World War 1
Introduction
Underneath you will find a youtube video that gives and overview of WW1. Worth watching to gain a big picture understanding of the War.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj2v7-0tAC0
Underneath is a link to other great animations of WW1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/western_front/index_embed.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_outbreak.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj2v7-0tAC0
Underneath is a link to other great animations of WW1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/animations/western_front/index_embed.shtml
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/maps_outbreak.html
War on the Western front
Task 1 - Reasons for the Stalemate
Download and read the document that can be found here. You will need to hit the download tap at the top of the page.
From that information, answer the following questions: Expectations of war
The Schlieffen PlanYoutube video on Schlieffen and Battle of the Marne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AOOlxbZN3E
From that information and page 122-123 of your text book, answer the following questions: (A little complicated but if you are interested - this might be useful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AOOlxbZN3E) The Battle of the Marne and the Race to the Sea
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Below is a map of the Schlieffen Plan on the Western Front. Click it for a bigger image. |
Task 2 - The nature of trench warfare and life in the trenches
The answers to the questions can be found in your textbook (pages 123-130, however I suggest reading this document as supplementary reading: The Nature of Trench Warfare (Webb)
Life in the trenches
- What were the different types of trenches called? What was 'no man's land'?
- Was the fighting fairly similar across all of the trenches? Explain your answer and lock this point in!
- How does the comment, "80% bored stiff, 19% frozen stiff and 1% scared stiff" enlighten our idea of the life of a soldier during WW1? Keep in mind this is a generalisation.
- Look at the picture on the bottom right of the 3 on 124. Comment on the limitations, reliability and usefulness of this source.
- What does the term, "War of attrition mean"? Why was Germany not going to win a war of attrition?
- Explain the different attitudes to the war that the Germans, the French and the British had? (p. 125)
- Why were German trenches generally better than the allies?
- Why were trenches made in a zig zag pattern or at right angles?
Life in the trenches
- Make a quick summary of how each of the following affected a soldiers life in the trenches: Lice, rats, latrines, sickness, food and routine.
- Read both of the sources at the bottom of page 129 and comment on the perspective, reliability and usefulness of each.
- Read the second chapter in the document that was linked to above(Nature of Trench Warfare) or do some reading on how the following would also have impacted soliders: Mud, Cold and the psychological angle.
Task 3 - Overview of strategies and tactics to break the stalemate
For the most part the answer to these questions can be found in your textbook, pages 131-142, otherwise I will direct you where to find the information.
Strategies and Tactics
Key Battles
*** Please note, despite the syllabus, none of these battles were primarily motivated by a desire to break the stalemate. Their primary objectives were different ***
Verdun - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/verdun.htm and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oabxoP_jVM
Somme - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/somme.htm
Passchendaele - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres3.htm
Strategies and Tactics
- Using the info on page 131, outline the general pattern of a frontal attack?
- Why do you think it was so much easier to defend a trench than to attack and take a trench given the technology available to them?
- According to this information, what was responsible for 75% of casualties in the war?
- The textbook is pretty brief on Gas so read this entire page http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/gas.htm and answer the following questions
- Who were the first to use gas and where?
- Outline the events of the first German use of Gas and the missed opportunity that ensued?
- What happened to the British first attempt with gas at Loos? How significant was the wind with regard to Gas?
- Outline the effects of Chlorine, Phosgene and Mustard gas. (The info on chlorine is near the top of the page just above 'A Missed Opportunity')
- Why was Gas not overly effective in making a major change to the war?
- Read the source at the top of page 134. Comment on perspective, reliability and usefulness. A quick search of Wilfred Owen will give you a lot of ideas to help answer this and understand the source.
- Go to the following page to read more about Tanks: http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/tanks.htm You can read the whole page if you want but the questions will start from the section under 'Early use of the Tank'.
- Explain some of the reasons why the tank was not very successful in it's early ventures.
- Outline the events of the successful use of the tank at the battle of Cambrai. How late was this in the war?
- Explain how General Monash used the tank at Le Hamel.
Key Battles
*** Please note, despite the syllabus, none of these battles were primarily motivated by a desire to break the stalemate. Their primary objectives were different ***
Verdun - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/verdun.htm and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oabxoP_jVM
Somme - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/somme.htm
Passchendaele - http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/ypres3.htm
- What was the motivation for each of these battles?
- Give a brief outline (point form) of the length of the battle and strategies employed at each.
- What was the final significance of each of the 3 battles.
- Read pages 143-144 of your textbook - This will give you a sense of Historiography which they say you don't need for Modern History but rumour has it that they give extra marks if you can include it. Outline the changing views in History towards General Haig.
- Read source 8.8. Comment on its perspective, reliability and usefulness.
- Read source 8.9. Comment on its perspective, reliability and usefulness.
Task 4 - Changing Attitudes of Allied and German Solider to the War
For this section you will need your textbook - pages 146-150
- Before you even read anything, using your common sense, how you do you think soldiers attitudes to WW1 would have changed during the course of the war?
