Unit 2: War and Peace - Life in the Trenches, Shell Shock, and Remembrance

Practice fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering the military lexicon, conditions of trench warfare, shell shock symptoms, the Christmas Truce, and remembrance traditions from Unit 2: War and Peace.

From late 1914 onwards, the First World War got into a __________, meaning a situation in which nothing can change or no action can be taken.

stalemate

A long period of war during which each side seeks to gradually wear down the other is defined as a __________.

war of attrition

A type of war in which each side occupies a system of protective trenches is known as __________.

trench warfare

According to the typical pattern of rotation, an infantryman fought two weeks in the front line, a week in the support line, two weeks in reserve, and one week __________.

at rest

The daily trench routine began at dawn and was repeated at dusk with the military order known as __________, where soldiers stood ready for an attack.

stand to

Unsanitary conditions in the trenches often led to a fungal infection known as __________, which could result in amputation.

trench foot

A board or boards laid so as to form a path over wet or muddy ground in a trench is called a __________.

duckboard

Falling asleep while on __________ duty was a serious offence for which the penalty was death by firing squad.

sentry

At night, soldiers patrolled the area or strip of land that no one owns or controls, which was called __________.

no-man's-land

Animals that are believed to be harmful or carry disease, such as flies, lice, and cockroaches, are collectively termed __________.

vermin

A smell that is described as omnipresent, or felt and smelled everywhere, is defined as __________.

pervading

Soldiers who had bayoneted men in the face often developed hysterical __________ of their own facial muscles.

tics

In 1917, shell shock was initially believed to be the physical consequence of being exposed to heavy __________.

bombardment

In the context of shell shock analysis, the phrase 'breaking point' refers to __________.

the moment you collapse

The collocation 'unrelenting anxiety' describes fear and worry that is __________.

never weakening

During the war, approximately __________ British soldiers were executed for cowardice.

300

A temporary agreement between opposing forces to stop fighting, such as the famous event on Christmas in 1914, is known as a __________.

truce

The unofficial spontaneous ceasefire known as the Christmas Truce began on __________ in 1914.

Christmas Eve

An agreement at war to stop fighting for a period of time, commemorated annually on November 11, is called an __________.

armistice

The red poppy became a lasting symbol of remembrance after __________ vowed to always wear one in memory of fallen comrades.

Moina Michael

The war memorial in London known as the __________ was initially intended for the first anniversary of Armistice Day in 1919.

Cenotaph

The date for remembering the dead was changed to November 1 and 2 (All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) by __________.

Pope Gregory