AP Euro WWI ID Terms - Mr. Farquhar

Triple Alliance

- A military alliance formed in 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

- Designed to counter potential threats from France and Russia

- Exists until the start of WWI in 1914

The Balkans

- A region of southeastern Europe

- A major flashpoint leading up to and during WWI

- Austria-Hungary wanted to expand its territory here, which was already a hotbed of ethnic and political tensions

- This put Austria-Hungary on a collision course with Russia, which saw itself as the protector of the Slavic peoples in the region

Kaiser Wilhelm II

- The last German Emperor and King of Prussia

- Played a role in the lead-up to and during WWI

- His policies and actions contributed to the rise of tensions and the outbreak of the war

Triple Entente

- A pre-WWI alliance of Great Britain, France, and Russia

- Formed to counter the growing power of the Triple Alliance

King Edward VII

- Reigned from 1901 to 1910 (died in 1910) before the outbreak of WWI in 1914

- Succeeded by his son, George V, who ruled during the war

- Played an influential part in bringing the United Kingdom, France, and Russia together in 1907 to form a European alliance called the Triple Entente

Franz Joseph of Austria

- Ruled for nearly 68 years

- Played a role in the events leading to WWI, including the assassination of his nephew Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered the conflict

- Emperor of Austria (1848-1916) and King of Hungary (1867-1916)

- Divided his empire into the Dual Monarchy, in which Austria and Hungary coexisted as equal partners

- In 1879, he formed an alliance with Prussian-led Germany

- In 1914, his ultimatum to Serbia led Austria and Germany into WWI

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

- Heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne

- Was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914, most immediate cause of WWI

- Visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, with his wife Sophie for a speaking engagement

- There had been reports of bombings and shootings beforehand, but it didn't deter them

- Once the speaking engagement was over, bombings occurred in the city

- He was killed by Slav nationalist Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, a terrorist group

- The assassination set in motion a chain reaction of events that plunged Europe into war

Gavrilo Princip

- A 19-year-old Bosnian Serb nationalist

- Assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo

- A member of the Black Hand, a terrorist group

The Black Hand

- Officially known as "Unification or Death"

- A secret Serbian nationalist military society formed in May 1911 by officers in the Army of the Kingdom of Serbia

- Known for its alleged role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

- Terrorist group

The "Blank Check"

- Refers to Germany's unconditional pledge of support to Austria-Hungary, allowing Austria-Hungary to act against Serbia without fear of German abandonment, a key factor in escalating the July Crisis into a wider war

- A German promise to help Austria-Hungary invade Serbia

Schlieffen Plan

- A military strategy devised by Alfred von Schlieffen

- Was Germany's pre-WWI strategy to swiftly defeat France by invading through Belgium and then focus on Russia

- It ultimately failed

- Its goal was to quickly defeat France in a war on two fronts by first invading France through neutral Belgium and Luxembourg, avoiding the heavily fortified French-German border

- The plan aimed for a victory over France before turning east to face the slower mobilizing Russia forces

- The plan failed due to challenges, unexpected resistance, and the British entry into the war

French Plan XVII

- French armies were to destroy railway facilities and inflict as many casualties as possible on the German armies while retreating, preparatory to resuming the offensive

- A military strategy developed before WWI, aimed at recapturing the territories of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany

- It emphasized an offensive strategy, relying on the high morale and rapid attacks of French troops

- The plan assumed that the French fighting spirit would overcome German defenses, but it underestimated Germany's strength

- When implemented, the plan led to heavy French casualties and was quickly disrupted by the German Schlieffen Plan

Allied Powers

- Also known as the Entente Powers

- Consisted of France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and Japan, with the United States joining later in 1917

- They fought against the Central Powers

Central Powers

- A military alliance consisting of the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and later Bulgaria

- Fought against the Allied Powers

1st Battle of the Marne

- September 6-12, 1914

- A crucial early battle of WWI where French and British forces successfully halted the German advance on Paris, thwarting their plan for a quick victory on the Western Front and leading to a stalemate and trench warfare

- An offensive during World War I by the French army and the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) against the advancing Germans who had invaded Belgium and northeastern France and were within 30 miles (48 km) of Paris

Trench Warfare

- Involved opposing sides digging and fighting from elaborate systems of trenches, offering some protection from enemy fire but also creating a grueling, static form of combat

