WW1 Unit QUEST REVIEW

KEY TOPICS:
2 main Alliances in Europe: Triple Entente & Triple Alliance (who belongs to who)

● Triple Entente/Allies=Britain, France, Russia

● Triple Alliance/Central Powers=Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy
MAIN Background causes of the war
M- militarism, using a military force to defend or promote a country’s interest. Not only that to
protect themself from rivals (ex. Britain navy is the strongest because of having many colonies,
Russia had the largest because it's a big country with many people but Germany was catching up
to both)
A- alliances, countries coming together to strengthen their position in the world (triple
alliance/central: Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary & triple entente/allies: France, Russia and
Britain)
I- imperialism, the policy of extending the power of one country over other countries with
military force or economical control (ex. Britain controlled over 25% of the world’s territory and
people & Germany wanted African colonies but Britain took them)
N- nationalism, very pride in one’s own nation (ex. during the Schlieffen plan Germany showed
much pride)

The “Spark”
The immediate cause was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the archduke of
Austria-Hungary. His death at the hands of Gavrilo Princip – a Serbian nationalist with ties to the
secretive military group known as the Black Hand – propelled the major European military
powers towards war.
Serbia gave them 48 hours to put down hatred of Austria, punish assassins & help defeat the
Black Hand or else war would be declared and Serbia refused. Austria also had a black cheque
from Germany meaning they would help Austria at any time and the cheque was cashed to deal
with Bosnia and Serbia.

Steps to War and the Schlieffen Plan

● Germany promises support to Austria-Hungary against Serbia on July 5, 1914
● Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
● Russia begins to mobilize their army to protect Serbia because Serbia and Russia are of the same
ethnicity and Germany orders Russia to stop but Russia refuses
 ● Germany declares war on Russia on august 1, 1914, and France on August 3, 1914
● Germany puts the Schlieffen Plan into motion, invading Belgium on August 3, 1914, thinking it
would be weak since they are neutral but Britain had the treaty to protect Belgium signed back in
1839
● Britain declares war on Germany after the German army violates Belgium neutrality on August 4,
1914 (Canada automatically joins too)

What is Canada’s reaction to the outbreak of war?

The reason why Canada gets involved in the European conflict is because Canada is a British
colony. Not only that but over 50,000 men in Canada were unemployed and were deeply in debt.
So they signed up for WW1 with getting a pay of $1.10 a day, also they thought the war was
going to be quick and fast and that they would be home before Christmas.

Robert Borden
He was the prime minister from 1911 to 1920 a part of the conservative party of Canada and
promised French Canadians that there would be no conscription in Canada but one day after
seeing the front lines in march 1917 and seeing the desperate needs for more soldiers. So he
promised Britain to provide an additional 500,000 men to support the war. Borden strongly
believed in the British Empire and felt that a large Canadian contribution would help give more
influence within the empire. Following that he announced the military service act, which ordered
the conscription of all men ages 20-45.

Sam Hughes
When World War I began, Canada entered the war as part of the British Empire. Canada was not
a fully independent nation and therefore could not declare war or make peace on its own terms.
Sam Hughes organized a massive recruiting campaign across the country, there was no shortage
of volunteers. Him being the Minister of Militia, he had been increasing military spending and
upgrading training.

Trench Warfare: aspects of the trench system, life, conditions, injuries etc.
Soliders dug deep trenches to protect themselves against gunfire and exploding artillery shells. In
October 1914, both sides ‘dug in’ for winter. Soldiers dug and reinforced long rows of trenches,
protected by machine guns and barbed wire. In some areas, opposing trenches were separated by
only 25 meters. Front line trenches were usually 2 meters deep and protected by sandbags.
Communication trenches were dug back to support trenches. Reserve trenches were dug back
behind communication trenches. Sometimes small trenches known as Saps were dug out into no
man's land to serve as lookout posts. Trenches were built in a zigzag pattern to prevent enemy
fire from sweeping through the whole length of the trench. Between the enemy trenches was a
desolate area called no man’s land with barbed wire and landmines. Soldiers would be ordered to
go into no man's land when their commanding officer would yell, “Over the Top.” Wounded
soldiers caught in no man's land sometimes could not be brought back to safety. Wet weather
made the trenches slippery, muddy, and waterlogged. Toops often stood in water up to their
knees. These conditions caused many soldiers to get ‘trench foot.’ Soldiers usually served for a
month in the trenches which were infested with sickness, disease, rats, and lice. Meals consisted
of canned corn beef, bread or hard biscuits and hot tea and stew were served occasionally.
Packages sent from home included chocolate, fruit cake, and tins of jam. The night was the worst
time in the trenches, because of the fear of an attack. Raiding parties often crept across no man's
land during the night - they would sneak through the barbed wire and make surprise attacks.
Once in the trenches, attacking soldiers would impale their enemies with bayonets attached to
their rifles.

