1914
Why was WW1 called the war of attrition?
Attrition is the process of reducing something’s strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure. The WWI was called the “war of attrition” because of the events occurred in the trenches along the western front between France and Germany, when both military forces found themselves stuck in defensive positions facing one another along a single front that stretched for hundreds of miles across Europe. Neither army could move against the other except to go head-to-head against one another repeatedly in hopes of gradually weakening the opposing army.
Outcomes/aftermath of WW1
The russian revolution
The bit three
Why the Western Front was called “trench warfare”? Explain what “trench warfare” means.
Picture having to spend your life in a dark, cold, and dirty sewer system. You can’t see much through the darkness, you’re constantly wet because of the water that’s flooded the tunnels, and you’re in danger due to dirty conditions, lack of visibility, and disease-carrying rats. Now imagine that the tunnel is also filled with other people who want to harm you. Trench warfare was a method of fighting where opposing armies fought from and defended their territories using a system of dug out trenches or ditches.
Which countries were part of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente? In what year was each alliance formed?
During WWI there were two major alliances, one of them was the Triple Alliance formed in 1882, each member, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, promised mutual support in the event of an attack by any other great power. The other alliance was the Triple Entente, it started with an alliance between France and Russia in 1894, a few years later, Great Britain began talks with Russia so by 1907 Britain, France and Russia were all part of the Triple Entente.
What was the Schlieffen plan and how did it complicate the events leading to World War I?
The Schlieffen plan was an created by German military leaders that consisted of a large part of Germany’s military force to go west to defeat France, then return east to defeat Russia. Germany would go through Belgium to get to France. But the treaty between Belgium and Great Britain forced Great Britain to declare war to Germany. It also complicated events leading to the war because it prevented Germany from mobilizing only against Russia an required war to be declared on France as well.
Why did the US enter the war?
Reasons did not enter in 1914
Policy of neutrality – policy of not choosing sides
U.S. late entry – believed war was a European conflict and had nothing to do with the US
Economic Reasons – keep trade open with both sides
Reasons U.S. Enters – April 2, 1917
Lusitania – British passenger ship torpedoed by German u-boats; 1,200 die including 128 Americans
Zimmerman note – message from Arthur Zimmerman (German Foreign Minister) to his ambassador in Mexico. Info. Intended for Mexican President:
Germany to reinstate unrestricted submarine warfare
Germany wanted alliance with Mexico
Germany would help Mexico regain New Mexico, Texas and Arizona from the US, if Mexico would start a war with US to keep them “occupied” and out of the war in Europe
Mexico promised money
Suggested Mexico get Japan involved in 2 front war against US
Un-restricted submarine warfare – German U-boats continue to sink American merchant ships
By Axel V.
Why did Great Britain joined ww1?
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Britain was often described as being in Splendid Isolation from the rest of Europe. Britain had a huge empire and ruling this empire was its priority. The key to Britain’s power was India with its vast resources of manpower. Britain relied heavily on Indian troops to control the empire. The highest priority for Britain was protecting the trade routes between Britain and India. Britain’s large navy protected trade links with India and with the rest of the world.
Despite this focus on the empire, Britain was interested in events in Europe. To start with, other European countries had rival empires. Belgium and France both had large empires in Africa. There was strong rivalry between Britain and France over possessions in North Africa. By the early 1900s, Germany also had colonies in Africa and was beginning to show an interest in North Africa.
Another concern was Russia. For much of the 19th century, Russia wanted to take control of the Dardanelles, the area where the Black Sea opened out into the Mediterranean Sea. This would allow Russian warships and trading ships to sail easily around Europe. Russia had other ports in the north, but these tended to freeze over in winter. The problem was that the Dardanelles were owned by Turkey. Turkey and Russia had long been enemies. Britain supported Turkey against Russia. This was because Britain did not want Russian ships in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean was part of Britain’s most important trade route to India.
Until the early 1900s, Britain was more concerned about Russia and France than Germany. Relations between Britain and Germany were very good. This began to change, however. When Kaiser Wilhelm II took control of Germany, he was anxious for Germany to be a great power. He felt that Russia to the east and France to the west were encircling Germany. As a result, he built up his armed forces. France and Russia feared Germany and did the same. During the 1900s, all of the great powers in Europe began to build up their armies and navies.
British policy in Europe intended that no country in Europe should become completely dominant. If Russia, France, Germany and Austria-Hungary worried about each other, then they would be less of a threat to Britain. By about 1907 it was becoming clear to Britain that the greatest potential threat to Britain was going to be Germany. The strong economy, large population and powerful armed forces of Germany seemed to be capable of dominating Europe. As a result, Britain began to support Russia and France. Britain joined the Triple Entente.
Despite being part of the Triple Entente, Britain was not committed to going to war in 1914. The Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, spent much of the summer of 1914 furiously trying to reassure Russia and Germany and prevent a war happening. Even when German troops invaded France and Belgium as part of the Schlieffen Plan, Britain did not have to go to war.
Germany hoped Britain would stay out of the war altogether. However, the Germans knew that Britain had promised to defend Belgium under the Treaty of London of 1839. The Germans wanted the British government to ignore the Treaty of London and let the German army pass through Belgium. The British government made much of their duty to protect Belgium. Belgium’s ports were close to the British coast and German control of Belgium would have been seen as a serious threat to Britain. In the end, Britain refused to ignore the events of 4 August 1914, when Germany attacked France through Belgium. Within hours, Britain declared war on Germany. The Kaiser said how foolish he thought the British were. He said that Britain had gone to war for the sake of a scrap of paper.
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