War- practices Flashcards
(97 cards)
1
Q
When did the Nationalists capture Bilbao and the Basque region?
A
March 1937
2
Q
Why was the Basque region difficult to defend during the Spanish Civil War?
A
It was geographically isolated and could not be reinforced, and Basque commanders ignored orders from Madrid.
3
Q
What advantage did the Nationalists have over the Republicans in the Basque region?
A
The Nationalists controlled the skies, giving them a distinct advantage in air superiority.
4
Q
What led to the fall of Bilbao in June 1937?
A
Antiquated and undermanned defenses, along with aerial bombardment and artillery fire.
5
Q
What happened in Guernica on April 26, 1937?
A
The German Condor Legion conducted a terror bombing attack on the city, killing civilians and causing massive destruction.
6
Q
Who was the German commander responsible for the bombing of Guernica?
A
Wolfram von Richthofen, cousin of the famous WWI flying ace Manfred von Richthofen.
7
Q
What was the purpose of the bombing of Guernica?
A
It was likely a combination of military strategy and terror tactics, intended to break civilian morale.
8
Q
What painting immortalized the bombing of Guernica?
A
Pablo Picasso’s painting “Guernica.”
9
Q
When did Franco’s forces first attempt to capture Madrid?
A
November 1936
10
Q
What was the significance of Madrid during the Spanish Civil War?
A
Madrid was a major rallying point for the Republican forces and could not be dislodged by the Nationalists.
11
Q
How did the Battle of Guadalajara end?
A
The Italian forces were routed after a Republican counter-attack, leaving 6,000 casualties and equipment behind.
11
Q
What was the goal of the Nationalists’ offensive across the Jarama River in February 1937?
A
To cut off Madrid from the rest of the Republican-held territory, specifically from Valencia.
12
Q
How did the Republicans stop the Nationalist advance at the Jarama River?
A
The Republicans counter-attacked on February 14, 1937, and halted the Nationalist advance.
13
Q
What was the outcome of the Battle of Jarama for both sides?
A
The Nationalists failed to cut the link between Madrid and Valencia, but the Republicans could not push them back across the river. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.
14
Q
What was the goal of the Italian forces during the Battle of Guadalajara?
A
To cut off Madrid, similar to the Jarama offensive, but with an attacking force of 50,000 Italian “volunteers.”
15
Q
What was the Ebro Offensive and when did it take place?
A
The Ebro Offensive was the last major Republican military operation of the war, lasting from July to November 1938.
16
Q
What was the result of the Ebro Offensive?
A
The Ebro Offensive was the last major Republican military operation of the war, lasting from July to November 1938.
17
Q
How did the Nationalists respond to Republican propaganda?
A
The Nationalists used slogans to promote unity, belief in Franco, and portrayed Republicans as greedy and money-hungry.
18
Q
How did the Republicans depict the Nationalists in their propaganda?
A
The Republicans portrayed the Nationalists as murderers, fascists, and Nazis.
19
Q
What type of tactics did the International Brigades use during the Spanish Civil War?
A
Guerrilla warfare tactics.
20
Q
What occurred in the winter of 1936-1937 in Spain regarding Franco’s position?
A
Franco consolidated his position, bringing right-wing militias under army control and facing divided rival political movements with no emerging leaders.
21
Q
What was the Decree of Unification and when was it issued?
A
On April 19, 1937, the Decree of Unification created a single Nationalist party, combining the Falange, Carlists, and independent militias.
22
Q
When was the Nationalist Cabinet appointed, and what did it signify?
A
In January 1938, the Nationalist Cabinet was appointed, marking the establishment of all the features of Franco’s post-war dictatorship.
23
Q
What factors were crucial for the success of the Nationalist coup d’état?
A
The coup depended on timing, daring, luck, and preparation.
24
How was the Spanish Civil War influenced by the distribution of resources?
The war depended on the distribution of military, economic, and human resources, which were not evenly divided between the Republicans and Nationalists.
25
What percentage of generals were loyal to the Republic during the Spanish Civil War?
