WW1 Notes: Modern History Preliminary HSC PDF

Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 3 World War One preliminary study notes modern history: world war one topic three — core 3 1  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War SYLLABUS​: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, IN...

Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 3 World War One preliminary study notes modern history: world war one topic three — core 3 1  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War SYLLABUS​: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, INCL. The influence of nationalism, imperialism, militarism and alliances on Great Power rivalry by the end of the 19th century THE NATURE OF WORLD WAR I, INCL. The outbreak of war in 1914, the Western and Eastern fronts, and why it became the world’s first global conflict The varying experiences of soldiers in key battles, eg Verdun, the Somme, Passchendaele, Tannenberg, Beersheba The changing nature of war to 1918: scientific and industrial developments in weaponry, the mechanisation of modern warfare, advances in medicine and communications The impact of the war on civilians, including women’s lives and the changing role of women The scale of recruitment, conscription, censorship and propaganda in World War I An overview of the reasons for the Allied victory The effects of World War I in giving rise to the Russian Revolution The idea of ‘total war’, the end of ‘empire’, and World War I as ‘the war to end all wars’ THE NATURE AND LEGACY OF WORLD WAR I AND ITS INFLUENCE ON MODERNITY 2  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War THE HISTORICAL CONTENT The influence of nationalism, imperialism, militarism and alliances on Great Power rivalry by the end of the 19th century MILITARISM ALLIANCES European powers: These groups of nations signed ○ became engaged in an arms binding agreements that each would race provide military support if one of its ○ Were competing against each members was attacked. other over the size of their Many other countries, colonies and empires territories were attached to these 1870-1914​: military spending in many alliances Europeans countries increased on av. by 300% All the major nations in Europe except Britain had introduced conscription When Germany started to build up its navy, Britain was compelled to increase its own naval power and the two countries competed to build new submarines and increase their fleets of dreadnoughts, fast and powerful armoured battleships that could control the seas IMPERIALISM NATIONALISM Germany wanted an Empire – France Caused tensions & unrest to grow in & Britain already had empires certain parts of Europe Created large forces that easily allows E.g. – Austro-Hungarian Empire: nations to go into war – if armies many groups sought to have control weren’t as large; a possibility of war over themselves & wanted not being so easy to begin & so sovereignty from the rule of the devastating Austro-Hungarian Empire 3  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War THE NATURE OF WORLD WAR I, INCL. The outbreak of war in 1914, the Western and Eastern fronts, and why it became the world’s first global conflict SHORT TERM CAUSES THE FIRST MOROCCAN CRISIS (​1905​) THE BOSNIAN CRISIS (​1908​) Impacted Germany: it strengthened Serbia wanted revenge against the bond between France & Britain Austria-Hungary Caused all the major powers to Balkans became unstable: the end of become wary of Germany the collaboration between Put the possibility of an international Austria-Hungary & Russia war on the table The alliance between Austria-Hungary & Germany was now stronger than ever THE SECOND MOROCCAN CRISIS (​1911​) THE SECOND BALKAN WAR (​1913​) Caused the tensions between Britain Serbia doubled in size and Germany to increase Serbia was once again successful Increased the alliance between Austria-Hungary hated Serbia more France and Britain than ever Gained the Germans more hostility from the other European powers ASSASSINATION OF WAR PLANS ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND (​1914​) & his wife Pushed the war forward Outraged Austria-Hungary Each European power had a set of 28th June​: Austria-Hungary & plans of what to do in case war broke Germany declared war on Serbia out Germany declared war on Russia & E.g. Germany: Schlieffen Plan – invaded France via Belgium, causing purpose: to be ready to fight a Britain to declare war on Germany two-front war The news that each country was preparing for war built up the hysteria that war was imminent 4  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War OUTBREAK The July Crisis and the 28th June 1914​: Archduke & wife shot — intended to first declarations of war promote the cause of Serbian nationalists Immediate consequence​: a period of threats, bluffs & failed negotiations among European nations (July Crisis) Tensions in the Balkans in the years prior to 1914 meant that Austria-Hungary was ready to lay blame for the Archduke’s assassination on Serbia, and it issued its neighbour with 10 ultimatums 28th July 1914​: When Serbia could not comply with all of these