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Questions and Answers
Where was the spark that ignited World War I struck?
Where was the spark that ignited World War I struck?
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Gavrilo Princip
What was the name of the agreement that pledged Germany's support to Austria-Hungary?
What was the name of the agreement that pledged Germany's support to Austria-Hungary?
carte blanche
On what date did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?
On what date did Austria-Hungary declare war on Serbia?
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Which of the following were members of the Triple Alliance?
Which of the following were members of the Triple Alliance?
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Which of the following were members of the Triple Entente?
Which of the following were members of the Triple Entente?
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What was the name of the aggressive military strategy used by Germany in World War I?
What was the name of the aggressive military strategy used by Germany in World War I?
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What was the name of the first major battle of World War I?
What was the name of the first major battle of World War I?
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What was the name of the battle fought in September 1914, where French and British forces confronted the invading German army?
What was the name of the battle fought in September 1914, where French and British forces confronted the invading German army?
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What happened in late August 1914, that halted the Russian invasion into East Prussia and Poland?
What happened in late August 1914, that halted the Russian invasion into East Prussia and Poland?
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What year did the Russian Revolution take place?
What year did the Russian Revolution take place?
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Who spearheaded the Russian Revolution?
Who spearheaded the Russian Revolution?
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What policy did the United States initially adopt during World War I?
What policy did the United States initially adopt during World War I?
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What year did Germany declare the waters surrounding the British Isles to be a war zone?
What year did Germany declare the waters surrounding the British Isles to be a war zone?
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What year did Congress pass a $250 million arms appropriations bill to prepare the United States for war?
What year did Congress pass a $250 million arms appropriations bill to prepare the United States for war?
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What was the name of the battle where German troops, joined by American and British forces, launched a large-scale offensive in 1918?
What was the name of the battle where German troops, joined by American and British forces, launched a large-scale offensive in 1918?
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What was the name of the peace conference held in 1919?
What was the name of the peace conference held in 1919?
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What date was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
What date was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
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What was the name of the international organization established to promote cooperation and prevent future wars?
What was the name of the international organization established to promote cooperation and prevent future wars?
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What was the name of the speech delivered by President Wilson in January 1918, which outlined his vision for a post-war world?
What was the name of the speech delivered by President Wilson in January 1918, which outlined his vision for a post-war world?
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What is the estimated number of deaths due to World War I?
What is the estimated number of deaths due to World War I?
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What is the estimated number of casualties caused by World War II, including civilian deaths?
What is the estimated number of casualties caused by World War II, including civilian deaths?
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What is the estimated number of Jewish people that perished because of the Holocaust?
What is the estimated number of Jewish people that perished because of the Holocaust?
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What date did Germany invade Poland, effectively marking the start of World War II?
What date did Germany invade Poland, effectively marking the start of World War II?
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What was the name of the tactics employed by Germany in their invasion of Poland?
What was the name of the tactics employed by Germany in their invasion of Poland?
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What date did Britain and France declare war on Germany?
What date did Britain and France declare war on Germany?
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What was the name of the treaty that the Soviet Union signed with Germany and allowed them to invade Poland?
What was the name of the treaty that the Soviet Union signed with Germany and allowed them to invade Poland?
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What year did Germany conquer Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France?
What year did Germany conquer Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France?
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What year did France surrender to Germany?
What year did France surrender to Germany?
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What was the name of the air campaign launched by Germany against Britain in 1940?
What was the name of the air campaign launched by Germany against Britain in 1940?
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What was the name of the invasion of North Africa by Allied forces in 1942?
What was the name of the invasion of North Africa by Allied forces in 1942?
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What year did Japan attack the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor?
What year did Japan attack the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor?
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What year did the United States declare war on Japan?
What year did the United States declare war on Japan?
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What was the name of the battle that took place between the Soviet Union and Germany in 1942-1943?
What was the name of the battle that took place between the Soviet Union and Germany in 1942-1943?
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What was the name of the largest tank battle that took place in 1943 and cemented the Soviet Union's momentum?
What was the name of the largest tank battle that took place in 1943 and cemented the Soviet Union's momentum?
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What was the name of the battle where the U.S. Navy inflicted a decisive defeat on Japan, marking a significant turning point in the Pacific theater?
What was the name of the battle where the U.S. Navy inflicted a decisive defeat on Japan, marking a significant turning point in the Pacific theater?
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What was the name of the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific, marking a strategic decline for Japan?
What was the name of the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific, marking a strategic decline for Japan?
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On what date did the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, take place?
On what date did the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, take place?
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What year did Mussolini, the Italian dictator, get deposed and Allied forces began fighting their way up the Italian peninsula?
What year did Mussolini, the Italian dictator, get deposed and Allied forces began fighting their way up the Italian peninsula?
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What year did Soviet forces capture Berlin, effectively ending World War II in Europe?
What year did Soviet forces capture Berlin, effectively ending World War II in Europe?
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What date did Germany surrender unconditionally, marking an end to World War II in Europe?
What date did Germany surrender unconditionally, marking an end to World War II in Europe?
