WW1 29-2

Trench Warfare

Definition: By early 1915, opposing armies on the Western Front had dug miles of parallel trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire. Significance: Because you had to survive with mud lack of food, men dying all the time, and never 100% quite.

Eastern Front

Definition: Even as the war on the Western Front claimed thousands of lives, both sides were sending millions. Significance: Because you had limited men (Germany) fighting tons of men on both sides. Location: This area was a stretch of battlefield along the German and Russian border.

Why might it be fair to say that neither side won the battles of the Somme or Verdun?

Verdun: Each side lost more than 300,000 men. Somme: The British lost 20,00 men in the first day.

What factors contributed to Russia's war difficulties?

1. It was the location of the Eastern Front. 2. It bordered Germany and Austria-Hungary. 3. Russia lagged behind the rest of Europe in its railroad system and thus would take longer to supply its front lines. 4. The Russian army was continually short on food, guns, ammunition, clothes, boots, and blankets.

What were some of the conditions that soldiers on the front lines had to face?

1. Surviving with mud. 2. Dying first.

What were the characteristics of trench warfare?

1. The soldiers survived with mud. 2. The trenches swarmed with rats. 3. Fresh food was nonexistent. 4. Sleep was nearly impossible.

Why did the Schlieffen Plan ultimately collapse?

Although it was only the first major clash on the Western Front, the First Battle of the Marne was perhaps the single most important event of the war because if it failed, the Schlieffen Plan failed.

Schlieffen Plan

Definition: Facing a war on two fronts, Germany had developed a battle strategy. The plan was to defeat France (Eastern Front) then go to the Western Front and defeat Russia. Significance: Because it was Germany's only plan and if it failed they didn't have any back up ideas. trench warfare

Central Powers

Definition: Germany and Austria-Hungary because they were in the heart of Europe. Significance: Because they were in the middle so they thought that they were proud of themselves (Nationalism)

Allies

Definition: Great Britain, France, Japan and Russia. Significance: Because they joined to gain land (Japan) and prove there better than the Central Powers.

Western Front

Definition: It did not take long for Sir Edward Grey's prediction to ring true. As the summer of 1914 turned to fall, the war turned into a long and bloody stalemate, or dead- lock, along the battlefields of France. This deadlocked region in northern France. Significance: Because you had the 17 and 18 year old teenagers thinking the war wouldn't be long which turned false and became a couple of years. Location: Along the battlefields of Northern France.

How was war on the Western and Eastern Fronts different? How was it the same?

Different: Locations, and different countries fighting at each fronts. Same: Millions of lives from both locations.

Which countries made up the Central Powers? Which countries comprised the Allies?

Germany and Austria-Hungary Great Britain, France, Japan and Russia.