WWI
How many years did the war last, and between which years was it?
The war lasted 4 years, from 1914-1918.
What event started the war?
The assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary, Franz-Ferdinand.
About how many people in battle were killed and wounded in ‘The Major Battles of 1916’?
Over 700,000 people got killed and wounded per battle.
What is the morning hate?
It is when soldiers would shoot to No Man’s Land to release stress and get familiarized with the sounds.
What were the main reasons for World War I?
The main reasons for WW1 were: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
What was trench foot?
Soldiers spent lots of time in the trenches, and trenches got filled with mud and water. Since soldiers spent a lot of time in cold water and mud, their feet deteriorate on their own, which might lead to amputation.
Explain the trench cycle.
Every soldier had a certain cycle, they first had a number of days in the front line, later a short amount of time in reserve; finally, they had a period of rest behind the front. This cycle would repeat every day.
Name three activities soldiers did in the trenches.
The roles were filling up the sandbags, which would be used to cover the soldiers, pumping the water out of the trenches, avoiding Trench Foot, and a third one could be to clean the guns.
What was the consequence of the German armies withdrawing at the ‘Battle of the Marne’?
German armies started to dig in and the Western front evolved into a low mobility battlefield. The next 4 years, no army gained more than 40 km. of terrain.
What were the main four ways for dying in the trenches?
The main reasons for deaths were: bullets, diseases, artillery, and gas.
What was the name of both Germany’s and France's plan in the war, and what did their plans consist of?
The Von Schlieffenplan: Flank France and conquer Paris by going through Belgium, to then transport their troops to Russia.
Plan XVII: A quick attack into Germany to take back Alsace-Lorraine.
What happened during the Christmas Truce?
The British and Germans, among other soldiers, decided to hold a truce at Christmas in 1914. They had fun activities and exchanged gifts, and it was a beautiful moment during war. This event never repeated again and the commanders were not happy.
Which were the two alliances at the beginning of the War and which countries were in the alliances at the end of the war?
The two alliances at the beginning of the war were the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. At the end of the war, the group consisted of Great-Britain, France, U.S., Italy, and Japan. The other team consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
What is pride and what is nationalism?
Pride: feeling or deep pleasure from its own achievement or of those whom one is closely associated with. Nationalism: identification with one’s own nation and support for its interest, especially at the detriment of other nations.
What did people mean when they said the Balkan was the “Powder Keg of Europe”?
Since the Serbians, among others, were very aggressive and nationalistic, one spark could blow up the entire conflict. That spark was the assassination of Archduke Franz-Ferdinand, who was the only one wanting to prevent the war.
When and where were Franz-Ferdinand and his wife Sophie shot?
On June, 28, 1914 in Sarajevo.
What was “the race to the sea” and what happened after it?
After the Battle of the Marne, both the Allied and German armies tried to outflank each other towards the north. After the race to the sea, the Western front consisted of a stabilized front of trenches from the North Sea to the border of Switzerland.
What did German armies do during the Battle of Marne and what was the result of this?
German armies withdrew to the Marne and Aisle river and dug in. There plan failed and the Western front evolved into a low mobility battlefield. The next 4 years, no army gained more than 40 km. of terrain.
What was the daily routine in the trenches? Also, explain each one.
In the morning:
-Stand to/morning hate/breakfast (breakfast truce).
In the afternoon:
-Chores/weapon inspection/private time (boredom)—> poems.
In the evening:
-Stand to.
In the night:
-Supply and Maintenance.
Name 8 examples of smells in and around the trenches named in the article.
Rotting carcasses, overflowing latrines, men who hadn't showered in weeks or months, creosol/chloride/lime, cordite, poison gas, rotting sandbags, stagnant mud, cigarette smoke and cooking food.