World War I Flashcards

Flashcards about World War I, covering major players, causes, key events, and outcomes.

United Kingdom (British Empire)

World's Strongest Empire in 1914, possessing colonies on every continent and the strongest Navy, ruled by George V.

Germany

A young country in 1914, unified in 1871, dominated by Prussian culture and ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Russia

Largest country with a huge but not well-trained army and a tiny economy, led by Czar Nicholas II.

France

Recovering from a lost war to Prussia in 1871, fearful of a united Germany, and angry over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine.

Italy

Weak, changes sides during the war, and sees war as a way to gain power and prestige.

Ottoman Empire

Once a great empire but known as 'the sick man of Europe' in 1914, having lost all territory in the Balkans but still controlling key trade routes.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

A multi-ethnic empire with Serbs wanting to break away and join with Serbia, ruled by Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Militarism

Building up armed forces and getting ready for war.

Alliances

Agreements or promises to defend and help another country.

Triple Alliance

Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy

Triple Entente

Britain, France, and Russia

Nationalism

Having pride in your country and being willing to defend it.

Imperialism

Trying to build up an Empire.

The Black Hand

Serbian Secret Military Society that planted bombs, assassinations, and sabotage.

Conflagration

An extensive fire which destroys a great deal of land or property.

Central Powers

Germany, A-H, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire

Allied Powers

Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Italy

Schlieffen Plan

Germany defeats France in 6 weeks & then attacks Russia but it Fails.

Stalemate

Deadlock in which neither side is able to defeat the other.

War of attrition

Wearing down the enemy by continual losses in people & material.

Total War

All people & resources devoted to war effort, conscription, censorship of the press, propaganda, women worked in factories for men in battle

Poison Gas

Blindness, blisters, & death

Tank

Against trench warfare

Aircraft

Spying behind enemy lines & air battles

Submarines

German U-boats

Machine Gun

100 rounds a minute

Shell Shock

Similar to what we now call PTSD – Psychological trauma from combat

Armistice

An agreement to stop fighting

The Big Four of Paris Peace Conference

Woodrow Wilson(U.S.), George Clemenceau(France), David Lloyd George(Britain), Vittorio Orlando(Italy)

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Limitations of arms, an end to all secret alliances, self-determination, League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles

Reduced German army & banned conscription, banned weapons making, reduced the size of Germany, took away all of Germany’s colonies, made Germany pay reparations

Reparations

Payment for war damages.

Militarism

A policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war.

Nationalism

A devotion to the interests and culture of one's nation.

Alliance

A formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

Total War

A conflict in which the participating countries devote all their resources to the war effort.

Spark that ignited WWI

The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914.

Schlieffen Plan

A plan by Germany to invade France through Belgium, then turn to defeat Russia, ultimately failing and leading to a long stalemate.

Trench Warfare

A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other, leading to stalemate and high casualties.

Western Front

The area of fighting on the Western Front during World War I, characterized by trench warfare and stalemate.

League of Nations

A proposed international organization to promote peace and prevent future wars, though ultimately weakened by the U.S. refusal to join.