from advancing towards the coast
-protect vital ports like calais and dunkirk for food and re inforcements
What was Hill 60? What happened?
hill 60 was ground where the germans had control of.
british dug down hill 60 and placed explosives under it, blowing up hill 60 and getting control of it again.
Second Battle of Ypres summary:
-control of the tactically important high ground to the east and south of the Flemish town of Ypres in western Belgium
-first time germans used chlorine gas
Battle of the Somme summary:
-take ground away from the germans
-used 2 new tactics but were inefficient
-creeping barrage and tanks
What was the creeping barrage?
where gunfire from massive artillery guns was fired towards the germans while british troops would creep to the german front lines
Battle of Arras summary:
-push the germans even back
-created a underground network equipped with railway system, electricity, running water and a hospital
Third Battle of Ypres summary:
-escape the ypres salient
-wanted to remove any german high ground
-pushed the germans back 7 miles but weather conditions were awful and some men fell in mud and drowned.
Battle of Cambrai summary:
-force the germans to retreat
-used more tanks and artillery(more effective than before but no troops to support them)
What was the bloodbank?
set up because they realised that more lives are saved if they had a blood supply
What gases did the germans use in WW1?
mustard, phosgene and chlorine
Name different ways the army transported the wounded?
stretcher bearers
horse-drawn ambulances
motorised ambulances
canal barges and ships
trains
What were some illnesses and infection on the Western Front?
trench foot
trench fever
shell shock
Main causes of wounds and deaths?
Artillery shells - 58% of all wounds
Rifles and machine guns - 39% of all wounds
Poisonous gas attacks -chlorine
-mustard
-phosgene
Capabilities of mustard gas?
-could pass through clothes to burn skin
-first used by germans in 1917
-odourless, cause internal + external blisters to the body
Capabilities of phosgene gas?
-blurred vision
-severe lung damage
-worse than chlorine gas, used in 1915
-kill a person in 2 days if not treated
Capabilities of chlorine gas?
-burning of eyes + throat
-respiratory issues
-nausea + vomiting
-headache + dizziness
R.A.M.C stands for?
Royal Army Medical Corp