70-75% of generals and the majority of colonels remained loyal to the Republic.
26
What were the major resources available to the Republicans and Nationalists?
Republicans: 55,000 mainland army, 41,000 armed police, 60% of the air force, majority of the navy, and gold & silver reserves.
Nationalists: 62,000 mainland army, 24,000 Army of Africa, 27,000 armed police, 40% of the air force, minority navy, and rural dominance of agricultural production.
27
What event occurred on September 5, 1936, in Irun?
The Nationalists took Irun, and Republicans retaliated with arson on the town.
28
When was Franco formally invested as the leader of Spain?
On October 1, 1936, Franco was formally invested as the leader of Spain in a throne room in Burgos.
29
When did the Nationalists begin the assault on Madrid?
The assault on Madrid began on November 7, 1936.
30
What were the "Events of May" in Barcelona?
In May 1937, divisions between Republican political groups (Communists, POUM, anarchists) led to street fighting in Barcelona.
31
What did the Popular Front coalition face in terms of internal division?
The Popular Front coalition lacked discipline, had deep divisions, and suffered from attacks on the clergy, resulting in 7,000 deaths, which increased support for the rebels.
32
How did Franco's forces gain strength in August/September 1936?
Franco brought the Moroccan legion (24,000 soldiers) to Spain with German aircraft transport, helping take southern cities and towns.
33
What role did Italy play in Franco's war effort?
Italy sent 70,000 regular troops, military supplies, and assistance, and Germany provided 100 planes.
34
What support did the Republicans receive?
Russia sent military aid, including volunteers in the International Brigades, to support the Republican cause.
35
What was the significance of the Nationalist naval victory at Cape Espartel?
The victory broke the Republican blockade of Morocco, which was significant for supplying the Nationalists.
36
What was the duration of the Siege of Madrid by the Nationalists?
The Siege of Madrid lasted from October 29 to November 23, 1936.
37
What was the significance of the Battle of Coruna (Dec 1936-Jan 1937)?
Franco's forces attempted to cut off Madrid but suffered 30,000 losses, resulting in a stalemate.
38
What happened in the Battle of Villareal in early 1937?
The Nationalists, with superior technology and weapons, defeated the Republican Basque troops.
39
How did Franco's forces handle the Basque region?
Franco's forces launched a successful attack on the Basques between March and June 1937, culminating in the fall of Bilbao and the use of terror bombing, especially against Guernica.
40
What was the Battle of Teruel in February 1938?
Franco retook Teruel from the Republicans, trapping them and causing 100,000 casualties.
41
What was the turning point of the war after the Republicans' losses?
Franco's forces, aided by Italians and Germans, advanced through Aragon, cutting Republican territory in two, likely marking the turning point of the war.
42
What event occurred by the end of 1938?
Nationalist forces took Catalonia and Barcelona, and the outcome of the war was no longer in doubt.
43
What rallying cry became iconic for the Republicans during the Siege of Madrid?
"No Pasaran!" (They shall not pass!), immortalized by Dolores Ibarruri, known as La Pasionaria.
44
What violent retributions took place during the early days of the rebellion?
Both sides engaged in violent retribution, with Republicans targeting Falange members and Catholic clergy, and Nationalists targeting anarchists, communists, and trade unionists.
45
What happened to the poet Federico García Lorca during the war?
He was executed by Nationalist militia in Granada early in the war.
46
How did the Republicans fare in terms of military organization during the war?
The Republicans were generally on the defensive and struggled with a lack of clear central authority and internal tensions between political factions.
47
Who were the GMD, KMT, and CCP?
GMD = KMT = Nationalists
CCP = Communists = Maoists
48
What were Mao's rules for CCP soldiers?
Return and roll up the straw matting on which you sleep.
Be courteous and polite to the people and help them when you can.
Return all borrowed articles.
Replace all damaged articles.
Be honest in all transactions with the peasants.
Pay for all articles purchased.
Don't take liberties with women.
Be sanitary, and, especially, establish latrines a safe distance from people's houses.
