World War I Overview

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to World War I based on lecture notes.

Bismarck

A strong leader of Germany who played a key role in shaping the country's foreign policy.

Kaiser

Replaced Bismarck. Ended the alliance with Russia, increased the isolation of Germany and army size. Started the naval arm race with Britain. Built the dreadnought battleships

What did the Kaiser do that was considered stupid?

They isolated Germany.

German battle ship

Dreadnought

Triple Alliance

A military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy aimed at isolating France.

Schlieffen Plan

A German military strategy to defeat France quickly and then hold off Russia in a two-front war.

Triple Entente

An alliance formed by Britain, France, and Russia in response to the growing power of Germany.

Militarism

The policy of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always prepared for war.

Archduke Ferdinand

The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne whose assassination was a trigger for World War I.

Gavrilo Princip

Assainated Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo.

Who does Germany promise a blank check to?

Austria

Russia and Serbia.

Russia Mobilizes to protect ____

Germany to Austria.

Germany mobilizes to protect Austria.

Where did Germany stop at?

The battle of Marne

How much front wars did German fight in?

Two, with the western front vs France and Britain and the eastern front vs Russia.

Weapons created.

The Tanks and poison gas were used to attempt to end the war.

Russia in 1917.

Suffered many casualties on the eastern front, problems with their supply and poor moral, leading to a revolution. Causing the fall of the monarchy and pulling out the war.

What other countries faced revolutions?

Russia, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire.

What treaty made Russia pull out of the war?

The treaty of Brest litovsk

How did Germany gain an advantage after Russia left?

Germany was able to focus on the western front.

Trench Warfare

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

What did the artillery and machine guns cause?

Stalemate.

Why did the artillery and machine gun not work?

It was difficult for the armies to attack eachother.

How was the tank useful?

Would be able to run over barbed wire, but would break down easily.

Why did poison gas not work?

Because the winds would change.

How did Europe gather soldiers?

Using their colonies.

Sinking of the Lusitania

A British ocean liner sunk by a German submarine in 1915 which heightened anti-German sentiments in the U.S.

Zimmerman Telegram

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

Submarines in Germany

Used as unrestricted warfare led by Germany, any ship could be sinked including Americans.

When did the USA declare war?

After the zimmer telegram.

What did the USA provide?

The US military was crucial to the spilled efforts.

Middle East.

Ottoman Empire causes a genocide of 1 million Armenians. While Britain fight off the ottoman in the Middle East. Lawrence helps Saudi tribes vs ottoman.

Sykes-Picot Agreement.

Britain and France would divide the Ottoman Empire.

What did Britain own?

Palestine, which then became Israel.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.

Germany after WW1

Unable to have an army succeeding 100,000, and have to pay a huge fee.

British tatics.

Combined arms, Inflantry, tanks, artillery, and warplanes.

How did the British tactics help?

They starved the German army and people.

Date of the WWI ending.

The 11th hour of November 11th, 1918

Lost Generation

A term used to describe a post-WWI generation that became disillusioned with traditional values.

Eastern Front

The theater of war in World War I fought between the Central Powers and Russia.

League of Nations

An international organization founded after WWI to promote peace and cooperation, highly advocated by President Wilson.

Why did the League of Nations fail?

The US pulled out of it, and failed controlling Germany in the 1930’s.

Who were the authors of “Farewell to Arms”, why is it popular?

John Steinbeck, F. Stock fetsgerald, and Ernest Hemingway. It’s popular because it describes how people felt during the time.