WWI Vocabulary

• Vessels created from reconstructed older ships are called dreadnoughts
• Tanks are large machines that enable safe passage across unsafe terrain
• Strategy means safely mapping out a decision
• Militarism embodies the ambition to create the strongest and most powerful navy or military
• Alliances are mutual friendships between nations sharing similar ideals
• Alliances aimed to reduce war rates due to mutual benefits, but ultimately supported countries in case of war
• Imperialism involves asserting a country's power or influence over military or colonies
• Nationalism is a mindset where a country is perceived as the leader and most superior
• Unterseeboot refers to a submarine capable of underwater navigation, which aided in blocking convoys of vessels
• Convoys are groups of ships or vessels
• Mines are explosive underground devices
• Anglophones are British individuals who promote ties with Britain
• Francophones are French-speaking Canadians who believe in nationalism
• Conscription is the act of forcing individuals to fight in war
• A treaty is a mutual agreement between peoples for peace restoration
• BEF stands for British Expeditionary Forces and refers to the British army
• Stalemate is when neither opposition wins the battle
• The Second Battle of Ypres is an example of a stalemate
• Flanders is a northern region of Belgium marked by many battles
• A barrage is a concentrated artillery of weaponry
• Rhineland refers to certain bordering land pieces along the French border

Background of WWI

• WWI lasted from 1914-1918
• Countries involved were France, Britain, Russia, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Canada, Italy, and Serbia

The Four Causes of WWI (M.A.I.N.)

• Militarism was fueled by a race to create the strongest military and develop the biggest navies through technology and support
• Alliances were created as countries created mutual bonds and alliances that could result in military superiority

Alliances

• Triple Entente (1907): Britain, France, Russia
• Triple Alliance (1882): Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
• Imperialism influenced Britain to control colonies and land, making Germany jealous
• Nationalism drove Britain, France, and Germany to dispute who was the most important and powerful nation

The Naval Race

• Germany and Britain were in a naval race to create the strongest militaries
• They focused on building battleships and warships to achieve naval superiority
• Germany built the first dreadnought, sparking a naval superiority race
• Britain created the tank to safely navigate landmines, barbed wire, and trenches
• German Strategy involved choking imports and exports to Britain through submarines or U-boats
• The Lusitania, an American ship, sank because of German U-boats
• British Strategy involved blocking Germans by blockading passages with blockades and minefields
• Aircraft patrol were used to look for U-boats

The Halifax Explosion (1917)

• The Halifax Explosion occurred in Halifax, Nova Scotia
• The Mont-Blanc vessel, carrying explosives to Europe to support WWI, collided with the Imo in the harbour due to mixed signals
• The collision caused the Mont-Blanc to explode, resulting in 1,600 deaths, 9,000 injuries, and 25,000 buildings destroyed
• Afterward one of the largest military wharves for shipping was disrupted, slowing down war efforts

Franz Ferdinand Assassination

• Franz Ferdinand, of Austria-Hungary, was assassinated by a Serbian man
• Ferdinand was the heir to the empire of Austria-Hungary, and was killed due to his empire backing people who oppressed Slavic and Serbian people
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the assassination and Germany backed Austria-Hungary
• Serbia was backed by Russia, which had alliances with France and Britain, triggering all countries to start wars
• As a colony under the British Empire, Canada backed them and sent troops

Formation of the Western Front

• Germany knew it would be facing both France and Russia on each front, which led to the Schlieffen Plan
• The Germans assumed it would take six weeks for Russia to mobilize, France could be eliminated in six weeks, Belgium would not put up a fight, and Britain would remain neutral and not interfere, as part of the Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan

• Belgium fought back hard slowing Germany down
• Britain intervened and backed Belgium
• Russia mobilized in only ten days, faster than the expected six weeks
• Germans went close to Paris, invaded from the East
• The Germans encountered French and British forces at the Marne River
• Germans dug trenches because they could not fly aircrafts or dig tunnels
• Germans fought along a long front from the English Channel to the Switzerland borders, creating a brutal war
• Because Germany invaded the neutral country of Belgium, it violated international law allowing Britain to aid
• Canada had to become involved as they were under the British empire

Conscription Crisis (1917)

• Volunteer soldiers were not enough to fight the war in Europe
• The Military Service Act of 1917 was created
• Prime Minister Robert Bordon enforced conscription to men that were ages 20-35 that were able to fight
• Anglophones were happy to support Britain, while Francophones were upset to be forced to partake in British affairs, leading to beliefs for whether or not Canada should be involved in this war

Battles of Ypres

• The Battles of Ypres were fought along the Western Front, in the Flanders regions of Belgium
• First Battle of Ypres (1914):
  • 100,000 casualties
  • Race to the sea
  • Involved the British, French, and Belgian to gain critical control of special vital regions
• Second Battle of Ypres (1915):
  • Germany introduced the chlorine gas weapon
  • The cloth with urine was used to cover the faces of soldiers using the chlorine gases to help with the chemicals and fumes
  • Ended in a stalemate
• John McCrae was a Canadian surgeon helping the Canadians in WWI within the trenches
• Third Battle of Ypres (1917) Passchendaele
• This battle was fought in Passchendaele
• The British Empire fought against the German army
• There were terrible and harsh conditions created mud that you could drown in
• Canadians used duck boards and ladders to not sink in the heavy mud
• Eased pressure for France in the south while attacking the German army in the North
• Canadians won and gained a reputation for the best offensive fighting force
• Fourth Battle of Ypres was the battle of Lys where the Germans faced the British

Battle of Somme (1916)

• Fought on the Western Front, near the Somme river in France
• The British allies broke through German lines with a barrage, referred to as the "Big Push"
• Relieved pressure for the French in the southern parts
• Germans survived in bunkers with barbed wire and were considered "Shock-troops" for their heroism
• The allies only gained 6 km of land from the Germans

Vimy Ridge (1917)

• Vimy Ridge was located along the Western Front, within Northern France
• The Germans used Vimy Ridge as a stronghold for their defensive equipment, made up of tunnels and systems
• The Germans used this ridge as a place to set up their defenses, and have deep and secure trenches
• The French and British failed to take over Vimy Ridge, so they enlisted the Canadian General Currie to help combat this battle
• Through coordinated assaults and barrages of artillery, the Canadian Corps slowly defeated the Germans

Vimy Ridge Success

• A pivotal moment in Canadian history as it was a turning point in Canada's identity
• Seen as their first "solo" mission and successful as well as a symbol of Canadian nationalism

The Home Front & Versailles Treaty (1919)

• Located just outside of Paris in Versailles, France
• This marked the end of the war between all the militaries, and it was to shame Germany for its role in the war
• The main people involved in the decision for how to punish Germany were Britain, France, Italy, and the US
• Germany was not invited to the Paris Peace Conference
• The big three were France, USA, and Britain

Main Key Points

• War Guilt Clause meant Germany had to accept their role in the war
• Reparations meant Germany had to pay 32 Billion dollars in reparations
• Germany lost overseas territories and colonies
• Military Restrictions: Certain military restrictions to were placed on Germany
• Rhineland was demilitarized to allow France to feel safe that Germany would not invade
• Canada was recognized as an independent nation under the League of Nations

Propaganda Posters

• Recruitment means recruiting people
• Adventure refers to the call to adventure
• Guilt is to guilt people into joining the army
• Hatred is to show hatred towards another nation