- What was the general attitude to war at the beginning? Keeping mind, this is a generalisation.
- According to Denis Winter, how did soldiers feel about the war?
- What happened at Christmas 1914?
- What specific events, particularly in 1916, would have changed soldiers attitude to the war?
- At the bottom of page 148, Denis Winter makes a very valid point - what is his point?
- Read sources 8.16, 8.17 and 8.18 - comment on the perspective, reliability and usefulness of each.
- Read source 8.19 - how does this source show that you can not generalize about the attitude of soldiers?
The home fronts in Britain and Germany
Task 5 - Total War and its impact on civilians in britain and germany
The information you will need for this section can be found in your textbook from pages 152 to 161
- Write a definition in your own words of 'home front' and 'total war'.
- What is the atrocity story and what reaction is it intended to produce? (P. 153)
- Give examples of things in Britain that needed to change due to the growing hatred of Germans. (P. 153)
- What happened on December 16 1914 that quite literally brought the war to British civilians?
- How did the British react to Zeppelin attacks? (P. 155)
- In what way did air raids by the Germans signal a change in modern warfare? (P. 155)
- Look at the source on p. 157. Comment on its perspective, reliability and usefulness.
- DORA is crucial in understanding the changes to the British home front. Read page 158 and make a 10 point summary of everything that DORA entailed.
- What problem did Germany have regarding imports? (P.160)
- What impact did the belief that WW1 would be a short war have on the German food supply? (P.160)
- Outline what happened in Germany in regard to 'regulation', 'synthetic manufacture' and ''. (P.160)
- Read source 8.24 on p. 161. Comment on its usefulness.
Task 6 - Recruitment and conscription
For this section you will need to read pages 162-165 of the text book.
- How are the posters at the bottom of page 162 trying to convince people to sign up for the war?
- Outline how well prepared both the British and German nations were for WW1?
- How did Lord Kitchener describe the situation in Britain and what happened as a result?
- Read the sources at the bottom of page 163 - what motives can you see there for joining the war?
- Make a brief summary (1-2 lines) of the Derby Scheme and the Universal Conscription Bill.
Task 7 - PROPAGANDA and Censorship
For this section you will need to read pages 165-170 of the text book.
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/7956155/War%20Propoganda.doc Take a look at the source on this document to get an idea of some of the posters used as propaganda.
- Where do you see propaganda in our day and age? Do you respond differently when you know something is propaganda?
- What helped the British propaganda to be effective?
- Why would countries want to push the idea of their war as a moral crusade? How does the atrocity story help them to do this?
- What is the aim of censorship and what examples do we have from Britain and Germany regarding it's implementation?
- Why do you think that both sides were keen to win over the USA?
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/7956155/War%20Propoganda.doc Take a look at the source on this document to get an idea of some of the posters used as propaganda.
Task 8 - The attitude of civilians towards the war
For this section, you will need to read pages 170-172 of the textbook.
- Again, using your common sense alone, how do you think the attitude of civilians changed during the course of the war?
- Why was the battle of the Somme a notable turning point in British attitudes to the war?
- Read source 8.31. Comment on the perspective, reliability and usefulness of this source?
- What sorts of things were making people in Britain 'War weary'?
- On page 171 you hear a soldier describing "envy, hatred, malice and all un-charitableness, fear and the cruelty born of fear" as the dominant expressions of the people. Why do you think this was?
Task 9 - The impact of the war on women in britain
For this section, you will need pages 172-175 of your textbook
- Outline the initial response to British women being involved in the war effort? Describe the story of Elise Inglis (P. 172)
- What happened to make women more involved in the war effort? Your common sense as much as P. 172 will help you to answer this.
- Choose either source 8.50 or 8.52 of p. 173. Comment on the perspective, reliability and usefulness of the source you have chosen.
- What is the important point made in the first paragraph of P. 174.
- Read the rest of pages 172 and 175. Make a list of all the areas that women began to work in.
- Outline the major changes that happened to women as a result of the war. Note that it was not an increase in women in paid employment.
- Analyse the source on P. 175 (8.54) and comment on the perspective, reliability and usefulness of the source.
turning Points
Task 10 - The entry of the Usa into the war
For this section you will need to read pages 175-177 of your textbook and also download the information from the link below.
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/47744386/america%20involvement%20in%20ww1.doc
Videos
Crash Course - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59wErqg4Xg
Khan Academy - https://www.youtube.com/watc_h?v=dHXzusNSF60
Khan Academy - U Boats, blockade and Lusitania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_P48TakY3Y&index=8&list=PLzO3OYyZlmh9DogrMT-SSn_CT8YCOTx0D
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/47744386/america%20involvement%20in%20ww1.doc
- Watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTyJTmxkZcQ
- Remember the Monroe Doctrine... what would that tell you about the initial desire of the US to enter into a European war?
