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What event sparked the beginning of World War I?
What event sparked the beginning of World War I?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, in Sarajavo, Bosnia.
What was the name of the military strategy Germany used to begin fighting World War I?
What was the name of the military strategy Germany used to begin fighting World War I?
The Schlieffen Plan
What were the names of the two alliances that fought in World War I?
What were the names of the two alliances that fought in World War I?
The Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente
Where was the first battle of World War I fought?
Where was the first battle of World War I fought?
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Where was the Battle of Verdun fought?
Where was the Battle of Verdun fought?
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What event brought Russia out of World War I?
What event brought Russia out of World War I?
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What policy did the United States follow at the beginning of World War I?
What policy did the United States follow at the beginning of World War I?
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What major event led to the US entering World War I?
What major event led to the US entering World War I?
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What battle marked the end of German offensive operations in World War I?
What battle marked the end of German offensive operations in World War I?
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What was the name of the agreement that ended World War I?
What was the name of the agreement that ended World War I?
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What agreement was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union that triggered the start of World War II?
What agreement was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union that triggered the start of World War II?
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What was the name of the military strategy used by Germany in the early stages of World War II?
What was the name of the military strategy used by Germany in the early stages of World War II?
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What countries were part of the Axis Powers in World War II?
What countries were part of the Axis Powers in World War II?
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Where was the first atomic bomb dropped in World War II?
Where was the first atomic bomb dropped in World War II?
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What was the name of the US-funded program to rebuild Europe after World War II?
What was the name of the US-funded program to rebuild Europe after World War II?
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The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked the beginning of World War I.
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked the beginning of World War I.
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The Schlieffen Plan was a defensive military strategy.
The Schlieffen Plan was a defensive military strategy.
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The Battle of Verdun was a relatively short engagement.
The Battle of Verdun was a relatively short engagement.
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The United States remained neutral throughout World War I.
The United States remained neutral throughout World War I.
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The Second Battle of the Marne was a turning point in World War I, marking the final German offensive.
The Second Battle of the Marne was a turning point in World War I, marking the final German offensive.
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The Treaty of Versailles imposed relatively light terms on Germany.
The Treaty of Versailles imposed relatively light terms on Germany.
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Blitzkrieg was a military doctrine primarily focused on air power.
Blitzkrieg was a military doctrine primarily focused on air power.
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The Axis Powers were the victors in World War II.
The Axis Powers were the victors in World War II.
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The Marshall Plan was designed to rebuild Japan and Germany after World War II.
The Marshall Plan was designed to rebuild Japan and Germany after World War II.
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Which of the following countries was NOT a member of the Triple Entente?
Which of the following countries was NOT a member of the Triple Entente?
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Which of the following events mark the beginning of World War II?
Which of the following events mark the beginning of World War II?
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The Battle of Stalingrad was a significant turning point for the Allies in which theater of World War II?
The Battle of Stalingrad was a significant turning point for the Allies in which theater of World War II?
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Study Notes
World War I
- World War I began in 1914
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the war
- Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination
- Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which was difficult to accept
- Germany supported Austria-Hungary by issuing a "blank check" assurance
- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia
- The tenuous peace between European powers quickly collapsed
- Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
- Triple Entente: France, Russia, and the United Kingdom
World War I Begins
- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
- Germany invaded Belgium to attack France
- Germany fought on two fronts: Western and Eastern
- The Schlieffen Plan was Germany's military strategy
Early Battles of World War I
- German troops crossed the border into Belgium, assaulting the city of Liege
- First Battle of the Marne, September 6-9, 1914, French and British forces confronted the invading German army, which had penetrated deep into northeastern France, within 30 miles of Paris.
- Trench warfare occurred at Verdun and the Battle of the Somme (1916)
- Russian forces invaded German-held regions, but were stopped at the Battle of Tannenberg
- Russia's army mounted several offensives on the Eastern Front, but were unable to break through German lines
- The Russian Revolution of 1917 ended czarist rule and halted Russian participation
America Enters World War I
- The United States remained neutral at the start, with President Woodrow Wilson.
- In 1915, Germany declared the waters surrounding the British Isles a war zone, with German U-boats attacking U.S. ships.
- In 1917, Congress passed a $250 million arms appropriations bill.
