Vocabulary: The Great War

A collection of key vocabulary terms and their definitions related to the events surrounding World War I.

Triple Alliance

Military alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy established before World War I.

Russian-German Reinsurance Treaty

A treaty promising mutual neutrality between Germany and Russia if either were attacked by a third party.

Splendid Isolation

Britain's foreign policy of avoiding entanglements in continental affairs prior to World War I.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

An agreement between Britain and Japan to support each other, particularly against Russian aggression.

Entente Cordial

A friendly understanding between Britain and France in 1904 with the aim of settling colonial disputes.

Anglo-German arms race

Competition between Britain and Germany to build up their naval and military capabilities before World War I.

Triple Entente

Alliance of Britain, France, and Russia formed to oppose the Triple Alliance.

Bertha von Suttner

Austrian pacifist who authored 'Lay Down Your Arms' and was the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dreadnoughts

Heavily armed battleships introduced in the early 20th century, known for their speed and firepower.

Kruger Telegram

A message from Kaiser Wilhelm II congratulating the Boers on their resistance against British forces in South Africa.

Algeciras Conference

A meeting in 1906 that resolved the First Moroccan Crisis between Germany, France, and Britain.

Pan-Slavism

A nationalist movement aiming to unite all Slavic peoples, encouraged by Russia's interest in the Balkans.

Young Turks

A reformist group in the Ottoman Empire that aimed to modernize and secularize the empire.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Austrian heir whose assassination in 1914 precipitated World War I.

Princip, 'Black Hand'

Gavrilo Princip, a member of a nationalist group that sought to free Slavic people from Austro-Hungarian rule; assassinated Franz Ferdinand.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

German Emperor whose policies led to the failure of the Reinsurance Treaty and increased tensions prior to World War I.

Blank check

Germany's unconditional support to Austria-Hungary to act against Serbia following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

Central Powers

Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and later Bulgaria during World War I.

Allies (Triple Entente)

Military alliance formed by Britain, France, and Russia during World War I; expanded to include Italy, Japan, and the United States.

Schlieffen Plan

Germany's military strategy to quickly defeat France and then move to fight Russia during World War I.

Trench warfare

A type of warfare where opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other, characteristic of World War I.

Battle of Verdun

A major battle of World War I in 1916 where French forces defended against Germany, resulting in massive casualties.

Battle of the Somme

A significant World War I battle in 1916, notable for its high casualties and the introduction of the tank.

U-boats

German submarines used to target Allied shipping during World War I.

Zimmerman Telegram

A secret diplomatic communication from Germany proposing a military alliance with Mexico against the U.S.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points

President Woodrow Wilson's proposals for peace emphasizing self-determination, free trade, and open diplomacy.

Versailles Treaty

The 1919 peace treaty that officially ended World War I and placed heavy reparations and restrictions on Germany.

Article 231

The clause in the Versailles Treaty placing sole blame for World War I on Germany.

League of Nations

An international organization established after World War I to promote peace, partly inspired by Wilson's Fourteen Points.

John Maynard Keynes

Economist who criticized the Versailles Treaty for its harsh treatment of Germany, predicting economic consequences.