World War 1 Flashcards
Causes- Militarism
‘Arm’s Race’ - Different govts tried to build larger armies and navies than their neighbours.
Britain and Germany were the leading players in the race.
Guns, ammunition, soldiers, battleships and submarines were important assets.
Causes- Alliances
Triple Entente- Britain, France, Russia
Triple Alliance- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
Alliances provide military support to other countries.
Alliances made war less likely- a conflict between two countries could mean all out war.
Causes- Imperialism
‘Scramble for Africa’- European powers were now aiming to conquer Africa. Britain, France and Germany were fiercest competitors.
This led to tension building between countries.
Causes- Nationalism
Unification of Italy- 1861
Unification of Germany- 1871
Bosnia-Herzegovina was ruled by A-H, and was made up of many nationalist groups (not Austrian or Hungarian). They wanted freedom and to form their own nation.
Trigger of war
Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Reasons Australia joined war effort- Government related
Australia had federated only 13 years before
Australia was ‘obliged’ to follow Britain
Reasons Australia joined war effort- personal
To support and prove themselves to Britain
Adventure, travel and socialising, popularity
Good income
Patriotism
Not to be a coward
Hate for Germany
Gallipoli Campaign dates
Battle- Feb 19 1915 - Jan 9 1916
Australian involvement- April 25 - Dec 20, 1915
Goal of Gallipoli Campaign
To open up a supply line from the Mediterranean to Russia
To surprise and defeat the Turks, then take control of Turkish capital, Constantinople
Conditions at Gallipoli
Drinking water rationed
Food rations were canned meat, corned beef and hard biscuits
Hot summers, cold winters and heavy rainfall
Diseases like trench foot, dysentery and gastro
Gallipoli- Respect between Turks and Australians
Each saw the other side as honourable
Some agreed to hold fire for respectful burials to take place
Why trench warfare?
Used as cover- to reinforce defensive lines
How far did Trenches stretch?
600+ kilometres
From Belgian coast to Swiss border
Trench warfare conditions
Awful
Diseases like trench foot
Ankle deep in mud and slime
Shell-shocked soldiers were regarded as cowardly
Western Front battles:
The Somme Offensive:
- Verdun
- Pozieres
- Fromelles
Western Front description
Breaking the stalemate was a challenge with trench warfare
Little ground was covered over long periods of time
Main outcome was death and injury, rather than useful results
‘War of Attrition’
Definition- When both armies try to simply kill each other, until one is weakened so much that they give up.
Example- Much of the Somme Offensive
ANZAC stands for…
Australian New Zealand Army Corps
ANZAC Spirit
Soldiers showing:
- courage
- endurance
- good humour
- larrikinism
- mateship
Home front- women
Women took on male roles
Women working outside home ^13% by the end of the war
Volunteered for organisations
Sewed and knitted warm clothes for troops
Raised money to help War-affected people
Some were opposed to war involvement
Conscription:
- Definition
- Who was for, who was against
Compulsory enlistment into the armed forces
For:
- Billy Hughes (After)
- Protestant church
- Middle classes
Against:
- Billy Hughes (before)
- Catholic Church
- Trade unions
War Precautions Act
Increased government power during war Federal government could now: - monitor and imprison German-Australians - censor letters and publications - set fixed prices for goods
Home front- Treatment of German-Australians
German schools closed Germans lost jobs German language banned German Towns renamed Imprisoned Discrimination in general