Major Canadian Battles: Ypres, Somme, Vimy and Passchendaele (significance of each)
Ypres -The Second Battle of Ypres began in April 1915 which was the first time poison gas was
used on the Western Front. It was used to divert attention from Eastern Front and hold 3.5 km of
the front line against the German Attack. On April 22, 1915, German troops released chlorine
gas. Surviving French troops retreated in a panic. The gas affected about 10,000 soldiers, half of
whom died within ten minutes of the gas reaching the front line. It was a thick yellowish-green
cloud. German troops moved into the gap left by the French and two days later the Germans
released the second batch of chlorine gas directed at Canadian troops. Although German troops
gained ground, they suffered heavy losses from defending Canadian and British troops. In their
first major battle, Canadians established a reputation as a formidable fighting force. Canada
suffered 5,975 casualties, including 1000 deaths. Canadians were the only ones who were able to
hold their position.

Somme - Began July 1- November 18, 1916.

British Commander, Sir Douglas Haig, insisted that the battle must continue despite heavy
casualties. The Germans referred to the battle as “das Blutbad”. The Blood Bath. Canadian
soldiers arrived in late summer of 1916. On the first day of battle, 90% of the Newfoundland
regiment was killed or wounded in action. Canadians met their objectives at the Somme and
pushed further into German-held territory. Canadian soldiers gained a reputation as heroic and
tough. By November, the front line had only advanced six miles into German territory. On
November 18, days after the British captured the area of Beaumont Hamel, the battle ended They
only Advanced 12km and Haig was blamed for horrible tactics. Total Allied casualties numbered
approximately 620,000, 24,000 of which were Canadian.
Vimy- early 1917 both British and french had (unsuccessfully) to take german stronghold on
vimy ridge in northern France. This height of land was considered a key advantage point and for
their 3rd time to capture it the allies had turned to the canadians. For the first time canadas 4
divisions were assembled to fight as a single unit under a Canadian commander, major- general
Arthur Currie. Using one of the strategies they used was the creeping barrage (from behind the
front line, artillery would start bombarding no man's land and gradually advance their salvos
towards german trenches. Infantry would follow this creeping barrage forward moving as close
as possible to the enemy positions before starting their attack.). The fight started at 5:30AM
Monday April 9, 1917, and ended the next day. The Canadians have taken a huge victory which
gave the allies a new hope, it was a turning point in the history of the new nation and gave
Canada a new sense of pride. After the battle France gave the battlefield to Canada as a memorial
park, around 11,285 Canadian soldiers died but their bodies were nowhere to be found.
Passchendaele- October 1917 – Canadian soldiers were involved in another major offensive
known as the Battle of Passchendaele. This battle was fought in an area that was a drained
swamp, once the drainage ditches were destroyed, men drowned in the mud and equipment sank
into the ground.16,000 Canadians died in an effort that gained the Entente forces only seven
kilometers of swampland. The Germans would gain the territory back four weeks later Like the
Somme, Passchendaele demonstrated how little value the military command had for the common
soldier.

New technology of War

From April 22 to 25, 1915, Canadian soldiers were fighting German soldiers on the front lines
near the town of Ypres, Belgium. The Germans attacked with a new kind of weapon: chlorine
gas. They hoped this would give them a quick and certain victory. The Canadian soldiers' skin
blistered, their eyes burned, and men suffocated to death from the poison. There were no gas
masks available, but some men covered their noses and mouth with urine-soaked handkerchiefs
to protect themselves. Gas masks were neither reliable nor effective until near the end of the war.
Many soldiers suffered lifelong lung problems due to chlorine gas exposure.
Industrialism led to new weapons of war such as machine guns, artillery, airplanes,
flamethrowers, submarines, tanks, and zeppelins.

