WWI Flashcards
(37 cards)
1
Q
What happened at First Battle of Ypres?
A
-Both sides then tried to outflank the other with the race to the sea and Ypres was a crucial area on the ports.
- BEF kept the Germans out
- Entrenchment started to happen and had over 475 miles of trench. British held 35 miles.
2
Q
What was The Trench System?
A
- Were very complex with fire and communication trenches that criss-crossed each other. Then had reserve trenches with soldiers.
- Were never straight with several turns.
- Men were rotated and spent 20% of time on front line with 40% on reserve line with a full system of worn men replaced by fresh.
- Movement was usually still used through horses rather than motor vehicles that broke down. Was usually done at night. By 1915, with the introduction of spy planes troops knew there movement was being observed so often spent their time doing repairs.
- Communication was erratic as officers still often used runners for messages rather than telephone. Communicated using horns, shouts. Headquarter commanders had hardly any idea on updates.
3
Q
What was Trench Fighting like?
A
- Became a series of attacks and counter attacks and to put your head above the trench would often be fatal to snipers.
- Usually 8 foot deep.
- Face to face confrontations used bayonets and spades.
- Frontal attacks into no mans land had to walk or run over barbed wire often gaining small ground.
4
Q
What were trench conditions like?
A
- Were often in squalid conditions made worse by rain and mud.
- Rats were reported to be as big as cats that ate corpses and army rations.
- Trench foot was a serious issue where soldiers were told to change their socks 3 times a day.
- In trench warfare, the two sides were close enough to observe each other and included giving opportunities to get dead bodies.
- Estimated around 800,000 men had trench fever.
5
Q
What were some rifle and attack strategies?
A
- Rifle most common weapon as a 1014 rifle could fire up to 15 rounds a minute and hit a target over 800 miles away.
- It was no longer men line up and fire it was now from shell holes however when fire started there was little control.
- British used “wave and flow” where around 100 men would leave the trench at a time and artillery bombardments were used to destroy barbed wire.
6
Q
What was the effect of machine guns?
A
- A machine gun was the same firepower as 50 rifles.
- It needed little skill and just needed to spray to take out a wave of enemies comfortably and was the 2nd biggest killer behind artillery.
- Usually used in groups of 2 but did overheat often and difficulties in transportation.
- The Lewis MG could be carried by 1 man and used on frontal attacks however the heavier Vickers gun needed at least 3 men.
- By 1914, each infantry had a ratio from man to MG 12:1 and by 1917 the ratio was 2:1 as the army realised the effectiveness.
7
Q
What were the effect of grenades, flamethrowers and mortars?
A
- Grenades used in close combat.
- Flamethrowers were initially used in 1915 by Germans however were not used widely due to bulky equipment and an easy rifle shot.
- Mortars were effective as they were small and effective shots. British troops created their own in 1915 called The Stokes trench mortar that could fire 25 bombs a minute over 800 yards.
8
Q
What was the effect of Artillery and the creeping barrage?
A
- Generals clung to the notion that the war of attrition could be broken by artillery. Used to break barbed wire and trenches and demoralise enemy troops.
- The BEF’s commander, Sir John French believed it was down to high explosives.
- Gun accuracy improved with aeroplanes being used to see the accuracy of artillery and could lay a creeping barrage(Barrage moved forward with infantry) and worked if communication and gunnery was good.
- New technology helped improve artillery effectiveness as the timed shell and high explosive often didn’t explode on impact. The Fuse 106 made shells explore sideways instead of into the mud and used to good effect at Battle of Arras.
9
Q
What was the effect of poison gas?
A
- Chemical weaponry first used in 1915 at Ypres and used around 6,000 canisters of chlorine gas.
- French troops retreated but Germans without gas masks could not advance. Gas masks created by June 1915 and by September the French and British used it.
- Phosgene Gas first used in Dec 1915 was six times as toxic and responsible for 80% of gas casualties.
