History WW1 test review

Alliance

• An agreement between countries to provide military services/assistance to each other if one is attacked.

• Problem: When two countries are pushed into ware, countless other countries are pulled into the conflict creating war

Triple alliance

• Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Itay (only untill 1915)

Entente

• An international understanding providing for a common course of action

Triple entente

• Great Britain, France, Russia

Spark of WW1

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand

• Happened in 1914, June 28

• Black Hand: Secret Serbian society who wanted to separate from Austria-Hungary

MAINN causes of WW1

1. Militarism: Is the belief in the power of armies and natives to decide issues

• Example: Britain and German competing to have the largest navy to control the seas

2. Alliances: An agreement between countries to provide military services/assistance to each other if one is attached

• Example: Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, Russia

3. Nationalism: Is when people see their country as being the best and puts its interest first, regardless of other countries.

• Example: Great Britain wanted to maintain their status as a world power, but Germany wanted to replace them. 

4. National Rivalries: European leaders used their citizens’ feelings/suspicions towards other nations to stir up patriotism and nationalism. This created tension!

Sam Hughes

• Minister of the Militia

• Had to make decisions about training and equipment

• Two of his choices that did not work here:

  • Ross Rifle: Kept jamming, did not work in muddy conditions, jammed easily

  • McAdam shovel: Had a hole in the middle so it could be used as a shield, but was not good to dig out of the mud.

Canada’s response to recruitment

• Canadians cheered volunteers off to war

• Everyone believed that the war would be over by Christmas (4-5 months)

• Canadians  lined up for hours in order to enlist

• At first only a specific group or demographic of men were accepted into enlist in the military. However, towards the end most men were accepted to enlist. 

• It was an honour to enlist for the military

Schlieffen Plan

• The purpose was to put a quick end to the war between France and Russia

• Had two major flaws: Rigid designs for movement and timing and violating political treaties

• It expected three things to happen:

1. Russia would mobilize slowly

2. Germany would quickly advance into France

3. France would be overtaken

• Troops were slowed down due to land conditions in Belgium and lack of supplies

• French troops were prepared for the attack

• The troops then “dug in” for years of fighting

• The Schlieffen plan should have prevented Germany from fighting on two fronts ( France + Russia

• The failure of the plan resulted in Germany fighting WW1 with two fronts

Trenches

• Trench: A long narrow ditch in the ground that is deeper than it is wide. Dug and used to shelter troops

• Daily life without fighting consisted of inspections, chores, supplies and lots of waiting.

• Soldiers suffered from:

1. Lice:

• Condition called Trench fever was caused by lice and made the soldier experience horrible fever and severe pain

2. Boredom:

• Physical toll on the soldiers was tough, however the physiological toll was even tougher

• you had to keep your movements to a minimum in the front lines, so soldiers would write letters or read

3. Trench foot:

• Trench foot is a fungal infection of the feet caused by prolonged exposure to damp, cold conditions

• caused amputations of feet and infections

Battle of Ypres

Location: Belgium

Date of start: April, 1915

Major events:

• To break stalemate, Germans used chlorine gas

• Soldiers soaked cotton pads in urine and held them over their faces for protection from the gas

• Canadians held for 2 days until British relief troops over

Significance:

• First use of chlorine gas

• Canada’s first