WW1 Flashcards
(32 cards)
Which countries were in The Triple Alliance?
Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary
Which countries were in The Triple Entente?
Britain, France and Russia
Why did World War One start?
1) Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a Siberian so Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia
2) Russia backed up Siberia and Germany backed up Austria-Hungary
3) Germany declared war on Russia and France (Russia and France were allies
Why was Germany foolish to declare war?
Half of its army had to attack Russia and the other had to defend Germany from France
What was the Schlieffen plan?
Germany was going to invade Belgium on the way to France
Why did Britain declare war on Germany?
Because Germany invaded Belgium and Britain had signed a treaty to protect Belgium
Why was the Battle of Marne significant?
Because of Germany’s use of the trenches
Why were the trenches a risk?
1) People often got stuck in the barbed wire
2) No-Man’s-Land often got churned up so soldiers drowned in the water
3) Soldiers who were unarmed whilst using the toilet were often shot
How many bullets per minute could machine guns fire?
500
What did snipers do?
At night, they would crawl and hide in No-Man’s-Land and shoot careless enemy soldiers (particularly those smoking)
What were Trench Mortars?
Short-range weapons which would lob explosive shells into enemy trenches.
What was the firestep?
A raised platform at the front of the trench used by soldiers on watch or to get out of the trench
What were periscopes used for?
To avoid exposing soldiers to enemy fire
What were duckboards used for?
To help drain the trench of water and mud
What were sandbags used for?
To support the walls of the trench which often caved in
What was the area between trenches called?
No-Man’s-Land
What did artillery shells contain?
Poisonous gases such as mustard gas or phosgene
Who were soldiers commanded by in the trenches?
Junior officers - who were prime targets for snipers. They received their orders on field telephones from generals behind the trenches.
How were front-line trenches reached?
By connection communication trenches
What were dug-outs for?
To provide shelter and a place to rest
Why were trenches dug in a zig-zag pattern?
To stop an enemy from shooting straight down it if they got in the trench; it minimised the casualties
What were planes like?
They were flimsy and made of wood, they were used to spy on enemy trenches and direct artillery fire. Occasionally, planes would meet and have dog-fights.
What did soldiers wear to prevent head injuries?
Steel helmets
Why were British soldiers known as lions led by donkeys?
They had the potential to be great but were led by idiots.