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On what date did the United States drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan?
On what date did the United States drop an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan?
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On what date did the United States drop a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan?
On what date did the United States drop a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan?
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What date did Japan surrender, marking the official end of World War II?
What date did Japan surrender, marking the official end of World War II?
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Study Notes
World War I
- World War I began in 1914, and global peace dissolved rapidly
- Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip
- Princip's actions triggered a chain reaction of events leading to war
- Serbia was blamed for the assassination and Austria-Hungary sent a harsh ultimatum
- The assassination sparked conflict, involving Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (Triple Alliance), and France, Russia and the United Kingdom (Triple Entente)
- Germany initiated a two-front war against France and Russia, utilizing the Schlieffen Plan
The Great War
- The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked World War I in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1914
- Nationalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina sought to end Austro-Hungarian rule
- Serbia was blamed and faced an ultimatum, leading to global conflict
- Germany backed Austria-Hungary with a "blank check" assurance of support
World War I Begins
- Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Global peace between European powers disintegrated rapidly
- The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
- The Triple Entente comprised France, Russia and the United Kingdom
- Germany used the Schlieffen Plan to fight a two-front war, invading France through neutral Belgium
First Battle of the Marne
- The First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 was a crucial engagement
- French and British forces faced the German army, preventing it from reaching Paris
- The battle marked a shift in the war's progress
The Eastern Front
- Russian forces attempted to seize German-held territory but were thwarted by German and Austrian forces
- Late August 1914's Battle of Tannenberg decisively halted the Russian offensive
- From 1914 to 1916, successive Russian offensives failed to breach German lines
- Russia experienced internal unrest, leading to the 1917 Russian Revolution and resulting withdrawal from the war
America Enters World War I
- The United States initially maintained neutrality under President Woodrow Wilson, resisting participation in the war
- In 1915, Germany declared the waters surrounding the British Isles a war zone, sparking subsequent U.S. vessel attacks by German U-boats
- Congress approved a $250 million in arms appropriations in 1917, preparing the US for war
Second Battle of the Marne
- July 15, 1918’s battle marked the last German offensive of the war
- This offensive was conducted in France, involving participation from 85,000 American troops and some British troops
- The Allied forces successfully repulsed the German assault
Treaty of Versailles
- Allied leaders intended to create a post-World War I global security system
- The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919
- The Treaty aimed to establish world peace to prevent another devastating war
- Casualties of World War I numbered close to 20 million soldiers and civilians
World War II
- World War II (1939-1945) involved more than 30 countries
- Estimated 70-85 million deaths resulted from the war
- Political and economic instability in Germany, fueled by lingering resentment from the Treaty of Versailles, facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP)
WWII Axis & Allies
- Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan
- Allied Powers: United States, Soviet Union, Britain, France, China
- These power blocs were key players in the global conflict
War Breaks Out
- In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, using Blitzkrieg tactics
- Following the invasion, Britain and France declared war on Germany in response
- The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact
Early Axis Victories
- Germany conquered Western European countries including Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and France
- France surrendered to Germany in June 1940
- Germany initiated Operation Sea Lion to further invade Britain, facing resistance from the RAF
Axis Expansion in the Pacific
- Japan aggressively expanded into Southeast Asia and China
- Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941
- The U.S. entered the war after the Pearl Harbor attack and declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy shortly afterward
Turning Points
- The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) marked a major Soviet victory against the German army, while the Battle of Kursk marked the biggest tank battle of the war
- In the Western Front, the Allies defeated Axis forces at El Alamein, leading to German and Italian surrender in North Africa by May 1943
Pacific Theatre
- The Battle of Midway (June 1942) was a pivotal U.S. Navy victory against the Japanese fleet
- The Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-1943) marked the beginning of the Allied offensive in the Pacific and symbolized Japan’s strategic decline
Allied Offensives
- June 6, 1944, marked the Allied invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day)
- Soviet forces advanced through Eastern Europe, liberating key cities and countries under Nazi control
- Allied forces fought up the Italian peninsula, resulting in the deposition of Mussolini
- The U.S. captured key Pacific islands including Iwo Jima and Okinawa, preparing for an invasion of Japan
End of the War
- In April 1945, Soviet forces captured Berlin
- Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30
- Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945
- The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945), resulting in Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945
Human Cost
- Estimated 70–85 million deaths (including civilians) resulted from World War II
- Millions of people were displaced, cities were destroyed, and economies were devastated
- The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of six million Jews and millions of others
Political Changes
- Germany, Italy, and Japan's totalitarian regimes were dismantled following World War II
- The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers following the war, leading to decades of geopolitical tension
- The United Nations was established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars
Decolonization
- Weakened European powers led to independence movements in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East
Economic Impact
- The U.S.-funded Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe
- Japan and Germany's economies became global leaders during the subsequent decades
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Description
Explore the key events and figures that led to the outbreak of World War I, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This quiz covers the alliances formed and the initial strategies employed at the beginning of the war. Test your knowledge on the complexities that resulted in global conflict.
