Chapter 24: The First World War – Expanded Overview

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms and concepts from the World War I lecture notes.

July Crisis

Diplomatic and military escalation after Franz Ferdinand’s assassination in July 1914 that drew Europe’s alliance blocs into war.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination triggered World War I.

Gavrilo Princip

Bosnian Serb nationalist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.

Blank Check

Germany’s unconditional promise of support to Austria-Hungary in July 1914.

Ultimatum to Serbia

Harsh demands issued by Austria-Hungary to Serbia after the assassination, partly rejected and leading to war.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany’s strategy to defeat France quickly by invading through Belgium before turning against Russia.

Invasion of Belgium

German violation of Belgian neutrality in August 1914 that prompted Britain to enter the war.

Battle of the Marne

September 1914 battle that stopped the German advance on Paris and created a stalemate.

Battle of Tannenberg

August 1914 German victory over Russia on the Eastern Front, destroying the Russian Second Army.

Trench Warfare

Static, fortified fighting system of deep trenches dominating the Western Front.

Poison Gas

Chemical weapon first used in 1915 to break trench deadlock, causing choking, burns, and blindness.

War of Attrition

Strategy of wearing down an enemy through continuous losses in personnel and material rather than decisive battles.

Battle of Verdun

1916 German-French battle lasting ten months with huge casualties and minimal territorial change.

Battle of the Somme

1916 Allied offensive notable for the first tank use and enormous casualties for slight gains.

Battle of Passchendaele

1917 British-led offensive in Flanders marked by mud, heavy losses, and limited advances.

Tanks

Armored tracked vehicles introduced in WWI to cross trenches and barbed wire, initially with limited success.

War of Empires

Aspect of WWI involving colonial soldiers and fighting across imperial territories worldwide.

Colonial Troops

Soldiers recruited from European colonies in Africa, India, and Southeast Asia who fought in WWI.

Arab Revolt

1916-1918 uprising of Arab forces against Ottoman rule, encouraged by Britain.

Japanese Entry into WWI

Japan joined the Allies in 1914, seizing German Pacific and Chinese possessions.

Home Front

Domestic sphere where governments mobilized economies, censored news, and managed civilian life for the war effort.

Women’s War Work

Expanded roles of women in factories, transport, and offices during WWI, reshaping gender expectations.

Propaganda

Government-produced information designed to boost morale and support for the war.

Russian February Revolution

March 1917 uprising that overthrew Tsar Nicholas II and established a provisional government.

Bolsheviks

Radical socialist party led by Lenin that seized power in the October 1917 Revolution.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

March 1918 peace treaty in which Russia exited WWI, ceding vast territory to Germany.

Communism

Political ideology advocating a classless society; established in Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution.

German Spring Offensives

Series of 1918 German attacks aimed at defeating the Allies before American forces fully arrived.

American Expeditionary Forces

U.S. troops who arrived in Europe from 1917, boosting Allied manpower and morale.

Abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II

November 1918 resignation of the German emperor amid military defeat and revolution.

Armistice of 11 November 1918

Agreement that ended fighting on the Western Front, effectively ending WWI.

Treaty of Versailles

1919 peace treaty that imposed punitive terms on Germany and redrew European borders.

Collapse of Empires

Disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German, and Russian Empires as a result of WWI.

Interwar Period

Era between WWI and WWII characterized by political instability, economic turmoil, and unresolved grievances from Versailles.