- What happened to the Lusitania and why did this not instantly bring the US into the war?
- What is 'unrestricted submarine warfare' and what were the Germans hoping to achieve from it?
- What is the Zimmerman telegram and what impact did it have on the US becoming involved in the war?
- The textbook speaks of the American role in WW1 as potential rather than actual. What is meant by this?
- Dennett goes on to say that "The desperate Ludendorff offensive of 1918 was a direct response to the potential of the USA". What does he mean by this?
- What impact did the Americans have on the morale of the both sides?
- Read source 13.5 from the downloaded document. What impact did the USA have on the navy?
- At what stage of the war did Americans start playing a significant role in fighting on the Western Front?
Videos
Crash Course - www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59wErqg4Xg
Khan Academy - https://www.youtube.com/watc_h?v=dHXzusNSF60
Khan Academy - U Boats, blockade and Lusitania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_P48TakY3Y&index=8&list=PLzO3OYyZlmh9DogrMT-SSn_CT8YCOTx0D
task 11 - The Russian withdrawal
For this section you will need to read page 177 of your textbook and download and read the material in the link below.
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/47744477/Russia%20Withdrawal%20from%20the%20War.doc
http://ccsyear12modern.pbworks.com/w/file/47744477/Russia%20Withdrawal%20from%20the%20War.doc
- Watch this for a reminder of what happened in Russia in March to October 1917... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvoEFKZqT44
- Outline the major reasons for Russia's withdrawal from WW1? What was happening in Russia politically and socially at this time?
- What were the worst aspects of the treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
- Why was Lenin so willing to accept these terms?
- Look at the source at the bottom of the 2nd page. Comment on its perspective, reliability and usefulness.
- How did the Russian withdrawal from the war impact the strategy of the Germans?
- Look at the sources and answer the questions in the file below:
Turning Points Source Exercise | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Task 12 - The Ludendorff offensive and the allied response 1918
For this section, you will need your textbook - pages 177-178.
The following video will give you a small taste of the Ludendorff Offensive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5DZi6PiPRY
The following video gives a good summary of the end of the War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR_tfuXmets
Khan Academy - Final Battles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFBK9534NI8&index=13&list=PLzO3OYyZlmh9DogrMT-SSn_CT8YCOTx0D
The following video will give you a small taste of the Ludendorff Offensive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5DZi6PiPRY
The following video gives a good summary of the end of the War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR_tfuXmets
- Outline Ludendorff's motives for the Ludendorff Offensive. How did the US entry and the Russian Withdrawal from the war play into this?
- Give some evidence of the initial success of Ludendorff's offensive.
- Outline some of the strategies used in the Ludendorff offensive that were different from the previous trench warfare tactics.
- Just how far did the Germans get during this offensive?
- What factors led to the 'petering out' of the Ludendorff offensive?
Khan Academy - Final Battles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFBK9534NI8&index=13&list=PLzO3OYyZlmh9DogrMT-SSn_CT8YCOTx0D
Allied Victory
Events leading to the armistice
For this section you will need your textbook, pages 179-182
- Read about the battle of Hamel. Make a list the technology used and how it was now more effective.
- What did the battle of Amiens show about the morale of the Germans?
- What was the Hindenburg line?
- What happened on the 2nd October, 26th October and 11th November?
- Read and summarise the last paragraph of p.182. It is very important so understand and lock in the point made here.
Reasons for the allied victory and german collapse
For this section you will need your textbook pages 184-187 and you'll need to download this excellent summary.
- Read through both the textbook and the summary sheet. Make a mindmap of the 5 most significant factors in your opinion that led to the the Allied Victory and the German defeat. Then make notes around those points about why they were so significant. There are a number of online mindmapping tools that could be fun to use. Mindmeister is one, text2mindmapmap is another. Of course, they may also not be fun.
The roles and differing goals of the peacemakers and the treaty of versailles
For this section you will need your textbook pages 188 to 196
- Read through the 14 points on page 188... do they sound like Wilson wants to be harsh on the Germans, be soft on the Germans or somewhere in between?
- What was the opinion of Britain and France to the 14 points?
- Why did Germany change it's mind and want to accept the 14 points?
- Read through the section on 'Votes and Expectations'. What was of greatest concern to the people of Britain? Give some evidence of this?
- What does this show you about the way democratic governments need to change their views if they want to retain power?
- Read through pages 190 and 191 of your textbook. Make a summary of the differing attitudes of Clemenceau, Wilson and Lloyd George.
- How did the clash of personalities, lead to a Versailles Treaty that was clearly a compromise on all sides? How willing do you think countries would be to enforce a treaty that they don't really believe in?
- Under the section, The Fontainebleau Memorandum, what was Lloyd George's concern regarding a peace that was too severe?
- Make a list of some of the things you have seen included in the Versailles treaty from page 192. Also include source 8.32 on p. 193 and the map at the bottom of p. 193.
- Read source 8.33 on page 193. What is the usefulness of a source like this?