WWI Battle Strategies

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Questions and Answers

What was the goal of the German invasion of Russia, according to Falkenhayn?

To capture Moscow

To capture the Russian army's stronghold in Galicia

To push the Russian army back and eliminate them as a strategic threat to Austria (correct)

To force Russia to surrender unconditionally

What was the purpose of the British attack on the Dardanelles?

To capture Constantinople

To force Turkey out of the war and open supply lines to Russia (correct)

To capture the Ottoman Empire's capital city

To defeat the German navy

What was the outcome of the German attack in Galicia?

The Germans were pushed back by the Russians

The Germans were stopped by the Austrian army

The Germans advanced 100 miles and captured 400,000 Russians (correct)

The Germans and Russians fought to a stalemate

Which of the following best describes the Eastern Front in comparison to the Western Front?

The Eastern Front saw greater movement than the Western Front Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the French army's efforts in 1915?

One million French soldiers were killed or wounded with no significant successes Signup and view all the answers

Why did Falkenhayn hold back resources from the Eastern Front?

To prepare for a potential Ottoman collapse Signup and view all the answers

What was the brainchild of Winston Churchill?

The Dardanelles campaign Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the German attack led by General August von Mackensen?

The Germans caught the Russians by surprise and advanced 100 miles Signup and view all the answers

Who replaced the commander of the German army on the Eastern Front?

Hindenburg Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Battle of Tannenberg?

It resulted in the destruction of Samsonov's Army and the capture of 92,000 Russian soldiers Signup and view all the answers

What was the main objective of the Russian army in 1914?

To attack the Austro-Hungarian empire in Galicia Signup and view all the answers

Who launched three armies on divergent lines of advance into Poland in 1914?

Conrad von Hotzendorf Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Austrian offensive into Poland in 1914?

An Austrian defeat and retreat Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the Ottoman Empire's decision to attack Russia in October 1914?

It increased the strain on Russia and further weakened its position Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the battle of Marne?

The largest encounter ever fought till that date Signup and view all the answers

Why did Russia falter in its efforts against Austria-Hungary in 1914?

Due to logistical difficulties and heavy losses Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of Germany's decision to bolster Austria with 18 divisions in 1914?

Austria was removed as a major player from the Eastern Front Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the German log being in serious straits?

Col Richard ordered a retreat to Aisne Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the Russian mobilization on the Eastern Front?

The Russian army was stalled due to lack of coordination Signup and view all the answers

What was the consequence of the Russian un-coded messages?

The Germans gained an accurate picture of the Russian intentions Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the battle at Gumbinner?

The Russian army defeated the German army Signup and view all the answers

What would have been the outcome if the Russian army had followed up on their initial victory at Gumbinner?

The German army would have been placed in desperate straits Signup and view all the answers

What was the result of the German corps of university students' attack in Flanders?

The Allies were driven from Antwerp and the channel ports Signup and view all the answers

What was the situation on the Western Front after four months of fighting?

The war had reached a stalemate Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

World War I Strategies and Battles

Germans constructed a second line of defense behind their front lines, which allowed them to relocate their reserves to threatened sectors.
Allied commanders believed that massive artillery bombardment was the only path to mobile warfare, but this tactic alerted Germans to relocate their reserves.
The British broke through the German defense in Loos, but Sir John French's placement of reserves too far in the rear allowed Germans to close the gap before reinforcements could arrive.

Eastern Front

In 1915, one million French men were killed or wounded with no significant successes.
Ludendorff and Hindenburg urged a massive invasion of Russia, but Falkenhayn favored a limited campaign to push Russia back and eliminate the strategic threat to Austria.
Germans helped bring about the Russian Revolution in 1917.
The initial German offensive came in Galicia, where General August von Mackensen's attack caught the Russians by surprise, driving them out of Galicia and capturing 400,000 Russians.
Falkenhayn ordered Hindenburg and Mackensen to drive Russian forces from Poland, but Ludendorff's request for reinforcements to destroy the Russian army was not provided due to situations in other theaters.

Dardanelles and Serbia

The British assault on the Dardanelles posed a threat to the position of Central Powers in the Balkans and made it advisable to hold back reserves in case of Ottoman collapse.
The attack on the Dardanelles was a strategic masterstroke of the war, but it failed to achieve its objectives, including forcing Turkey out of the war, opening crucial supply lines to Russia, and bringing Romania and Bulgaria to the war on the Allied side.

Hindenburg and Ludendorff

Hindenburg and Ludendorff became national heroes after their victories on the Eastern Front.
The Russian victory at Galicia (modern-day Ukraine) was a major effort directed against the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Galicia.
Austria struck first in the south, launching three armies on divergent lines of advance into Poland, but retreated after encountering trouble.
Russia might have collapsed Austria but faltered due to logistical difficulties and heavy losses.
Germany bolstered Austria with 18 divisions, which eventually removed Austria as a major player from the Eastern Front.
Russia got weakened too, logistically exhausted, and Ottoman decision to attack Russia in October 1914 with an offensive in the Caucasus and raids in the Black Sea further increased strains on Russia.

Year of Allied Failure (1915)

Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the British Admiralty, wrote to the British cabinet that the war had settled into a stalemate and suggested that only mechanical means held the prospect for breaking the tactical deadlock.
The French doctrine emphasized morale as the most important factor in battle, but they lacked technology, artillery support, and tactical conception necessary to break into German defenses.
The French launched major attacks on the Champagne front while the British attacked further north, resulting in heavy losses.
Aerial reconnaissance revealed German movements east of Paris, and Joffre structured the Battle of Marne between September 5-10, involving 2 million soldiers, the largest encounter fought till that date.

Battle of Marne

The French attacked and forced the 1st Army of Kluck to face west, opposite to the direction of Bulow's 2nd Army, which was facing east, creating a gap between the two armies.
However, the BEF could not exploit the gap in time, which could have destroyed the German right wing.
German logistics were in serious straits, and Colonel Richard recognized the making of a disaster, ordering a retreat to Aisne in Moltke's name, which led to the failure of the Schlieffen plan and France's survival.

Stalemate and Trench Warfare

Once on the Aisne, the front stabilized, and opposing armies attempted to regain freedom of movement by outflanking their opponents.
The race to the sea only extended a ragged line of trenches to the channel, leading to a stalemate.
New German Chief of General Staff Falkenhayn ordered an offensive in Flanders to drive the Allies from Antwerp and the channel ports, but it failed, resulting in heavy losses, including the death of 6,000 university students, one of whom was Hitler.
The opposing armies were locked in a 500-mile front from Switzerland to the channel, with half a million French, German, and British soldiers dead.

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Description

This quiz covers the tactics and strategies employed by both the Allied and German forces during World War I, including the use of artillery bombardment and troop relocation.