demands, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The world at war Russia promised to support Serbia and began to mobilise its army Germany threatened Russia with war unless it ceased this mobilisation — this threat was ignored ○ 1 August 1914​: Germany declared war on Russia on, & two days later declared war on Russia’s ally, France Schlieffen Plan​: ★ A designated attack on France once Russia, in response to international tension, had started to mobilise their forces near the German border ○ Germany had feared a war on both fronts since Russia and France had become allies in ​1894 ○ If successful, the Schlieffen Plan would mean that the German Army would not need to fight on both fronts simultaneously ○ The plan called for an all-out attack on France to capture Paris & achieve a quick victory on the Western Front. The German Army could then turn to the east and defeat Russia before it had time to fully mobilise its army. ○ August 4th 1914​: Britain declared war on Germany Other countries that joined the war later: ○ Allies: Italy, Japan & the United States ○ Entente: Ottoman Empire (Turkey) & Bulgaria 5  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War STALEMATE ON THE WESTERN FRONT WAR ON THE EASTERN FRONT Germany’s maintaining the timetable Stretched from the Baltic Sea (north) imposed by the Schlieffen Plan met to the Black Sea (south) with difficulties — Belgian resistance Included most of Eastern Europe & was greater than expected and stretched into Central Europe delayed the advance, while the British Much larger than the Western Front Expeditionary Force arrived to defend By 1915​: Germany was moving into Paris more rapidly than the Germans Russia had anticipated 1915 & 16​: Russian troops suffered The German Army suffered a further defeats blow on nearing Paris, when 100 000 1917​: the Tsar of Russia was forced of its men were transferred to the from office & the Bolsheviks seized Eastern Front to face the Russians, power who had also mobilised quickly and The spread-out nature of the Eastern invaded Germany Front meant that trenches were Schlieffen Plan failed & caught largely ineffective, & it was the Germany in a two-front war mobility & training of the German The German Army retreated to the troops that proved to be decisive River Aisne & began to dig trenches By March 1918​: German troops were Allies did not have the strength to within striking distance of the Russian push the Germans out of France capital, Petrograd (formerly St ○ Led to the ‘​race to the sea’​ , as Petersburg), & the Bolsheviks each side extended its trench concluded the Treaty of Brest–Litovsk systems & fortified them with that withdrew Russia from the war and barbed wire, machine guns & ended the war on the Eastern Front artillery defences ○ Designed to help Russia End of 1914​: secure and maintain its access ○ Many expected war to be over to the Mediterranean Sea ○ A line of trenches stretched from the sea to the Swiss Alps ○ Movement had ended and the war was at a stalemate 6  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War The varying experiences of soldiers in key battles, eg Verdun, the Somme, Passchendaele, Tannenberg, Beersheba Verdun On the Western Front Feb-Dec 1916 French held the garrison of Verdun surrounded by 13 massive concrete forts German General Falkenhayn​ hoped to break the stalemate by forcing the French to defend Verdun, using artillery to inflict huge numbers of casualties & ‘​bleed the French Army to death’​ Brutal German artillery fired twenty-three million shells at the French Used new deadly weapons: ○ Phosgene gas ○ Flame-throwers July 1916​: Germans called off their main attack Germans had failed to break the French resistance Both sides suffered huge losses: ➔ Total of 700 000+ men killed, wounded or missing ➔ Of these, it is estimated that 300 000 men died losses roughly equal on each side. Somme The defining symbol of WW1 July-Nov 1916 The first day was the worst ever in the history of the British Army: ○ suffered 57 000 casualties, including 20 000 killed Preceded by a week-long bombardment of German trenches, in order to destroy the Germans’ barbed wire and front-line trenches ○ Aim not achieved ○ Germans were aware of the impending attack and prepared by digging underground chambers that allowed their soldiers to shelter from the bombardment Passchendaele 4.5 million shells combined with the worst rains seen in 30 years, July-Nov 1917 turning the battlefield into a quagmire Movement became impossible as men, horses and equipment got stuck in the mud Men who fell into craters drowned, or had their backs broken as their comrades tried to pull them out of the mud Allies 275 000 casualties & the Germans 200 000, for an Allied gain of just over 10 km 7  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War The changing nature of war to 1918: scientific and industrial developments in weaponry, the mechanisation of modern warfare, advances in medicine and communications COMMUNICATIONS MECHANISATION OF MODERN WARFARE Development of the telephone & Western Front​: use of mechanised wireless radio systems allowed instant weapons; artillery & machine guns