49
Why was the support of peasants crucial for the CCP?
Peasants helped the CCP gain local knowledge, allowing them to use the terrain effectively in warfare.
Mao’s disciplined soldiers became walking propaganda, showing the people their best face.
50
# chinese civil war
What is guerrilla warfare?
A form of total war that needs political/ideological motivation.
Links with regular army units, attacking when the enemy is distracted.
Typically used against a larger, superior army.
Mao believed anyone could be a soldier, and leaders must be good role models.
51
What was the significance of the Long March for the CCP?
Crossing the Xiang River: Failed attempt, resulting in heavy losses.
Zunyi Conference: Mao emerged as the leader.
Upper Yangtze River Crossing: Mao outsmarted the KMT by using distractions.
Luding Bridge: A symbolic victory for the CCP.
52
What were Mao’s strategies in the Chinese Civil War?
Strategy of Destruction: Linking guerrilla tactics with land warfare.
Strategy of Consolidation: Modified policies to appeal to local landowners while maintaining peasant support.
53
How did the KMT's military strategies lead to their downfall?
The KMT relied heavily on large armies and land control strategies, often leading to defeats against the CCP's more flexible guerrilla tactics.
KMT’s encirclement campaigns were initially successful but failed to decisively defeat the CCP.
54
What was the role of foreign support in the outcome of the Civil War?
The USA supported the KMT with arms and money, but it did not significantly impact the outcome.
Russia supported the CCP with military aid and volunteers.
The Japanese invasion allowed the CCP to regroup and gain strength.
After WWII, the USA supported the KMT, but CCP's guerrilla tactics outmaneuvered them.
55
How did the Sino-Japanese War affect the GMD and CCP?
GMD suffered from high inflation, affecting their support base (middle class).
The KMT relied on the USA to fight Japan, which decreased domestic support.
Mao’s CCP focused on expansion (70%), dealing with the GMD (20%), and fighting Japan (10%).
56
What was the CCP's success during the Sino-Japanese War?
Mao took over 678 towns and ensured self-sufficiency in the Ya’an province, outperforming the KMT in resource management.
57
Start of the War: Technology
Railways: Limited use for transporting people.
Forts in Belgium: Limited significance.
Big Bertha: Could hurl 770kg shells 12 km.
Zeppelins: Used for bombing.
Machine Guns: Changed the nature of war.
French Uniforms: Outdated, soldiers unprepared.
58
What was the Schlieffen Plan?
A strategy for a quick, decisive victory by invading Belgium and France, followed by turning to fight Russia.
59
What was the Battle of Marne's significance?
The Schlieffen Plan seemed to be succeeding until the Battle of Marne, where the French retreated but gained the upper hand as they got closer to home.
60
Battle of Verdun: Strategy & Technology
Mastermind: Erich von Falkenhayn, wanted to "bleed the French white."
Objective: To kill as many French soldiers as possible.
French Defense: General Pétain's active defense and counterattacks.
Technology: 1,200 artillery pieces, 2.5 million shells.
Result: Stalemate, 700,000 lives lost.
61
Battle of Verdun: Outcome
The French held on despite German efforts.
350,000 dead on each side.
The battle resulted in no significant territorial change.
62
Battle of the Somme: Key Points
Duration: 141 days.
Casualties: 1.2 million.
Result: No obvious winner. 13 km gained.
Technology: Tanks, artillery, barbed wire, machine guns, chlorine gas.
Challenges: Overestimation of artillery's effectiveness. Tanks broke down.
62
Battle of the Somme: Strategy
British Strategy: Bombardment of German defenses, followed by infantry and cavalry.
Problems: Barbed wire remained intact, tanks broke down, generals were far from the front lines.
Outcome: No clear winner; limited territorial gains.
63
Battle of Passchendaele: Strategy & Outcome
Strategy: Similar to the Somme but with more conservative expectations.
Outcome: Initial advances retaken by Germans. The village was destroyed by the time the British won.
Technology: Combined arms, heavy artillery.