War in the Air

Stalemate on the ground makes the war in the air extremely important. Early planes were used to
spy, later they became fighting aircraft.
Air Ace: Pilots credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during combat
Nicknamed Flying Coffins because the average lifespan for a pilot is 45 days
German Manfred von Richthofen, the “Red Baron” scored 80 victories
Canadian Billy Bishop is credited with 72 victories (most in the British Empire)
Fights between planes are called “dog fights”

War at Sea
By the end of 1916, Germany was starving due to an Entente naval blockade. Germany could not
import any food by boat, because the British controlled the sea. Germany decided that their only
way to even out the war was to attack British shipping. Germany did not have a strong navy, but
they did have submarines called U-Boats. U-Boats could travel the seas undetected U-Boats
would approach merchant ships undetected, surface, then fire missiles, sinking merchant ships.
On May 7, 1915 – the British ship, the Lusitania was sunk. Although this was a passenger ship, it
was carrying ammunitions for the British army. Hundreds of American Civilians died on the
Lusitania. The United States government was looking for an excuse to enter the war on the side
of the Entente. This did not directly bring the United States into the war. On April 6, 1917 – The
United States declared war on Germany in response to the repeated sinking of their merchant
ships. Germany’s U-Boat attacks brought the US into the war on the Entente side. In order to
protect shipping from the United States and Canada to Europe, the Entente Alliance developed
the Convoy System. Transport ships would be surrounded by small warships that could detect
German U-Boats and use depth charges to destroy them. The convoy system allowed supplies to
get to Europe from Canada and Britain. Germany was unable to put a stranglehold on Britain and
the Entente forces. Halifax harbor played a crucial role in the convoy system. Convoys could
organize in its protected, deep harbor

The Home-front: Life and Issues

Total war meant that all citizens and civilian soldiers were required to work on the homefront, as
well as give their full support to the war effort overseas. This included rationing. The creation of
an Imperial Munitions Board (IMB) led to the building of 7 new munitions factories, employing
over 300,000 people. 1/3 of the shells used by the British Empire during the war were made in
Canada. 600 Factories were also built to promote businesses such as Textile, pulp and paper, and
steel. Fear of spies led to the development of security posts on railways, bridges, and canals.
Halifax explosion - December 6th, 1917
The Mont Blanc, a French munitions ship carrying explosives collided with a Belgian vessel
(The Imo), igniting a blast of over 3000 tonnes of explosives. The explosion burnt the whole
surrounding village, and close to 2000 citizens died. It was important because it was the first time
people in Canada were able to feel the impact of weapons in war.
Propaganda: Why is it used and so important during WW1? Criteria for effective
propaganda.
Definition - Propaganda is a systematic spreading of ideas influencing people to support a
particular cause or point of view
During the First World War, posters were the most effective way of getting the message to the
masses. The posters were part of a major propaganda campaign to back the war effort and
promote the Allied cause.
4 major uses for propaganda
- Encourage young men to enlist
- Convince people at home to help finance the war
- To encourage people to ration their resources such as food and fuel
- To recruit women and children to work for the war effort
Criteria

● Inspiring Bold Letters, Make person seeing it feel guilty or like a chicken, Powerful
Images, Patriotic Statements or Slogans, Vilifying the Enemy, Memorable, Colour, Sense
of Conviction, Problem--- Solution
Rationing
Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial
restriction of demand. Canada wanted to produce as much food as possible, and reduce
consumption so that more food and resources could be sent to Europe. Rules stated that citizens
could only eat a pound and a half of butter, and 2 pounds of sugar a month. Alcohol was also
banned. They called this prohibition. Anyone caught hoarding or stockpiling would be fined.

Role of Women: How did they “do their bit”? What was the impact of the war on their life?
Women between 14 and 24 worked in textile factories such as telephone operators and in
domestic service. Women volunteered to work overseas as nurses. Those on the home front
enlisted to work in the wartime economy because of the labor shortage.