- In 1917, mustard gas was used which causes lung and skin damage so gas masks had to adapt to primitive fabric helmets.
- Special artillery was used with gas.
- Gas was not responsible for huge amounts of deaths but its effect on morale was.
10
Q
What were the effect of tanks?
A
- Often most valuable in large numbers.
- Used over 380 at the Battle of Cambrai in Nov 1917 and by 1918 was 10,000 on the Western front.
- With tanks and artillery supporting helped advance 9 miles in one day at The Battle of Amiens 1918.
11
Q
What was the public mood of the war?
A
- Began with a mood of patriotism and optimism. Anti-Government groups rallied behind the war effort including Irish nationalists and women sufferings.
- Nevertheless, anti-war meetings still held with conscientious objectors and those who refused were sent to jail.
12
Q
What was government control like and censorship?
A
- Government judged public opinions based on reactions on the front.
- Government allowed newspapers to censor themselves but controlled direct war reporting through censors on the front.
- Soldiers letters were censored with names and places removed.
- The Battle of The Somme 1916 became a film that was screened over 2,000 times and it was staged however many thought it was live action.
13
Q
What were the effect of eye-witness reports?
A
- Public demanded more in depth reports.
- In 1914, the war office headlined eyewitness and written by Colonel Swinton who tried to tell the most truth that was safe.
- In March 1915, Eyewitness had given the impression the Battle of Chapelle was an allied victory but J French blamed Haig for the defeat which led to widespread confusion and questioned the reliability of eye witness accounts.
14
Q
What was the effect of propaganda?
A
- Charles Masterman led the War Propaganda Bureau set up in 1914.
- Most propaganda was based in truth but not the whole truth. For example, children’s books claimed the German gas killed British soldiers but it rather just left them unconscious.
- Very anti-German with barbaric and rapist claims.
- Shooting of British nurse Edith Cavell in 1915 caused national outrage and fuelled anti-German feelings.
- The Times and Daily Mail especially anti-German.
15
Q
How did the government manage the media?
A
- By 1917, the government allowed direct reportage to keep the press on side.
- The government propaganda had a Cinema, political intelligence and news division all used for war reporting.
- The Times stopped producing full casualties list as it was demoralising.
- This kept the will to win at home
16
Q
How did the government control war imagery(Cameras)?
A
- Cameras such as the brownie could fit in a pocket.
- Photographs taken from the Christmas Truce, for example were banned by J French and stopped them sending photographs home.
- Daily Mirror was offering £1,000 for pictures from the front but mainly relied on drawings.
- First official photographer was employed in 1916 and at the end was 16 photographers whose photos were censored.
17
Q
What happened at The Battle of the Somme and when?
A
- July-November 1916
- Intense German pressure on Verdun made the Somme invasion especially urgent yet they were faced by German defences planned for months.
- British carried out a 7 day bombardment. However, Germans had been waiting in bunkers for British attack.
- As the British advanced they went straight into enemy fire and in 30 minutes half the British soldiers involved were casualties(Haig expected 40,000 casualties but ended up 57,000 with 19,240 killed). More than a million men from all sides were casualties or captured.
- Over the next few months, British advanced 7 miles.
- British generals lived a hard lesson which helped them in 1918. However, Haig was encouraged and believed it would have been a success with more artillery.
- 1 in 3 British shells did not explode which left barbed wire uncut, leading to corridors of death and also all 36 tanks broke down.
18
Q
What happened at The Battle of Arras and when?
A
- April 1917
- Started well with British advancing 3 1/2 miles. Allied troops used underground tunnels to advance and surprise the Germans.
19
Q
What happened at The Battle of Cambrai and when?
A
- 1917
- Showed how lessons had been learnt.
- A short and accurate artillery bombardment led to eliminating German guns.
- 324 tanks were also used successfully as British advanced neutralising two German divisions only losing 5,000 men.
- Bells rang in London.
- However, Germans did counterattack and took their land back. By the end, had similar casualties with 2/3 British tanks being lost.
