History of WWI
The execution of a certain Arch Duke is widely considered to be the spark that set off WWI. What was the name of that Arch Duke?
Franz Ferdinand
What year did WWI begin?
1914
Which character dies in Chapter 1 and how?
Kemmerich--He suffered a wound to the leg and they were forced to amputate. Unfortunately, the wound was infected and he died as the infection spread.
Who were the first 2 countries to declare war in what would become WWI?
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in 1914 in retaliation for a Serbian Nationalist assassinating Austria-Hungary's Arch Duke.
What Company are Paul and his friends in?
The 2nd Company
Nationalism was a leading cause of WWI.
What is nationalism?
A devotion to interests and culture of one's own nation. A belief that one's own nation is superior to other nations.
What year did WWI end?
1918
Who are the Iron Youth?
Paul, Muller, Kropp, {Tjaden}
Hint: This is the side the United States joined.
The Allies
Which country are Paul and his friends trying to push forward in?
France
This British passenger ship was sunk by German U-Boats on May 7, 1915. All passengers were killed, including 128 American tourists, which swayed public opinion against Germany.
What was the name of the passenger ship?
The Lusitania
How many countries were ultimately involved in WWI?
Over 30 nations
What was the name of the Iron Youth's old teacher who pressured them to enlist?
Kantorek
Germany, Austria-Hungary, & Italy (later joined by the Ottoman Empire) were originally called the Triple Alliance. What were they later (& more commonly) known as?
The Central Powers
Paul talks a lot about how comradeship is the only thing that gets them through their experiences on the front.
What is comradeship?
An intense friendship, like brotherhood
Explain what happened in the Zimmerman Note Incident.
Germany attempted to send Mexico a secret proposal:
If Mexico attacks the United States, Germany will compensate Mexico with land from southwestern states.
Britain intercepted the message and showed it to the United States, who responded by declaring War on Germany.
How many countries did the main trenches of WWI span?
4 countries
Which characters are NOT part of the Iron Youth?
Haie Westhus, Detering, Katczinsky, Leer, {Tjaden}
Who was president of the United States during WWI?
Hint: He was reelected during WWI.
Woodrow Wilson
What was the name of the very first soldier to die (Paul grew up with him)?
Joseph Bhem
WWI ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. At the time, a holiday was declared called Armistice Day.
What do we call it now?
Veterans' Day
How many casualties were there in WWI (military + civilian)?
The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I, was around 40 million. There were 20 million deaths and 21 million wounded.
Himmelstoss was hated by his entire company of soldiers, but there is one soldier in particular who absolutely despises him. Who is it and why?
Tjaden--Himmelstoss went out of his way to shame and punish Tjaden and another soldier for bedwetting by making them alternate sleeping above/ below each other and, consequently, get peed on.
What year did the United States enter WWI?
1917
What were Paul and his company supposed to do on the front in their most recent trip there?
They were supposed to lay barbed wire in front of their trench so that the enemy couldn't move towards it.