History > Key Stage 3

The Causes of World War I

Failure of Schlieffen Plan

• Belgium fought strongly slowing Germany.
• Britain enters the war supporting Belgium.
• Russia enters the war sooner than expected and German troops have to be sent from the Western Front to face the Russians on the Easern Front. Germany have to alter their plans as a result.

Trench War

• Technology (the machine gun and more powerful artillery) lead to soldiers ‘digging in’.
• Stalemate as neither side could breakthrough.
• ‘Over the top’.
• ‘No mans land’.
• Major battles (Ypres, Verdun, Somme) involved huge casualties.
• Sir Douglas Haig responsible for tactics at the Somme. He believed the ends justifies the means.
• Conditions awful; each ‘season’ brought problems; disease.
• At home many were ignorant of life in the trenches especially in the early years; letters censored; newspapers censored; casualty figures not published.
• Conscientious objectors spoke out and refused to be conscripted after 1915 when insufficient volunteers.

The Home Front

• 1914 Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) meant the Government could introduce conscription; take over industry; take over land; enforce rationing; censor news.
• Recruitment not a problem initially due to propaganda.
• Women's role changed; they took over the jobs of those previously done by men especially in dangerous munitions work and transport.
• 1917 Food supply crisis due to U-boat threat; convoy system introduced; rationing 1918.

• ‘The War to End All Wars’ – 1918
• The improved tank makes a difference in 1917
• USA enters the war in 1917
• November 11 (11am) war ends
• Cost £7 million a day; 1 million deaths/injuries.