- For first time, newspapers criticised Haig and George considered replacing him.
20
Q
What happened at Third Battle of Ypres/Passchendaele and when?
A
- 1917
- Suffered steady casualties and Haig tried to take a nearby rail station.
- Tried to take the German submarine base but due to over ambitious plans and torrential rain it stopped them.
- Drier conditions in September led to more advancement which demoralised the Germans as they did not have an answer for British “bite and hold” tactic which was take small German ground to then hold to stop counter attack.
- Canadians took Passchendaele ridge in November yet the attack was called off as confidence in Haig hit a low and soldiers were demoralised.
- Haig felt optimistic due to an American report of Germans being demoralised and running low on supplies. Haig employed Plumer. PM George felt Haig was difficult to work with.
21
Q
What happened at The Hundred Days Offensive and when?
A
- 1918
- Was a four month success for the allies.
- Through the harsh experiences of the past soldiers learnt from their mistakes.
- Battle of Amiens led to British advancing 7 miles in one day and was named “black day” by the Germans.
- Casualties still significant but so were the gains.
- By Nov 1918 Germans could fight no longer being pushed back to battlefields of 1914.
- Haig was now working alongside French General Foch who got on reasonably well with. Haig did ultimately win the war.
- BEF was on the forefront combining infantry with artillery, planes and tanks to devastate the Germans with key technology. Such as Battle of Amiens with 95% of German guns hit by artillery and were generally better equipped.
- Had 10,700 more guns than previously and 30 machine guns.
22
Q
War in the air- What were the effect of Airships and Balloons?
A
- By 1906, Germans had created their first Zeppelin.
- Observers in WWI used British kite balloons which could ascend to 4,000 feet and see up to 15 miles where they would take photographs and check maps.
23
Q
What was the first reconnaissance mission for the British like and when?
A
- August 1914
- Four RFC squadrons had been sent to France to scout and spot artillery.
- Led by Captain Mapplebeck they got lost and had to land at Cambrai for directions.
24
Q
What were scout planes and what was the issues?
A
- Were planes used to observe territory rather than fight.
- However, reconnaissance was difficult as all soldiers looked the same from afar.
- Soldiers on the ground tended to shoot any plane and by 1914, two British aircrafts were shot by British troops which led to British putting union jack flags on the planes.
25
What was communication and radio like?
- Communication was primitive at first using hand signals or dropping messages from the sky.
- RFC developed the first radio in a plane which was a very bulky 72 pounds needed it to take up a seat in a two man plane.
- In 1915, Sterling lightweight set(at under 20 pounds) came into use.
- Fliers could not receive messages not send them.
- Became important as artillery fire could be seen on its accuracy.
- By May 1916, 300 British aircraft and 550 ground stations were using wireless.
26
What was the effect of air photography?
- Enabled commanders to see the whole battlefield.
- At the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, squadron 3 photographed the German lines which led to change in attacks.
- By 1916, squadrons were returning photos to the British HQ within half an hour of taking them.
- In total for the Somme, 430,000 prints were taken.
- Air recon compelled ground forces to use dummy trenches to confuse the Germans and the need for ai superiority led to developments in aircraft as at the start no planes had weapons.
27
How did those adapt aircraft for gunnery?
- Most 1914-15 had a propeller in front of the cockpit and to avoid hitting it machine guns were first mounted on the upper wing or in the cockpit often used the Lewis Machine Gun which fired 500 bullets per min.
- Was a constant issue for both to stop the risk of hitting the propellers.
28
What was the technology race?
- In 1915, the German Fokker monoplane proved superior to British opponents due to the better tech which turned war in the air in Germany's favour.
- British resembled its aircraft off this and created the Vickers-Challenger in 1915 with none being captured until 1916.
- A British pilot in this could hit an enemy plane 800 yards away, firing 600 bullets a minute but did have to reload after 250 rounds.
- Some pilots still shot the propeller to bits but by 1918 technology had been improved.
