The Great War Flashcards
(27 cards)
What are the general reasons for war?
- Nationalism
- Ideologies - A set of ideas that form the basis for a political or economic system.
- Religion
- Ethnic Cleansing - The violent removal of one ethnic group by another ethnic group.
What made killing easy in WW1?
The innovation of:
* Tanks
* Machine guns
* Fighter Jets
* Poisonous Gas
What were the short term causes of the war?
- Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Heir To Austro-Hungarian Throne) was assassinated on his visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia - by Gavrillo Princip on the 28th of June 1914.
- He had gone there to review the summer exercises of the troops and meet the people.
Who assassinated Franz Ferdinand and why? Provide historical context.
- The Black Hand Gang was responsible for this assassination, they did this as they believed assassination of the Archduke would result in Bosnia becoming an independent South Slav (Yugoslav) state.
- On the same day in 1908, Bosnia had been annexed by Austria Hungary and now wanted to be part of the neighbouring Serbia, the date of the visit was also a trigger as this was a sensitive matter for the locals.
Who were the Great Powers?
Germany, Britain, France, Austria Hungary and Russia.
Why did the assassination of the Archduke not serve as a logical explanation for the start of the World War?
- Assassinations were common in the Balkans in that era.
- The Archduke wasn’t even that popular or that strong of a political figure.
- The Great Powers seemed to have the best non-violent relationship that they have ever had in years!
What were the alliances in WW1?
- The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria Hungary, Italy)
- The Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia)
Explain the long term causes of the War in detail.
- Austria Hungary (and Germany) issued an ultimatum to Serbia declaring Austro-Hungarian leadership over Serbia.
- Serbia refused and so, on the 28th of July - AH declared war on Serbia.
- Serbia, with the help of Russia (Triple Entente) begun to mobilise.
- August 1st - Germany vs Russia
- August 3rd - Germany vs France (To avoid fighting war on two fronts at the same time)
- Germany invades Belgium (Schlieffer Plan), and Britain declares war on Germany - Covection of 1839.
What was Italy’s stance in the war until 1915?
Italy remained neutral in the war until 1915, after which it joined forces with Britain and Russia despite having a previous alliance with the Central Powers. This is because the Allies had promised Italy land from Austria once the war was over.
What act was passed regarding conscription and when was it passed?
The Military Conscription Act was in 1916.
Elaborate on the Military Conscription Act.
- All men aged 18 - 41 must fight.
- Some refused and were labelled Conscientious Objectors (Conchies)
- They were treated very poorly.
Elaborate on the treatment received by the Conchies.
- The objects had a special court set up for them called the military tribunal where they could prove to the judge and get an excuse form their military service.
- Some men convinced the court to take up other services (ambulance drivers and stretcher bearers).
- The ones that refused any kind of service were called Absolutists, and usually ended up being conscripted. They were then court-martialled and sent to labour camps if they disobeyed an officers orders or even sometimes sentenced to death.
What was the reason behind the objects objecting war?
- Religious reasons
- Political reasons - working class brothers.
What were Zeppelins?
- Airships with a rigid metal skeleton covered with a thick skin or envelope, containing gas bags (hydrogen contains bags).
- Used by the Germans to bomb Britain.
When and why did Zeppelins stop being used?
Out of a total of 155 Zeppelins, 77 were either destroyed or so badly damaged that they couldn’t be used - the German government stopped making them in June 1917.
How did this affect the economy and general happenings in Britain?
- Prices of goods rose by around 100%, but so did salaries.
- Government regulations controlled the news, what people could say, hours (including hours that pubs could stay open) and wages.
- Women thrived ans begun to work.
What was life like for women in WW1?
- Women begun to work as salaries were at their all time high, but mainly because they had to support their families.
- But, they had to work long shifts of 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, handling explosives, noxious fumes and facing hard physical labour.
What were U - Boats? And what was introduced to undo the damage done by U - Boats?
U - Boats were German submarines that sank food supply ships, rationing was introduced in 1918 to make sure everyone had enough to eat.
Attack on the Somme, 1916.
- General Douglas Haig - commander in chief - Western Front - December 1915.
- He wanted to break the stalemate - relieve the pressure on the French - Somme Offensive July 1, 1916.
- July 1, 1916 to November 1916
- Frontal assault - bombard the barbed wire and machine gun posts with shells, then send soldiers over the top.
- Only advancement being 6 miles.
- 60,000 casualties suffered only on the 1st day, and a total of 1.5 million casualties in total.
Black Day / Spring Offensive 1917
- Russia stopped fighting in November 1917, Germany launched an offensive in March 1918.
- Allies were shocked, united their armies under French General Foch and stopped Germany.
What was the Battle of Amiens and when did it happen?
- The Battle Of Amiens was the Allies’ response to the 1918 Spring Offensive, they used the all - arms - attack to defeat Germany.
- August 8, 1918.
What was the All-Arms-Attack?
- Smoke obscured the battlefield and protected infantry.
- Heavy machine guns and mortars.
- Tanks
- Aircrafts for guidance of infantry and tanks.
- Artillery provided a creeping barrage.
- Poisonous gas shells.
- Supply tanks.
What led to the downfall of Germany?
- Allied Naval Blockade - Turnip Winter.
- Low morale of soldiers on the front line, mutinies within the army and revolts and protests occurring throughout the country.
- Lundendorf asked Kaiser to choose a new government, led by civilians, to end the war.
- Entry of America introduced fresher troops and more ammunition from the Allies’ side.
Armistice
- 11:11:11 of 1918
- All of Germany’s allies begun to surrender (Bulgaria, Ottomans, AH)
- It was signed in General Foch’s railway carriage.
