WWI key events and people

Created by: veryswagperson
Created on: 07-04-22 19:23

The ‘Great War’ or First World War (1914-1918)

• A global war involving several countries.
• The main countries involved were Britain, France and Russia;
Germany, Austria and Italy.
• Approximately 10 million people were killed and 20 million
people were wounded.

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The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (28th June 1914)

• The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne: Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, was shot and killed by a terrorist: Gavrilo Princip,
who was a member of the Black Hand Gang.
• This led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia, which
triggered the Alliance system i

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The Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916)

• A British offensive launched against the Germans in the Somme
region on the 1st July 1916.
• There were 57,470 British casualties on the first day alone.

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The Armistice (11th November 1918)

The two sides made an agreement to stop fighting at 11am – this
was called the Armistice.

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The Treaty of Versailles (signed 28th June 1919)

• An agreement that formally ended the 1st World War between
Germany and other powers.
• Under this agreement, Germany had to accept blame for the
war and pay £6 billion in reparations.

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Kaiser
Wilhelm II

The leader of Germany from 1888-1918.

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Alfred von
Schlieffen

German field marshal and strategist who came up with the Schlieffen
Plan. The plan was for German forces to invade France by going through
neutral Belgium.

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Lord
Kitchener

Britain’s Secretary of State for War. In charge of recruiting soldiers.
Between 1914 and 1916, over 2.5 million men had volunteered to join
‘Kitchener’s Army’.

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General
Douglas Haig

Senior officer in the British Army and commander of the British
Expeditionary Forces 1915-1918. In charge during the Battle of the Somme.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Back

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand (28th June 1914)

Card 3

Front

• A British offensive launched against the Germans in the Somme
region on the 1st July 1916.
• There were 57,470 British casualties on the first day alone.

Back

Card 4

Front

The two sides made an agreement to stop fighting at 11am – this
was called the Armistice.

Back

Card 5

Front

• An agreement that formally ended the 1st World War between
Germany and other powers.
• Under this agreement, Germany had to accept blame for the
war and pay £6 billion in reparations.

Back

View more cards

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WWI key events and people