WWI history quiz

British Military

smaller army but the largest navy

Russian Military

largest at the time

German Military

the second largest military and on the rise, competing to become the strongest military

Bismarck's Realpolitik (real politics)

The plan to not ensure war but side with the stronger nations

Wilhelm II's Weltpolitik (world politics)

the plan to become a global superpower, to do this you need colonial power and a huge navy

Schlieffen Plan (1905)

go through Belgium and attack France, then go attack Russia and make a treaty with the British, this plan was in place a decade before WWI

Militarism

the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.

Alliances

agreements between nations to aid and protect one another

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Nationalism

A strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country

Triple Entente

Russia, France, Britain

The Balkans

Bulgaria and Serbia

Triple Alliance

Italy, Austria-Hungary, Germany

Mercantilism

global wealth is limited and you have to obtain it before anyone else takes all of it

Jingoism

supernationalism, your country is better than anyone else

The July Crisis

A diplomatic crisis among the major powers of Europe in the summer of 1914 that led to the First World War.

The Blank Check

Germany swears to support Austria-Hungary in any actions it takes against Serbia

Fischer Thesis

Germany was preparing for and encouraging war, despite signs it would be a global conflict

Orthodox Thesis

no one wanted war and everyone made mistakes

Post-Revisionist View

see how far you could push and how much power you could gain before you start a war, failure in the political system

Central powers

Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria

Principal Allies

British Empire, French Republic, Russia, Italy, Japan

Secondary Allies

Belgium, Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Romania

Trench Warfare

A form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield.

Front Line Trench

where the guns and weapons were kept

Total War

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

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Emperor of Germany during World War I

Bismarck

German statesman under whose leadership Germany was united (1815-1898), worked with Wilhelm the first

Why did Germany collapse?

food shortages, low morale, Germans exhausted

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

ends the war on the eastern front (Russia)

Armistice

Germany surrenders, happened on Nov 11th and 11 am 1918

The Paris Peace Conference

The great rulers and countries excluding Germany and Russia met in Versailles to negotiate the repercussions of the war, such leaders included Lloyd George (Britain), Woodrow Wilson (America), Cleamancu (France) and Italy. The treaty of Versailles was made but not agreed to be signed and the conference proved unsuccessful.

David Lloyd George

British PM during WWI. During the Paris Peace Conference, he was concerned with maintaining the British Empire, didn't want to deal with continental issues

George Clemenceau

French prime minister in last years of WWI and during Versailles Conference of 1919. Pushed for heavy reparations from Germans. Wanted to make Germans suffer and help break Germany up.

Woodrow Wilson

28th president of the United States, wanted "new diplomacy"

created the 14 points, didn't get support from Allies and US congress (republican congress)

Treaty of Versailles

the treaty imposed on Germany by the Allied powers in 1920 after the end of World War I which demanded exorbitant reparations from the Germans

League of Nations

an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations

doesn't include Germany and Russia

Treaty of St. Germain

Takes things away from Austria-Hungary

Treaty of Trianon

Things taken from Hungary

Treaty of Neuilly

Things taken from Bulgaria

Treaty of Sevres

Things taken from Turkey