World War One
The first World War began in 1914 and ended with a German defeat in 1918. Due to imperialist expansion and the involvement of the USA the war had a world-wide impact. Technological developments led to a high number of dead soldiers.
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1.
Causes of World War I
After Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II came into power in he aimed to expand the German Empire's influence and territory. Germany then founded colonies and started to enlarge its . This caused trouble with the big naval power . At the time there were two major alliances in Europe: the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The consisted of the UK, France and Russia. The Triple Alliance was formed by Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy. These three states are also known as the due to their location between Russia and France. On June 28 1914, the Austrian Archduke and his wife were shot by a group of Bosnian Serb nationalists. This event is considered the of the First World War as Austrian leaders now wanted to militarily assert their rule in Serbia. promised to defend its ally Serbia. But as the Central Powers had promised to support each other if one were attacked Germany and Italy were now also involved in the war against Russia which meant that would also join. Franz Ferdinand navy 1888 Russia France and Britain Britain Central Powers Triple Entente immediate cause |
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Historylearningsite.co.uk gives information about the background of the war and the assasination.
2.
When did the Austrian invasion of Serbia begin?
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World War I began on July 28 1914. In the beginning of August 1914 the other powers also declared war on each other.
3.
The Western Front
The Allies broke through the German Hindenburg Line mobile warfare mostly ended and trench warfare began (early 1915). The Schlieffen plan consisted in Germany first trying to beat France in the West and then focussing on Russia. After the Race to the Sea and about 750 thousand people died in the battle. German offensives ended in March 1918, was a British attempt to weaken the Germans at Verdun. After the victory in the East Germany transferred one million soldiers to the Western Front. The Battle of the Somme with about one million casualities partly because of the arrival of US troops. Germans started a big offensive at Verdun in 1916 in October 1918. Drag the boxes on the left to the corresponding boxes on the right. |
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The Schlieffen plan was supposed to avoid a difficult war on two fronts.
The number of casualties is often disputed, most numbers are given by the BBC here.
Battle of Verdun: February to December 1916.
Battle of the Somme: July to November 1916.
The number of casualties is often disputed, most numbers are given by the BBC here.
Battle of Verdun: February to December 1916.
Battle of the Somme: July to November 1916.
4.
When did the USA enter the war?
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The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
Reasons for entering the war included:
- unrestricted German submarine warfare (for example, the Lusitania was sunk)
- British naval blockade prevented free trade
Reasons for entering the war included:
- unrestricted German submarine warfare (for example, the Lusitania was sunk)
- British naval blockade prevented free trade
5.
The Eastern Front and Colonies
The German colonies quickly, although guerilla warfare took place till 1918. After initial Russian successes Germany, Germany won the Battle of . In April 1917 Germany allowed and other revolutionaries to go to Russia. This eventually helped the . The new Russian leaders agreed to the Treaty of in March 1918, ending the war on the Eastern Front. October Revolution Brest Litovsk Tannenberg Lenin surrendered |
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6.
Warfare and technological advances
In 1914 most people in the countries involved expected a quick traditional war. Technological advances the living conditions in the countries involved deteriorated. Because of the great need of supplies at the front led to trench warfare and a War of Attrition. Drag the boxes on the left to the corresponding boxes on the right. |
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7.
The End of the War
In late the German High Command had the Kaiser give more power to the German parliament to let it negotiate an , as the war clearly couldn't be won. After a mutiny in the navy the broke out and the Kaiser lost his position. On 1918 the Armistice Document was signed at Compiegne. The German parliament was dominated by Social Democrats. It had passed a in July 1917 and in early 1918 strike broke out among German workers. This formed the basis of the "" legend that claimed that the German army was brought down not by the Allies but by left-wing conspiracy. This could seem plausible at the time, as German propaganda had not prepared Germans for defeat. November 11 armistice Peace Resolution stab in the back September 1918 November Revolution |
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8.
The Treay of Versailles
While Germany wasn't occupied responsibility for the war and made it pay reparations. Germans expected a mild peace treaty as suggested by US President Wilson Both the Allies and the Central Powers was signed in June 1919. Wilson lost elections it experienced territorial losses. The treaty gave Germany were involved in the negotiation of the treaty. No german deputies had expected the cost of the war to be recouped from the losers. The treaty of Versailles in November 1918. Drag the boxes on the left to the corresponding boxes on the right. |
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Woodrow Wilson's ideas for peace from January 1918 are called the Fourteen Points.