history

Britain entered WW1 in August 1914 because

Germany invaded neutral Belgium

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Germany’s plan to quickly defeat France by invading through neutral Belgium first, before turning to fight Russia, to avoid a long two-front war

What treaty guaranteed Belgian neutrality?

Treaty of London (1839)

How large was Britain’s standing army in 1914?

Around 250,000 soldiers

How large was Germany’s army in 1914?

Around 4.5 million soldiers

What did British generals expect WW1 to be like?

A short war using conventional warfare

What is trench warfare?

Fighting from trenches because stalemate and modern weapons made open battles too dangerous

Why did trench warfare develop?

Machine guns and artillery made attacks across open ground too dangerous

What is stalemate?

When neither side can advance or win

What is No Man’s Land?

The land between opposing trench lines

Why was No Man’s Land so dangerous?

Soldiers crossing it were exposed to machine-gun and artillery fire

What problems did soldiers face in trenches?

Mud, rats, lice, disease, trench foot and shell shock

What is shell shock?

Psychological trauma caused by warfare

What is trench foot?

A painful condition caused by standing in cold wet trenches

What is attrition?

Wearing down the enemy over time through continuous losses, where both sides lose but the aim is to outlast the enemy

What was daily life in trenches like?

Trenches were muddy, filled with rats and dead bodies and disease and lice spread quickly. Life was boring, exhausting and frightening

What weapons made WW1 attacks deadly?

Machine guns, artillery and rapid-fire rifles

What weapons were developed to break stalemate?

Poison gas, tanks and creeping barrages

What is a creeping barrage?

Artillery fire moving forward ahead of advancing soldiers

When were tanks first used?

1916 at the Battle of the Somme

What was the Battle of the Somme?

A 1916 battle where Britain and France tried to break German trench defences

What was the Western Front?

Main fighting area between Germany and the Allies in western Europe

How far did the Western Front stretch?

Hundreds of miles across Europe

What event triggered WW1?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo (this was the spark that started WW1, but it happened in a Europe already full of tensions from alliances, militarism, imperialism and nationalism)

Where and when was Franz Ferdinand assassinated?

Sarajevo on July 28 1914

What does MAIN stand for?

Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism

What is militarism?

Countries building strong armed forces and being ready for war

What are alliances?

Agreements between countries to support each other in war

What is imperialism?

Competition for colonies and building empires to increase a country’s power

What is nationalism?

Strong pride in your country leading to rivalry with others

What were the Balkans?

Region in southeastern Europe with nationalist tensions

Why were the Balkans unstable before WW1?

Rivalry between Serbia and Austria-Hungary

What did Austria-Hungary annex in 1908?

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Why were Serbians angry about Bosnia?

Because they believed Bosnia should belong to Serbia

What is annexation?

Taking control of another country or territory

What is balance of power?

No country becoming too powerful in Europe

What was the arms race?

Competition between countries to build larger militaries and navies

Which countries were in the naval arms race?

Britain and Germany

Who were in the Triple Alliance?

Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

Who were in the Triple Entente?

Britain, France and Russia

Why did alliances increase tension?

Small conflicts could drag in many countries because of alliances

How many soldiers did Germany have by 1914?

Over 2.1 million

How many soldiers did Britain have by 1914?

Around 710,000

How many soldiers did France have by 1914?

Around 1.3 million

Where did European powers compete for colonies?

Africa and Asia

Why was Germany’s army stronger in manpower than Britain’s?

Germany used conscription while Britain relied on volunteers

Why were many British volunteers rejected?

Around 40% failed medical exams due to poor health

How much food did Britain import before WW1?

Around 60%

Why was Britain vulnerable in WW1?

Heavy reliance on imported food and raw materials

What is mobilisation?

Getting ready for war by preparing and moving troops and resources