Europe and WWI — causes and Central Powers' defeat
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Flip to reveal answersWhat was the 'Blank Cheque' of 5 July 1914?
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Question
What was the 'Blank Cheque' of 5 July 1914?
Answer
Germany's promise of unconditional support to Austria-Hungary for action against Serbia, encouraging a harder line.
Question
Name the two alliance blocs in Europe by 1907.
Answer
Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) and Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).
Question
Why did Austria-Hungary fear Serbian nationalism after the Balkan Wars (1912-13)?
Answer
Serbia had grown much stronger and more confident, becoming a magnet for South Slav nationalism inside Austria-Hungary's own multi-ethnic empire.
Question
What triggered the July Crisis of 1914?
Answer
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914.
Question
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail?
Answer
It aimed to knock France out quickly then turn on Russia, but was halted at the Battle of the Marne (September 1914), leading to trench stalemate.
Question
What was the 'Turnip Winter'?
Answer
The winter of 1916-17 in Germany, when the British naval blockade caused severe food shortages and turnips replaced potatoes and bread.
Question
What two events triggered US entry into WWI in April 1917?
Answer
Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare against shipping and the Zimmermann Telegram (a proposed German-Mexican alliance against the USA).
Question
Compare the military-defeat view and the home-front view of the Central Powers' collapse.
Answer
Military-defeat view: the Allies out-fought Germany in 1918. Home-front view: blockade, starvation and collapsing morale broke Germany from within before the army was fully beaten.
Question
What happened at Kiel in November 1918?
Answer
German sailors mutinied, sparking revolution that spread to Berlin and led to the Kaiser's abdication days before the Armistice.
Question
List the Central Powers.
Answer
Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.
Question
What is the 'structuralist' vs 'decision-makers' debate on WWI's causes?
Answer
Structuralist view: the alliance system/arms race made war almost inevitable. Decision-makers view: individual choices in July 1914 actually caused the war.
Question
Why was the order of the Central Powers' collapse in 1918 significant?
Answer
Bulgaria (Sept), the Ottoman Empire (Oct), and Austria-Hungary (late Oct) all surrendered before Germany, showing the alliance disintegrating under combined military and economic pressure.
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Topic 13.6 hub
Europe and the First World War (1871–1923)
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