Key Figures of WWI

Key Figures of WWI

• Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, triggering WWI.
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination in 1914 sparked WWI.
• Billy Bishop was a Canadian flying ace credited with shooting down 72 enemy aircraft.
• Billy Barker was a recognized Canadian flying ace, known for bravery and victories.
• Raymond Collishaw was another Canadian flying ace known for success in aerial combat.
• Prime Minister Robert Borden led Canada during WWI and oversaw conscription.
• Sir Douglas Haig was a British Commander who led forces during major battles like the Somme.
• General Arthur Currie was a Canadian general known for leadership at Vimy Ridge.
• Francis Pegahmagabow was Canada's most decorated Indigenous soldier and was known for bravery.
• Jeremiah Jones was a Canadian soldier notable for contribution during the war.
• Roy Brown was a Canadian aviator credited with shooting down the Red Baron.
• Sir Sam Hughes was the Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence during WWI and played a key role in recruitment and training.

Significant Concepts of WWI

• Trench warfare involved soldiers fighting from deep, muddy trenches, leading to horrific conditions and high casualties.
• Shell shock is a psychological trauma caused by constant bombardment which is now known as PTSD.
• Trench foot is a painful condition caused by standing in waterlogged trenches for long periods.
• No Man's Land was the dangerous area between enemy trenches, filled with obstacles and often under fire.
• Sap trenches were narrow trenches used to dig closer to the enemy’s front lines.
• Mud, lice, and rats were common hardships in the trenches.
• Communication trenches were trenches used to send messages between the front line and command posts.

Causes of WWI

• Militarism: European countries expanded military forces and stockpiled weapons.
• Alliances: Countries formed alliances (e.g., Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance) that escalated the conflict.
• Imperialism: Competition for colonies led to tensions, particularly in Africa and Asia.
• Nationalism: Intense pride in one’s nation led to conflicts, especially in Eastern Europe.
• The Black Hand was a Serbian nationalist group responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
• The Powder Keg was the volatile Balkans, a region rife with nationalist and ethnic tensions.
• The Lusitania was a British passenger ship sunk by Germany, which killed 128 Americans and influenced U.S. involvement.

Homefront during WWI

• Pacifism & Conscientious Objectors: People opposed the war on moral or religious grounds.
• Victory Bonds & Patriotic Fund: Financial efforts were employed to raise funds for the war.
• Women’s Changing Role: Women worked in factories, nursing, and other roles to support the war effort.
• Conscription Crisis: A divisive issue of mandatory military service for Canadian men led to political conflict.
• The Khaki Election: The 1917 federal election in Canada was influenced by conscription.
• Halifax Explosion: A devastating explosion in 1917, caused by a ship collision, killed nearly 2,000 people.
• Rationing & Munitions Factories: Essential goods were rationed, and factories produced war materials.

Major Battles of WWI

• Vimy Ridge: A significant Canadian victory where troops took control of the ridge and established national pride.
• The Somme: A bloody battle with high casualties, known for the first use of the tank in combat.
• Beaumont Hamel: A tragic battle where many Canadian soldiers were killed or wounded.
• Ypres: Known for the first large-scale use of chemical weapons (gas) in warfare.
• Passchendaele: A battle characterized by heavy rain, mud, and massive casualties.
• Canada’s Hundred Days: The final series of battles that led to the end of WWI, with Canada playing a major role.

Weapons of WWI

• Lee-Enfield Rifle: A reliable bolt-action rifle used by British and Commonwealth forces.
• Vickers & Lewis Machine Guns: Early machine guns were used to provide sustained firepower.
• Tanks: Introduced during the war, used to break the stalemate of trench warfare.
• Flamethrowers: A terrifying weapon used to clear enemy positions.
• Artillery & Howitzers: Large guns used to bombard enemy positions from a distance.
• U-boats & Zeppelins: German submarines and airships were used in naval and aerial warfare.
• Gas Warfare (Chlorine & Mustard Gas): Toxic gases were used by both sides, causing severe injuries or death.
• Barbed Wire: A defensive weapon to slow enemy infantry and prevent breakthroughs.

Military Strategies of WWI

• Attrition: A strategy of wearing down the enemy through continuous losses.
• Artillery Barrage: Heavy bombardment was meant to destroy enemy positions and break their defenses.
• Rolling Barrage: A tactic where artillery fired ahead of advancing infantry, clearing the way.
• Reconnaissance: Gathering intelligence through spies, aerial observation, and patrols.
• Dogfights: Aerial combat between fighter planes.
• Naval Blockade: Cutting off enemy supply lines by sea, often through submarine warfare.

End of War & Treaty of Versailles

• Treaty of Versailles: The peace agreement that ended WWI, imposing harsh terms on Germany (e.g., war guilt, reparations).
• League of Nations: An international organization was formed to prevent future conflicts however it failed to stop WWII.
• War Guilt Clause: Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for the war.
• New Map of Europe: Borders were redrawn, creating new countries and dissolving empires (e.g., Austro-Hungarian Empire).