World War I (1914–1915) – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major alliances, plans, battles, technologies, and trench-warfare terms from the 1914–1915 phase of World War I.

Central Powers

Alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary (later joined by others) at the outbreak of World War I.

Allied Powers

Britain, France, and Russia—the major coalition opposing the Central Powers in 1914.

Schlieffen Plan

German strategy to defeat France through Belgium within six weeks before turning east against Russia.

Plan Seventeen

French pre-war plan for an aggressive offensive into Alsace-Lorraine aimed toward Berlin.

British Expeditionary Force (BEF)

Small, professional British army sent to defend Belgium and France in 1914; slowed Germans at Mons.

Plan R (Austria-Hungary)

Austro-Hungarian war plan calling for a massive invasion of Russia.

Battle of the Marne (1914)

Allied counter-attack that halted the German advance near Paris and began trench stalemate.

"Taxis of the Marne"

Paris taxicabs used to rush French troops to the Marne front during the September 1914 battle.

Race to the Sea

Series of maneuvers and battles in 1914 as each side tried to outflank the other northward to the Channel, ending in continuous trench lines.

Trench Stalemate

Deadlocked front characterized by opposing trenches from Belgium to Switzerland after 1914.

Battle of Tannenberg

August 1914 German victory under Hindenburg and Ludendorff that annihilated Russia’s 2nd Army.

Battle of Masurian Lakes

September 1914 German offensive that crushed Russia’s 1st Army, causing huge casualties.

"Russian Steam Roller"

British nickname for the expected overwhelming mass of Russian troops early in the war.

Galicia (1914)

Region where Russia defeated Austria-Hungary, capturing territory and pushing the front 200 km west.

Von Spee Squadron

German East Asia naval force that beat Britain at Coronel but was destroyed near the Falkland Islands.

U-Boat

German submarine used to sink British warships and disrupt Allied shipping.

Gallipoli Campaign

1915 Allied operation to knock Turkey out of the war and open a supply route to Russia; ended in costly failure.

Anzac Cove

Primary landing site of Australian and New Zealand troops during the Gallipoli Campaign.

Suvla Bay

Secondary 1915 Gallipoli landing that failed due to poor planning and heavy casualties.

Shell Shock

Psychological trauma experienced by soldiers from prolonged bombardment and combat stress.

Trench Foot

Painful infection caused by prolonged exposure of feet to cold, waterlogged trench conditions.

Heavy Artillery

Long-range guns (≈13 km) whose barrages dominated WWI battlefields and inflicted massive losses.

Machine Gun

Weapon firing about 600 rounds per minute; made frontal assaults extremely deadly.

Tank

Armoured vehicle first used by Britain in 1916; designed to cross trenches and provide mobile firepower.

Mills Bomb

Standard British hand grenade employed in trench assaults.

Potato Masher

Nickname for the German stick grenade used in WWI.

Chlorine Gas

First poison gas used (2nd Battle of Ypres, 1915); causes suffocation by damaging lungs.

Phosgene

More lethal suffocating gas introduced after chlorine; responsible for many WWI gas fatalities.

Mustard Gas

Blister agent causing severe burns and internal damage; lingered in trenches and terrain.

Gas Mask

Protective equipment that eventually reduced the effectiveness of chemical warfare.