wwi - complete study guide

4 MAIN reasons for WWI

Militarism, Alliances, Industrialization, Nationalism

Why do Germany and France dislike each other?

Border countries, Franco-Prussian war (Bismarck)

Why do Serbia and Austria-Hungary dislike each other?

Austria-Hungary has lands from Greater Serbia, that Serbia wants back

Triple Alliance

Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary (later includes Russia)

Triple Entente

Great Britain, France, Russia

Why did Bismark not want Russia to Ally with France?

Possible war on two fronts (western and eastern)

Wilhelm’s mistakes

Firing Bismarck, loosing treaty with Russia, building military

Why does Russia support Serbia?

Russia and Serbia share a large Slavic community (big bro little bro)

Who killed Franz Ferdinand?

Gavrillo Princip

What organization was Gavrillo Princip apart of?

The Black Hand

What is the Black hand?

Secret society against Austria-Hungary, resentful about taking land from Greater Serbia

What does Austria Hungary do after the assassination?

Demand that Serbia condemn any/all propaganda against A-H, legalized searches, etc.

Why does Austria Hungary declare war?

Support from Germany + Serbia not willing to do ALL demands

Central Powers

Germany, Austria-Hungary (later Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria) (previously Italy as well)

Allied Powers

Great Britain, France, Russia (later Japan, Italy, America)

Bloody Stalemate

When both sides of a battle cannot progress anymore, stuck in the middle

Schlieffen Plan

Attack and conquer France, focus on Russia

FIRST battle of the Marne

Germany successfully attacks and has a victory → goes to Russia, but France fights back with Britain → Schlieffen plan is stopped (soldiers fighting on two fronts)

No Man’s Land

Space between trenches

Battle of Somme (1916)

Bloody battle with little gains. (Germany, 4 mi. Britain 5 mi)

Western Front

Germany vs France + Britain, stalemate, tanks, etc.

Eastern Front

Germany vs. Russia, diverse terrain,

Why does Russia struggle in the war?

Lack of industrialization

Pals Battalion

Children/friend go to war together

Conscientious Objectors

People who did not want to contribute to the war (normally treated poorly)

Types of gasses in Trench Warfare:

Tear gas (nonlethal) Phosgene gas (lethal) Mustard gas (lethal) Chlorine (lethal)

Problem with Machine Guns

Often overheated - must cool them down

Use of Tanks

Travel across No Man’s Land, used as a sheild

Use of Flamethrowers

Killing soldiers from long distance (wire cutters)

Use of Airplanes

Surveillance → murder (german > french)

Use of Zeppelin

Too high for planes, dropping bombs, traveling long distance

Use of electricity

Alarms, radio communication, sonar, etc.

Tannenberg (1915-16)

German victory over Russia, destroys army

Gallipoli (1915-16)

Fighting for Dardanelles + Istanbul → Constantinople → briign supplies to Russia (Allies lost, Ottoman Empire won)

How did the Armenian Massacre happen? (1915-18)

Ottoman Empire was scared of Armenian population, kills them through concentration camp

What was the involvement of colonies in WWI?

France and Great Britain took German colonies and recruited them, along with their own colonies. Also encouraged labour for war effort

Why does America join the war?

Lustiana’s sinking, Zimmerman note

What did the Zimmerman note detail?

Germany’s want for an allyship with Mexico, to damage America from far away so that they don’t get involved with the war + also regain lands

Total War

All resources go to war effort

Role of women in WWI

Replacing men in society

Why did Russia withdrawal from the war?

People’s protest against Czar Nicholas → change of government

Why did the people of Russia protest against Czar Nicholas

Famines, no longer able to support the war

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Treaty between Russia and Germany during WWI

How did WWI end?

America beats Germany at it’s weakest → leads to agreement to end the war (Armistice)

Woodrow Wilson

President of the US at the time (14 points) (representative in Paris Peace Conference)

Georges Clemenceau

Leader of France (representative in Paris Peace Conference), blamed everything on Germany, did not agree with Wilson

David Lloyd George

Leader of Great Britain (representative in Paris Peace Conference)

Vittorio Orlando

Leader of Italy (representative in Paris Peace Conference)

Why were the 14 points rejected?

Great Britain and France wanted to punish Germany further

Germany’s punishment

Loss of money (pay ALL reparations), loss of land/colonies, loss of military

14 points

Wilson’s “ultimate plan to peace”

Germany’s feelings after the war/Paris Peace Confrence

Very resentful, do anything to take revenge → Hitler