Wartime Elections Act

The Act gave the vote to the wives, widows, mothers, and sisters of soldiers serving overseas.
They were the first women ever to be able to vote in Canadian federal elections and were also a
group that was strongly in favour of conscription.
The role and treatment of Minorities and ‘Enemy aliens’
By the time the First World War began, there were more than one million people living in Canada
that were originally from regions belonging to the German and Austro-Hungarian empires. Some
of these people had recently immigrated to Canada, however, many were born in Canada.
ENEMY ALIENS
Many people in Canada feared that people of German or Austro-Hungarian descent could
become spies. The government used the War Measures Act and labeled more than 800,000
people as enemy aliens, thus restricting their rights. Enemy Aliens – people who had come from
an enemy country.
How were their rights restricted?

● Many forced to carry ID cards

● Report to authorities regularly
● Not allowed to read or publish anything, unless it was in English or French
● Not allowed to leave country without permission
Approximately 8500 people (mostly of German and Ukrainian heritage), were placed in
internment camps

● Forced to build roads, railways

● Cleared land
● Worked in mines

War Measures Act

The government used the War Measures Act and labeled more than 800,000 people as enemy
aliens, thus restricting their rights. Enemy Aliens – people who had come from an enemy
country.

Contributions of Indigenous & Black Canadians

Black Canadians have wanted to enlist in the war but were turned away and were told that it was
a white man's war. In the summer of 1916 there were fewer volunteers and the Canadian forces
needed soldiers asap. On july 5 1916, the number 2 construction battalion was created the only
black unit ever formed in Canada. In 1916 caption William White was the only black officer in
the british forces
Indiguneous- Indigenous and non-Indigenous soldiers shared similar experiences during the war.
The transition to life in the military was initially difficult for some Indigenous men, as many
came from remote areas of the country where they followed their own cultural traditions. They
had little contact with Canadians outside their communities, and often spoke neither English nor
French. Indigenous men adapted quickly to their new life as soldiers, often becoming valuable
members of their companies. Many Indigenous men served as snipers or reconnaissance scouts,
some of the most hazardous roles in the military. Others served in support units in the CEF,
including railway troops, tunneling companies and forestry units.

The Conscription Crisis: What is it, why was it introduced and what were the reactions in
Canada?
Conscription is forced enlistment in the military. It was introduced by Prime Minister Robert
Borden who had previously promised no conscription to French Canadians after his visit to the
frontlines in March 1917. After seeing the desperate need for more soldiers, he promised an
additional 500,000 men to support the war. Borden strongly believed in the British Empire and
felt that a large Canadian contribution would help give more influence within the empire.
Following that he announced the military service act, which ordered conscription of all men ages.
Some English Canadians such as pacifists or farmers were upset, but French Canadians felt
betrayed. Conscription divided Canadians along French-Canadian lines. Quebec was called "The
Foul Blot on Canada'' for resisting conscription. On Easter weekend 1918, 23-year old Joseph
Mercier was arrested in Quebec City for not having his conscription registration papers. In
retaliation, a 3-day riot broke out and by the end, 4 people had been killed.

End of the War: Impact on the World and Canada?

On november 11, 1918 with Germany agreeing to a ceasefire and accepting defeat. Two days
prior, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated (gave up) the throne.
Consequences for Canada

● Many inured men were sent home and the community struggled to find medical care and
jobs for them
● Many women who were working during wartime lost their jobs to returning veterans
● Manufacturing production slowed down after the war
● Only some of the factories that were built for the war were refitted for peacetime
production, making work sacrce
● Immigration Act 1919, denied entry to people from countries that sided with Central
Powers and denied people who were illiterate, socialist, communist
The Treaty of Versailles-intended and unintended outcomes.
The Treaty of Versailles was the name of the peace treaty that officially ended World War One
.Germany had to face severe consequences outlined by the terms of this treaty

● German was no longer allowed to have Foreign Colonies 🡪 Lost all colonies
● Germany lost territory, including Alsace and Lorraine and a large chunk of area in the
East was taken to create Poland
● A large area bordering France called the Rhine was to be demilitarized
● Germany was also forbidden from uniting with Austria
● Germany’s Army could not exceed 100 000 troops
● Germany was not allowed to have an Air Force
● Germany was not allowed to have a Navy
● Germany had to make very costly payments ($Billions) to rebuild war torn areas in
France and Belgium (War Reparations)