First World War Overview

The main countries included Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the USA.

It was widely expected to be a short war, concluded by Christmas 1914.

The Germans captured Poland and forced Russia to exit in December 1917.

<p>The entry of the USA in April 1917 was a crucial factor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The British navy successfully blockaded German ports and defended merchant ship convoys.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The armistice was signed on 11 November 1918.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Unexpectedly strong Belgian resistance held up the Germans for over two weeks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It was a controversial peace settlement that officially ended the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The delay allowed the British to organize and the British Expeditionary Force to land, preventing the Germans from executing the Schlieffen Plan effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Troops became exhausted from long marches in the August heat and faced supply issues, which slowed their advance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It effectively ruined the Schlieffen Plan, dashed hopes for a short war, and halted the German advance towards Paris.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Russians invaded both Austria and Germany simultaneously, which stretched their resources too thin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Russia suffered heavy losses in equipment and morale, driving them out of Germany and weakening their military position.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Turkey's involvement threatened to cut Russia's main supply route from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Serbs successfully repelled an Austrian invasion, boosting morale against the Austrians.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The stalemate continued, with several attempts made to break the entrenched lines.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The massive casualties led to a significant blow to German morale, as they recognized Britain's growing military power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Historians criticized Haig for persisting with ineffective frontal attacks, leading to vast numbers of unnecessary casualties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The total estimated casualties for the British were 418,000, German casualties were 650,000, and French casualties were 194,000.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They believed that mass infantry charges, referred to as the 'big push,' were the only viable tactic for achieving breakthroughs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Haig became receptive to new techniques and strategies, which played a critical role in the successful 1918 campaign.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The horrors of the Somme contributed to the resignation of British Prime Minister Asquith in 1916 due to rising criticism of military tactics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>He made this remark to highlight the bravery of British soldiers contrasted with the incompetence of their leaders.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Allies made limited advances, ranging from a few hundred yards to seven miles along a 30-mile front.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To blockade the Central Powers, to keep trade routes open for the Allies, and to transport British troops to the continent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The British navy destroyed nearly all German armed surface ships and engaged successfully in battles such as the Battle of the Falkland Islands.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Britain stopped and searched neutral ships to prevent goods from reaching the Germans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Germans utilized mines and submarine (U-boat) attacks as their surface vessels had been destroyed or blockaded.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The sinking of the British liner Lusitania by a German torpedo led to the deaths of 128 Americans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Germany claimed the attack was justified as the Lusitania was armed and carrying weapons and ammunition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hindenburg admitted that the Germans could not have survived many more campaigns with heavy losses like those at Verdun and the Somme.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wilson found it necessary to take sides to protect American trade interests due to public outcry over the casualties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Initially, Germans respected neutral shipping but struggled with identification, leading to attacks on various vessels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lloyd George centralized control over munitions, shipping, and agriculture, and established the Ministry of National Service for mobilization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Brusilov's attacks led to a significant advance of 100 miles and the capture of 400,000 prisoners from the Austrians.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The convoy system was implemented to protect merchant ships from German U-boat attacks during transport.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both sides were cautious due to the fear of losing their main fleets, leading to minimal engagement in major naval confrontations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lloyd George's war cabinet allowed for quick decision-making to adapt to the rapidly changing situations in the war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Austrians were demoralized and struggling under the pressure of the Russian advance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Churchill implied that Jellicoe's cautious approach in naval warfare could have resulted in a catastrophic defeat for Britain.</p> Signup and view all the answers