63
Why was the War at Sea significant?
The British blockade limited Germany’s access to supplies.
Battle of Jutland: The British Navy faced the German Navy in a near draw. The British had superior firepower, but the Germans inflicted some damage.
German Submarine Warfare: Attacked civilian ships, angering the US.
64
Battle of Jutland: What happened?
German Strategy: Attempted to face the British fleet.
British Advantage: 31 dreadnought battleships vs. 18 for Germany.
Result: Not decisive; Britain lost more ships, but overall had superior naval power.
65
German Submarine Warfare
Tactics: Submarines sunk any ships coming to British waters, including civilian vessels.
Impact: Angered the United States after the sinking of a ship with 128 Americans aboard.
Technology: Depth charges, Q-ships, superior German submarines.
66
Technology at Sea
British: Depth charges, Q-ships with hidden weapons.
German: Superior submarines.
Communication Issues: Both sides faced communication failures.
Dreadnoughts: Heavy battleships used by the British.
67
Propaganda: The Role of Gender
- Britain portrayed German soldiers as "animal-hating" while showing themselves as caring for animals.
- Germany highlighted British hypocrisy in imperialism.
- Countries often depicted in gendered terms; Britain and France shown as women.
- Propaganda used women to encourage men to fight, portraying them as vulnerable and needing protection.
68
The Reds in the Russian Civil War
The Reds were the communists, led by Trotsky.
Consisted of workers and conscripted soldiers, including the Krondstadt Sailors.
They had a highly ideological Red Army.
69
What were the British tactics for the Battle of Jutland?
The British Navy was prepared for the German attack and managed to avoid a decisive defeat despite suffering losses.
70
The Whites in the Russian Civil War
The Whites were anti-Bolshevik forces.
Included liberals, tsarists, foreign troops (young conscripts), and members of the constituent assembly.
Led by Kolchek, Yudenich, and Deniken.
United by their opposition to the Bolsheviks.
71
The Greens in the Russian Civil War
The Greens had no central leader, though Nestor Makhno was well known.
Anarchist peasants’ armies.
Primarily engaged in local fighting.
Some social revolutionaries were also involved.
72
Event that Started the Civil War
The war began when Czechoslovak soldiers, who had fought for Russia, were stopped by the Bolsheviks while attempting to return home.
This led to a rebellion.
73
Reds vs. Greens and Whites
The Reds fought the Greens from 1918 to 1922.
The Reds fought the Whites from 1918 to 1920.
There was no formal end or peace treaties; the war just "petered out."
74
Impact of the Russian Civil War
12 million civilians died, with 3 million soldiers.
10% of the population perished.
Major destruction: 7,000 bridges, 90,000 km of telegraph wire, 1,700 km of railway.
Production dropped to 15% of pre-1914 levels.
The working-class population shrank from 2.5 million to 1 million.
75
Bolshevik Opposition and Control
Opposition had been building due to the banning of newspapers.
The Bolsheviks did not control all of Russia.
Foreign intervention supported the White forces, including Britain, France, the USA, and others.
76
Allied Intervention in the Civil War
After WWI, the Allies backed the White forces.
The Bolsheviks framed their enemies as "Western capitalists."
Countries involved in the intervention included Britain, France, the USA, and Japan.
The US sent troops to prevent Japan from annexing Siberia.
77
Summary of "Freedom: A Journal of Anarchist Communism"
The journal encouraged British soldiers to go home, claiming their generals lied about their purpose in Russia.
The Bolsheviks called on soldiers to recognize their exploitation by capitalists and join the Russian revolution's ideals.
It suggested a social revolution could happen in England, learning from Russia’s mistakes.
78
British Soldiers' Views in Russia
British troops were angry at being sent to Russia, starving and freezing in harsh conditions.
They were housed in poor accommodations (old sunken ships) and believed they were being sent to die to avoid paying pensions.
Their conditions were falsely reported as being well-fed and properly housed back home.
79
Trotsky's Role in the Red Army
Trotsky transformed the Red Army into an effective force.