Second Battle of the Marne
- July 15, 1918, last German offensive
- German troops attacked French forces with American troops joining
- Allied success pushed back German troops
- The Central Powers began to unravel
Treaty of Versailles
- Allied leaders at the Paris Peace Conference aimed for a secure post-war world avoiding future large-scale conflicts
- The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919
- The League of Nations was formed to maintain peace
- World War I caused more than 9 million deaths of soldiers and more than 21 million soldiers were wounded
World War II
- World War II (1939–1945) was the deadliest conflict in human history, involving more than 30 countries and resulting in an estimated 70–85 million deaths.
- It reshaped the global political landscape and set the stage for the modern world.
- Political and economic instability in Germany, and lingering resentment over the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, fueled the rise of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party).
Axis and Allied Powers
- Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan
- Allied Powers: United States, Soviet Union, Britain, France, China
Causes of World War II
- Treaty of Versailles (ended WWI but imposed harsh penalties on Germany, leading to resentment)
- Hitler exploited this to gain support, promising to restore Germany's pride.
- Rise of Totalitarian Regimes (Nazis in Germany, Fascism in Italy, Militarism in Japan seeking dominance)
- Global Economic Depression (1929), a major destabilizer.
- Policy of Appeasement (Britain and France allowing aggressive moves by Germany and Japan to avoid conflict, contributing to the escalation of hostilities)
- Germany reoccupied the Rhineland, annexed Austria, and took the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
War Breaks Out (1939)
- September 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland, using Blitzkrieg tactics
- September 3, 1939: Britain and France declared war on Germany
- Soviet invasion: The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
Early Axis Victories (1940–1941)
- Western Europe: Germany conquered Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
- Fall of France: France surrendered in June 1940
- Battle of Britain: Germany's air campaign to prepare for an invasion
- North Africa: Italy, supported by Germany, fought British forces.
- Balkan Campaign: Germany invaded Yugoslavia and Greece
Axis Expansion in the Pacific (1941)
- Japan expanded into China and Southeast Asia
- Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941): Japan attacked the U.S. naval base
- December 8, 1941: U.S. declared war on Japan; Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. shortly after
Turning Points (1942–1943)
- Eastern Front
- Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43): Soviet forces decisively defeated the German 6th Army
- Kursk (1943): Largest tank battle
- Western Front
- North Africa: Allies defeated Axis forces at El Alamein; Operation Torch – Allied invasion of North Africa; German and Italian surrender occurred in May 1943
Pacific Theater
- Battle of Midway(June 1942): U.S. Navy decisively defeated Japan
- Guadalcanal (1942-1943): First major Allied offensive in the Pacific, marking Japan's strategic decline
Allied Offensives (1944–1945)
- June 6, 1944: Allied invasion of Normandy, France
- Eastern Europe: Soviet forces advanced, liberating countries under Nazi control
- Italy: Mussolini was deposed; Allied forces fought up the Italian peninsula.
- Pacific: The U.S. captured key islands like Iwo Jima and Okinawa
End of the War (1945)
- Fall of Berlin (April 1945): Soviet forces captured Berlin, Hitler committed suicide
- Germany's Unconditional Surrender (May 7, 1945)
- Atomic Bombs
- August 6, 1945: Hiroshima
- August 9, 1945: Nagasaki
- Japan Surrenders (September 2, 1945)
Human Cost and Political Changes
- Estimated 70-85 million deaths (including civilians)
- Holocaust: systematic genocide resulted in the deaths of 6 million Jews and millions of others
- Fall of Fascism: Germany, Italy, and Japan's totalitarian regimes dismantled
- Cold War: The U.S. and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers with opposing ideas
Decolonization and Economic Impact
- European powers weakened, leading to independence movements in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
- Marshall Plan: U.S.-funded program to rebuild Europe
- Japan and Germany's reconstructed economies became global leaders by the 1950s
Overview
- World War I
- Triple Alliance; Triple Entente
- Start of war, early battles
- World War II
- Axis and Allied; Causes, early victories, turning points
- End of the war, Human Cost, and Political Changes; Decolonization and Economic impact
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Description
This quiz covers the origins and early events of World War I, beginning with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the resulting declarations of war. It also details key military strategies and pivotal battles, such as the First Battle of the Marne. Test your knowledge of this critical period in history.
