WWI Overview Quiz

The First World War

• The First World War (1914-1918) pitted the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Serbia, Belgium, Romania, USA, Japan) against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria).
• Unlike expectations of a short war, the conflict dragged on for four years, largely due to trench warfare on the Western Front which resulted in a stalemate.
• Initial German attempts to quickly defeat France failed, leading to a costly trench warfare that lasted till 1918.
• Eastern Europe saw more movement with initial Russian successes against Austria, but German intervention forced Russia out of the war in December 1917.
• The war turned in favor of the Allies after the US entry in April 1917.
• Germany's last desperate attempt for a decisive breakthrough in France in spring 1918 was unsuccessful.
• The British blockade of German ports and the successful defense of convoys starved the Germans, weakening their position by late summer 1918.
• An armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, concluding the war.
• The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, established a controversial peace settlement.

1914:

Western Front:

• The German advance was initially hindered by strong Belgian resistance, delaying the capture of Brussels.
• Early attempts at breakthroughs by the Allies (British at Neuve Chapelle and Loos, French in Champagne, Germans at Ypres) failed due to the challenges of trench warfare.
• Trench warfare was characterized by barbed wire, aerial reconnaissance, and increased firepower, making frontal attacks incredibly risky and rendering cavalry ineffective.

Eastern Front:

• Russia experienced mixed fortunes, achieving successes against Austria but facing defeats against Germany, leading to the capture of Warsaw and Poland.
• The Turkish blockade of the Dardanelles hampered Russian supplies, further complicating their situation.

The Gallipoli Campaign:

• Launched by Winston Churchill, the Gallipoli Campaign aimed to clear the Dardanelles and alleviate the deadlock on the Western Front.
• The campaign was a failure, with the initial naval attack failing due to mines, and subsequent landings facing stiff Turkish resistance.
• Allied forces were ultimately withdrawn in December, severely impacting morale and representing a missed opportunity to aid Russia via the Black Sea.

Serbia:

• Serbia was overrun by Bulgarians and Germans after Bulgaria joined the Central Powers in October 1915.
• A Franco-British force landed at Salonika in neutral Greece to aid Serbia, but it was too late.

Mesopotamia:

• British forces, tasked with protecting Anglo-Persian oil interests, became bogged down in Mesopotamia while approaching Baghdad.
• They were besieged by the Turks at Kut-el-Amara from December 1915 to March 1916, ultimately forced to surrender.

Italy's Declaration of War:

• Italy, motivated by territorial ambitions, declared war on Austria-Hungary in May 1915.
• The Italians hoped to seize Austrian territories, but their progress was limited and ultimately did not alleviate pressure on the Russians.

1916:

Western Front:

• 1916 witnessed two major battles: Verdun and the Somme.
• The Battle of Verdun saw a massive German offensive aimed at drawing French forces and inflicting heavy losses.
• The French, under Pétain, held their ground, preventing the German advance, but both sides suffered significant casualties.
• The Somme was a series of assaults, mainly by British troops, intended to relieve pressure on Verdun and keep the Germans engaged on the Western Front.
• The battle began disastrously for the British, with heavy losses on the first day, and continued with limited gains despite immense casualties.
• The Somme weakened German morale and underscored Britain's growing military capabilities.
• Despite the horrors of the Somme, Allied generals continued to favor frontal assaults, leading to further heavy casualties.

Naval Warfare:

• The Battle of Jutland (May 31, 1916) was the only major engagement between the main battle fleets of the war.
• It was a tactical German victory, but failed to cripple British sea power.
• The Battle of Jutland marked a shift in German strategy.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare:

• Germany, facing food shortages due to the British blockade, initiated "unrestricted" submarine warfare in January 1917.
• This campaign aimed to sink all merchant ships in the Atlantic, even neutral ones, risking US entry into the war.
• While initially effective, the British response with a convoy system countered the submarine threat.