Used harsh methods like holding commanders' families hostage to ensure loyalty.
Although disliked by some Bolsheviks for bringing in Tsarist officers, Trotsky maintained control.
His organizational skills and passion kept the army united and functioning.
80
Trotsky's Rise and Decline
Trotsky helped Lenin plan the coup to overthrow the provisional government.
He became Lenin's number two, eventually controlling the armed forces.
After Lenin's third stroke, Trotsky became isolated, missing Lenin’s funeral due to Stalin’s lies.
Stalin eventually orchestrated Trotsky’s deportation and later assassination.
81
Life in Russia During the Civil War
The Bolshevik government faced economic collapse and shortages of raw materials.
Industrial output shrank, inflation made money worthless, and peasants stopped supplying food.
Workers fled cities, forcing Lenin to find a solution to keep them.
82
War Communism Features
Grain requisitioning: Forced seizure of grain from peasants.
Banning private trade: The state-controlled market failed, creating a black market.
Nationalization of industry: All industries became state-controlled, with bourgeois managers running them.
Labour discipline: Fines for lateness, internal passports, and ration-based work systems.
Rationing: A class-based rationing system prioritizing laborers and Red Army soldiers.
83
Use of Terror and Class Warfare by the Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks used terror to suppress opposition: workers, anarchists, and left-wing social revolutionaries.
Lenin's role in the assassination of the Tsar is debated, though it’s likely his order.
The Cheka (secret police) used terror to enforce the Bolshevik regime and pushed for class warfare, targeting the middle class.
84
Women's Role in Propaganda
- Women shown as part of the war effort, both active workers and objects of protection.
- Propaganda often appealed to men’s desire to protect their sweethearts and wives by fighting.
- Films of soldiers highlighted their emotions and humanity, encouraging enlistment.
85
Women's Rights Before and During WWI
- Before the war, women were fighting for the right to vote.
- Suffragettes were imprisoned for their activism.
- With the war, women were needed in jobs traditionally held by men.
86
Women’s Changing Roles in WWI
- Women worked in factories, with a million women in Britain employed in war-related industries.
- TNT factory workers suffered long-term health issues from poisoning.
- Women took on roles previously unavailable, but still faced limitations and segregation (e.g., in the military).
87
Women in the Workforce During WWI
- Over 7.5 million women worked during WWI, many in dangerous and new roles.
- Many middle-class women had to work for the first time, changing class dynamics.
- Women drove ambulances on the front lines, at risk of death despite not directly fighting
88
Social and Economic Impact on Women
- Women had to manage home and work life, especially as servants left.
- They proved they could perform public roles, challenging previous gender norms.
- Post-war, many women were pushed back into domestic roles, with men returning to jobs.
89
Impact of WWI on Women's Rights and Roles
- The **1919 Restoration of Prewar Practices Act** took jobs from women, giving them back to men.
- The **1919 Sex Disqualification Removal Act** allowed some middle-class women to return to jobs.
- Despite proving their capabilities, many women still faced discrimination post-war.
90
Women's Fashion and Public Life During WWI
- Changes in fashion made clothing more practical and less restrictive for women.
- Women took part in public life and wanted a voice, challenging traditional views on their roles.
91
Long-Term Impact of WWI on Women
- Women had to balance new work and home life, often facing societal pressures.
- Despite their contributions, many of the roles they took on were undone post-war.
92
Feminism and Suffrage During WWI
- Suffragists and feminists disagreed over women's rights, with some arguing that working-class women shouldn't get the vote.
- Many women fought for the vote and showed that they could do roles previously denied to them, yet some still believed they couldn't.
93
Post-War Women's Experience
After the war, women were part of public life but faced barriers to education and jobs.
- Men returned home with physical and psychological damage, while women had to adapt to post-war life.
- Women's roles in society remained limited despite proving their worth during the war.
94
The War's Impact on Families and Women
- Women lost their husbands or potential husbands in the war, leading to smaller families.
- Many women became heads of households and had to manage finances and family life without the support of men.
