2025 Year Nine Humanities Extension - History - WW1

Armament

The weapons and military equipment a country possesses; also refers to the process of building up a country's military power.

Arms Race

A competition between nations to build up the most powerful military and weapons, especially leading up to WWI.

Balance of Power

A situation in which countries have roughly equal strength to prevent any one from becoming too powerful and dominating others.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's military strategy at the outbreak of WWI, designed to avoid a two-front war. It aimed to quickly defeat France by sweeping through neutral Belgium, then turning to fight Russia, which was expected to mobilize slowly.

However, Belgium's resistance and Britain's entry into the war (to defend Belgian neutrality) delayed the plan. Russia mobilized faster than expected, forcing Germany to divide its forces. The plan failed and led to trench warfare on the Western Front.

The Black Hand

A secret Serbian nationalist group that aimed to unite Slavic peoples and was responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Gavrilo Princip

The Bosnian-Serb nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, sparking WWI.

Otto von Bismarck

German Chancellor who unified Germany in the 1800s and created alliances to maintain peace in Europe before WWI.

July Crisis

A month-long series of events in July 1914 that escalated into WWI, triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28.

Key events:

• Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia.

• Serbia’s response was seen as unsatisfactory.

• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (July 28).

• Russia mobilized to protect Serbia.

• Germany supported Austria-Hungary and declared war on Russia and France.

• Britain declared war on Germany after the invasion of Belgium.

• This chain reaction of alliances and poor diplomacy turned a regional conflict into a global war.

'Mother country'

A term used by colonies (like Australia) to refer to their colonial ruler, often Britain, especially during WWI.

Andrew Fisher (Labor Party)

Australian Prime Minister in 1914 who pledged support for Britain, famously saying Australia would defend the Empire "to the last man and the last shilling."

Light Horse Brigade

Mounted troops from Australia who fought in WWI, notably in the Middle East campaigns such as the Battle of Beersheba.

'White Feather'

A symbol of cowardice given to men not in uniform by some women to pressure them into enlisting in the military during WWI.

Propaganda

Biased or misleading information used by governments during WWI to influence public opinion and encourage enlistment or support for the war.

Conscientious Objectors

People who refused military service on moral, religious, or ethical grounds. During WWI, they were often treated harshly.

Types:

• Religious Objectors – e.g., Quakers, who believed war was morally wrong based on their faith.

• Political Objectors – Opposed war due to political beliefs, such as socialists or anti-imperialists.

• Moral Objectors – Believed that killing under any circumstance is wrong, even without religious or political affiliation.

• Some agreed to serve as medics or in non-combat roles, while others were imprisoned or punished for outright refusal.

Pacifists

Individuals who oppose all war and violence, believing in peaceful resolutions to conflict.

Amphibious Landing

A military operation where forces land on a shore from the sea, such as the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in 1915.