- From 1914 to 1918 aircraft speeds had more than doubled from 60mph to 150mph.
29
What were some air fighting techniques?
- Attacks such as attacking out from the sun dazzled opponents.
- Improved air gunnery and tactics made lone flying very risky for all except those most skilled.
- British squadrons adopted a formation of flying in threes with hand signals for communication.
- The portrayal of dog fights gave ace fighter pilots an heroic status where most pilots were upper class officers with boyish charms.
- Leading ace was Mick Mannock who had 73 victories and a ruthless hostility to the enemy. However was shot down on 26th July 1918. Such deaths had a lasting impact on public perception.
30
What were some technology forces adaptation?
- Air forces had to adapt and improve aircraft and gunnery due to improved defences. Against low flying planes machine guns were deadly.
- To avoid fire, many bombers took to invading at night but could seldom finding targets accurately.
- To counter night raids, watchtowers were built with searchlights to detect bombers from 1916 onwards.
- Bomb aiming typically relied on sight and was rarely accurate.
31
What was the effect of the RFC on the rest of the army?
Were death rates high?
- Supporting the army was the RFC's main goal which made ground attacks more effective. For example, Passchendaele 1917 had 300 aircrafts supporting infantry.
- Tactically, commanders hoped they would destroy key areas such as roads, railways and stop supplies.
- Losses were high as August 1918, British lost 243 aircrafts in four days. By 1918, planes were used for reconnaissance, bombing and combat.
- Casualty rate grew to 1 in 4 airmen similar to infantry. Trained nearly 20,000 pilots.
32
What was the effect of air bombings?
- Air bombing was really used to effect morale and decrease home support.
- It was German Zeppelins that hung over Britain.
- The Germans had managed 2 Gotha raids and one Zeppelin raid a month while British aimed for 2 a day.
- There was overall 543 tons of bombs dropped and 242 raids.
- Post war campaigns argued it did little damage as many bombs failed to go off.
- British air raids however did halt some German industrial production but civilian morale not seriously damaged.
33
What was the effect of the RAF and when was it introduced?
- April 1918
- By Nov 1918 RAF had 30,000 personnel, 200 operational squadrons and around 22,000 aircraft.
- However after the war dramatically decreased in size and innovation was halted as by 1930 planes were similar to what they were end of 1918.
34
What was the impact of the Zeppelin raids?
- Psychological effect was considerable to the British public and anxiety was increased by newspaper reports of attacks on undefended towns such as Yarmouth.
- British civilians were not used to the war being on their doorstep and seeing the enemy overhead day and night was a shock.
- Germans were portrayed as "baby killers" and the press did not focus on the little damage it caused but more reinforced their argument of German barbarity.
35
What was British home defence like?
- From Dec 1915, RFC took over home defence and 11 squadrons were deployed against German raiders.
- Planes could not fly very high but Zeppelins massive width made it an easy target.
- Authorities had worries of issuing air warnings as it would cause hysteria.
- Government implemented restrictions on shops and trams, with semi-blackouts across England and gas and electricity were cut off during raids.
36
What was the effect of Gotha Raids?
- Sporadic small German planes began in 1914 but more serious air defences were in 1917.
- Used the heavy Gotha bombers in the first raid 14 Gotha's attacked London(Deadliest raid) killing 162 people.
- Gotha's were smaller but harder to shoot down and created real fear.
37
What was the bombing raids impact on the public?
- The public did not show mass panic to Gotha raids but many took shelter.
- 300,000 in Tube stations and further 500,000 in basements.
- From 1917, Germans moved from day to night raids with incendiary bombs that caused fires. However, stopped using them due to fear of British retaliation.
- In Dec 1917, in Essex the first Gotha bomb was shot down.
- There was an improved air warning system with whistles and signs to take cover. People often told to familiarise themselves with friendly and enemy planes.
- By 1918, LADA had 266 guns, 353 searchlights and more than 270 day and night fighters. Yet, Gotha's taken down only 1/3 was from the British the rest from pilot error.