communication between front line & that gave advancement to defenders commanding field officers & prolonged the stalemate Telephone lines were easily damaged E.g. massive amount of deaths in the Soldiers acted as ‘runners’ moving Battle of Somme back & forth through trenches to relap Allied nations bent their effort towards info mass production of weapons Length of the front was so lone there Used to counter the enemy’s artillery wasn’t enough wire fire during an attack – ↑ change of a rapid advance & victory GUNS & ARTILLERY MEDICINE Machine guns – improved from the E.g. a soldier with a broken thigh American Civil War ○ 1914​: 80% chance of death Gave defenders the ability to cut down ○ 1916​: 80% chance of survival the approaching enemy in numbers – End of the war​: mobile x-ray never been done before Battles of machines were brought to the front to Somme/Verdun see where the damage is Heavy artillery guns – fired large ○ Nurses & surgeons stationed shells over a long distance much closer to battles ○ Hit target from above Blood transfusions – treat massive ○ Mounted on wheels blood loss ○ Difficult to move ↑ in awareness of the dangers of ○ Often became bogged down in bacteria & infection (rats, lice) mud or stuck in crates Medical technology to produce More efficient machines – fit prosthetic limbs & aid in facial scenery/environment reconstruction 8  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War AIRCRAFT September 1916​: the first airship shot down over England An important change in the nature of modern warfare Gotha planes attacked Paris Zeppelin​: huge, hydrogen-filled balloons with the crew slung underneath in a gondola (blimps) ○ succeeded by the German Gotha bomber plane & its British equivalent, the Handley Page Type O ➔ 53 Zeppelin raids, 27 aeroplane raids over British during WW1 ○ Resulted in 1400 deaths, 3400 injuries The first war to implement aircraft – technology hadn’t been advanced enough to develop aircraft E.g. Red Barron was shot down 1918​: dropping ordinates TANKS September 1916​: first introduced in the Battle of Somme Aim​: to flatten barbed wire, take out nests of enemy machine gunners, gave advancing soldiers some shelter from enemy fire Slowness​: couldn’t spearhead an attack or punch a hole in the enemy line to open the way for a major advance Limited in terrain they could be used – could not operate safely in built-up areas, woods, or over badly crated or muddy ground: bobbin the mud Risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning overheating, & ‘seasickness’ (nausea) Deafening noise for those inside Limited visibility from crew inside – minimal scope Slightly greater speed than a foot soldier Germans didn’t use them at first – expensive & large target German tanks – around 20 people could fit GAS Chlorine​: caused: difficulty breathing, burning sensation in the throat, & chest pain Phosgene​:​ ​(the majority of gas fatalities) more sinister & deadly – didn’t cause coughing & irritation on the first contact – victims were exposed to larger doses for longer periods without realising it Mustard Gas​: led to blistering of skin, airways, & lungs, blindness. Low death rates. Those affected required long-term, elaborate care Canada: first hit, Germany: first to employ Protective measures: urinate on a sock or piece of cloth & place it over mouth & nose 1917​: effective protection developed: small-box respirator Not the new breakout weapon people hoped for Designed to break the deadlock 9  Modern History Preliminary HSC ​— Core 1 The First World War The impact of the war on civilians, including women’s lives and the changing role of women Civilians No choice about being involved in the war Invading armies and the mass destruction wrought along the Western Front ensured that simply living where you had always lived suddenly became impossible Civilians fled from newly created war zones as the Germans launched their invasion through Belgium and into France More than 150 000 Belgian refugees sought shelter in Britain in the early years of the war, returning home years later to their shattered landscape, to try and rebuild their villages, their farms and their communities British experienced food shortages & rationing German food shortages were more severe & the German Government’s regulation of domestic labour, industry & agriculture was more extensive Germany 3.5 million+ civilians engaged in war work Food and fuel rationing eventually led to strikes and the breakdown of the German economy Women’s lives Upper & middle-class women knew little labour-based work until war Widespread shortages meant that women of every class took up employment in areas where men had previously dominated ○ Transport, education, banking, finance & administration The contribution of women to the war effort convinced most members of parliament, who were overwhelmingly male, that women had earned a fuller place in society. ○ Previously, women in Britain had not been allowed to vote - December 1917​ a bill was passed to give the vote to all women over 30 years. ★ In this way, the war had enabled women to achieve a change, where a long campaign before the war had failed 10