WW1

• The Battle of Gallipoli took place from April to December 1915
• The Battle of Jutland was fought on May 31st, 1916
• The Battle of the Somme was fought between July-November 1916
• What was the Tirpitz plan?

  Tirpitz plan was to create 3 ships each year, 2 replacing old and 1 new.
• When did the naval race between Britain and Germany begin?


  In 1906 Britain made a dreadnought followed by Germany raising the stakes for a naval race with the Tirpitz plan.
• What was Kaiser Wilhelm II's ambition and personality like?


  The kaiser wanted to takeover Britain.

  Kaiser's Weltpolitik was used for colonies.

  Kaiser wanted to dominate Russia.

  Kaiser wanted to be most powerful in Europe.

  The Kaiser wanted Germany's "Place in the sun".
• What is Splendid Isolation?


  It was Britain staying out of any politics or conflicts allowing them to focus on themselves.

  A way to stay out of European conflicts.

  They focused on growing economy and empire.

  Didn't sign up to any formal alliances until end of the policy.
• How was the triple alliance formed?

  Germany was worried about France on one side and Russia on the other-encirclement theory.

  Decided to ally with Austro-Hungary to build a strong centre in 1879.

  Allied with Italy in 1882-Triple alliance

  Also known as central powers.
• How was the triple entente formed?


  Britain saw Germany as main threat.

  1892 Russia and France signed secret alliance.

  1904 Britain and France signed an agreement

  1907 similar one signed with Russia.

  Triple Entente created in 1907.
• When was the first Moroccan crisis?


  1905-1906
• What happened in the first Moroccan crisis?


  In 1905 on a visit to Morocco the Kaiser promised to support Moroccan independence.

  This upset France

  In 1906 in a conference in Algeciras Britain and Russia stood by France saying Germany have no say in Morocco.

  Strengthened France's alliance with Britain.

  Germany were humiliated.
• When was the second Morocco crisis?


  1911
• What happened in the second Morocco crisis?


  There was rebellion against the Sultan of Morocco which was put down with French help.

  This gave France an opportunity to take Morocco.

  Germany and Spain were concerned with the actions of France.

  The Germans sent gunboats to Agadir a port on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, to challenge the French.

  Kaiser hoped France would give a share of Morocco.

  Britain feared Germany would set up a naval base in Agadir.

  Germany forced to back down and got 100,000 square miles of French Congo.
• Why was there tension in the Balkans?


  Serbia received support from France in 1906 to help solidify their position against faltering Ottoman Empire.
• What was the first Bosnian Crisis?


  Took place in 1908

  Bosnia owned by Ottoman's, but occupied by Austro-Hungarians since 1878.

  Young Turks uprising gave Austro-Hungary a chance to seize Bosnia, 1908.

  Caused outrage in Serbia.

  Population of Bosnia mainly Slavic so should be ruled by Slavic country.

  Created distrust between Austria and France, Russia, Britain.
• What was the first Balkan Conflict?

  October 12th - May 1913.

  Balkan league against Ottoman empire. Balkan league won and the Ottoman empire pushed back.

  The Balkan league couldn't divide the land.

  This caused a disagreement between Balkan league countries.
• What was the second Balkan conflict?


  June 1st 1913 Serbia and Greece form an alliance against Bulgaria.

  2nd war night June 29/30. Bulgaria attack Greece and Serbia in Macedonia. Bulgarians defeated and peace treaty signed August 10th 1913.

  Didn't increase tension too much.
• What was the Black Hand Movement?


  Founded by Colonel "Apis" in 1911.

  Only goal was to grow Serbia and free Bosnia from Austro-Hungary.

  Wanted all Serbs under one banner.
• What happened on 28th June 1914?


  The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. As he was driving through Bosnia he was shot by Gavrilo Princip a member of the Black Hand.

  Apis was a member of the Serbian government so the Austro-Hungarian empire saw it as Serbia assassinating Gavrilo Princip.
• What was the July Crisis?

  Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

  5th July Germany gave "Blank Cheque" to Austro-Hungary.

  23rd July Austria sends ultimatum to Serbia with 10 demands on it.

  25th July Serbia rejects two demands.

  Austria declared war on Serbia on 28th July.

  30th July 1914 Russia began to mobilise as they promised to support Serbia.

  Russia refused to stop mobilising when Germany were worried on 31st July.

  Germany then enacted the Schlieffen Plan.
• What was the Schlieffen plan?