- Emerged as a dominant strategy on the Western Front

- Armies dug extensive networks of trenches for protection against heavy artillery and machine gun fire

War of Attrition

- Both sides sought to wear down the enemy through continuous, costly fighting, often with minimal territorial gains

- Exemplified by battles like Verdun and the Somme

Eastern Front

- A theater of operations that encompassed at its greatest extent the entire frontier between Russia and Romania on one side and Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, and Germany on the other

- A vast theater of operations stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea

Paul Von Hindenburg

- A German general who gained renown during WWI and later as President of Weimar Republic

- Most relevant to Holocaust history through his dealings with Adolf Hitler

- Recalled from retirement to command the German Eighth Army in East Prussia

- Achieved notable victories like the Battle of Tannenberg

- Later became Field Marshal and Commander of the Imperial German Army

The Lusitania

- A British-registered ocean liner that was torpedoed and sunk by an Imperial German Navy U-boat during WWI on May 7, 1915, about 11 nautical miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland

- Resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people, including 128 Americans

- Contributed to the United States' eventual entry into the war

Unrestricted submarine welfare

- German U-boats (submarines) attacked and sank all Allied and neutral ships in designated war zones without warning, regardless of whether they were military or civilian

- A tactic that violated international law and ultimately led to the United States entering the war

Winston Churchill

- Served as First Lord of the Admiralty

- Played a role in the disastrous Dardanelles campaign

- Later served on the Western Front as an infantry officer before becoming Minister of Munitions and then Secretary of State for War and Air

- In 1915 he helped orchestrate the disastrous Dardanelles naval campaign

- Was also involved in the planning of the military landings on Gallipoli, both of which saw large losses

The Sussex Pledge

- A promise made by Germany to the United States in May 1916, following the sinking of a certain French passenger ship, to alter its naval policy and avoid attacking passenger ships and unarmed merchant vessels without warning

- Aimed to appease the US and prevent its entry into WWI

Propaganda

- Played a role in shaping public opinion and mobilizing support for the war effort

- Utilized various mediums like posters, pamphlets, and films to influence citizens and boost morale

Zimmerman Note

- A secret diplomatic communication sent in January 1917 by German Foreign Minister Arthur ----------

- Proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico if the United States entered WWI, promising Mexico the return of lost territory (Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona) in return

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

- Signed on March 3, 1918

- Ended Russia's participation in WWI

- Forced the Bolshevik government to cede significant territory and resources to the Central Powers

- Was signed after two months of negotiations in the Polish town

14 Points

- Speech on January 8, 1918

- President Woodrow Wilson outlined a vision for a post-WWI world based on open diplomacy, free trade, and national self-determination

- A statement of principles for peace that was to be used for peace negotiations in order to end WWI

Woodrow Wilson

- President during WWI

- Initially advocated for American neutrality but later led the US into the war

- Proposed the "Fourteen Points" for a post-war peace

- Advocated for the League of Nations

Paris Peace Conference

- Held from January to June 1919

- Convened in Paris to establish peace terms after WWI, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on June 28, 1919

War Guilt Clause (Article 231)

- Forced Germany to accept full responsibility for WWI and its consequences, including financial reparations

- Major source of resentment and humiliation in Germany

Treaty of Versailles

- Signed on June 28, 1919

- Formally ended WWI, imposing harsh terms on Germany—including territorial losses, demilitarization, and significant reparations

- Signed by Germany and the Allied Nations

- The terms required that Germany pay financial reparations, disarm, lose territory, and give up all of its overseas colonies

Italia Irredenta

- The Italian movement advocating for the unification of unredeemed Italy

- Played a significant role in Italy's decision to join the war on the Allied side, aiming to gain territories under Austrian rule

League of Nations

- Established in 1920 after WWI

- Was the first intergovernmental organization aimed at promoting international cooperation and achieving peace

- Ultimately failed to prevent WWI

All Quiet on the Western Front

- A semi-autobiographical anti-war novel by Erich Maria Remarque, a German veteran of WWI

- Depicts the brutal reality and psychological trauma faced by German soldiers on the Western Front

- Follows the life of an idealistic young German soldier named Paul Bäumer

- Describes the German soldiers' extreme physical and mental trauma during the war as well as the detachment from civilian life felt by many