  It was a plan to attack France through Belgium as the German France border was more heavily defended than the Belgium France border.

  They were planning on knocking France out of the war quickly before Russia could mobilise in time.

  Germany estimated Russia would take 6 weeks to mobilise.
• How big was the BEF at the outbreak of war?

  Only 6 divisions (120,000 men)

  Government committed 4 of these plus the cavalry division.

  This meant 85,000 men went to France in August 1914.
• What was the French plan to win the war within a few months?


  Plan 17 - Invade heartland of Germany (Cult of the offensive).
• What was the British plan to win the war within a few months?


  Follow the French plan.
• What was the Russian plan to win the war within a few months?

  Plan B - Strike into Austro-Hungary.
• The battle of Mons

  23rd August 1914.

  First encounter of Britain and Germany on Western front.

  German first army launched an attack at strength over BEF.

  Managed to hold up Germans.

  British ordered a retreat.

  British lost 1,700 men.
• First battle of the Marne


  5th-12th September 1914.

  Counter attack from battle of Mons, Paris to Verdun.

  German army retreated for 40 miles, before stopping on Aisne river.

  Gave up on Schlieffen plan.

  Britain - 262,000

  Germany - 298,000
• Race to the sea


  17th September - 19th October.

  Each country tried to outflank each other until they reached the sea.

  France begun trench warfare.
• First battle of Ypres


  Mid October - Mid November 1914.

  German forces advanced attempting to outflank the Belgium/France and British forces.

  Both forces met in stalemate.

  British casualties - 55,787 men

  French casualties - 85,000 men

  Belgian casualties - 21,000 men

  German casualties - 130,000 men
• What was a Pals Battalion?


  A way of persuading men to sign up for war as they thought if you fought with people you knew you would fight better.
• When was conscription introduced?

  March 1916
• How were machine guns used in WW1?


  Used in battle of the Somme to massacre allied troops as they came out of the trenches.

  Able to spray a lot of bullets across no man's land a second.

  Often jam.
• How was gas used in WW1?


  First use of chlorine gas was at the 2nd battle of Ypres on 22nd April 1915.

  A mix of chlorine and phosgene gas used at Somme.

  It was a good as it was hard to know when it was coming due to fact you couldn't see it.

  Takes time to go into effect.
• How was barbed wire used during WW1?


  Barbed wire used in the first battle of the Marne.

  Used in trench warfare and across no man's land.

  Helpful in preventing enemy raiders from getting into the trench easily.

  However people had to go out and fix the barbed wire, meaning soldiers would die.
• How was air power used in WW1?


  Used for scouting and gathering information at the start of war.

  March 1915 the first British bombers were used to support ground troops.

  Used to attack essential factories.

  Fighter planes were quick and nimble so could escape dogfights.

  Some planes weren't very stable and pilots had a life expectancy of weeks.
• How were tanks used in WW1?

  September 15th 1916 British army attacked German trenches using 49 tanks.

  Mark 5 used at battle of Amien on November 8th.

  Some tanks were too quick and broke through enemy lines before infantry could keep up.

  Britain had 1391 tanks in 1918.

  Often broke down.
• How was artillery used in WW1?


  In battle of the Somme artillery was used to defend the allied troops and kill many British soldiers.

  Used in all of trench warfare.

  Able to be mass produced.

  Could kill a large quantity of soldiers.

  1915 huge shell shortage.
• Why was Gallipoli chosen?

  To extend the fronts.

  Force a breakthrough

  Allow control of Darndanelles.

  Allow for supply routes between Black sea and Anglo-French forces.

  Allow staging point for invasion on Ottoman empire.
• What happened at Gallipoli?


  Begun April 25th 1915.

  24th May so many dead, short armistice agreed so dead could be buried.

  7th December British government ordered evacuation.

  285,000 - Allied casualties

  218,000 - Turkish casualties
• How did Gallipoli become a crisis for the allies?


  Poor leadership - General sir Ian Hamilton's plans relied on the success of others.

  Underestimated Turkish defenders - Most had training, well disciplined and had recent fighting in Balkans war.

  Poorly Planned - ANZAC forces got lost and arrived at wrong beach, Stuck on same beach for 24 hours, Landed in deep water so couldn't get off and British weren't ready as not enough guns and shells were ready.

  Over ambitious aims - Tried to get high ground on day 1 didn't reach it the whole 8 months and lack of realistic goals.