Download Using the following animation, follow World War I from its start to its

Name: ______________________________
Using the following animation, follow World War I from its start to its end. In order to fully
answer the questions, you will have to go to other sites for more information.
Start with http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/launch_ani_western_front.shtml.
Once you have watched a segment of animation and read the accompanying text, answer the
question or questions below. You might have to use the suggested websites to gain more
knowledge. You should write the answers on these pages.
1. Watch and read “the Schliefen plan”

What was the Schlieffen Plan? What were the strengths of the plan and what were its
weaknesses? You might want to use http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/plans.htm.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Watch and read “German advance”

What were the rivers that the Germans crossed?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Approximately how close were the Germans to Paris?
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Watch and read “German retreat to the Aisne”

Why did the Germans have to retreat?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
This was the first instance of trench warfare. Briefly describe life in the trenches. You might
want to use http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/trenchlife.htm or
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/historian/hist_fussell_03_trenches.html
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What is a stalemate?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Watch and read “Race to the Sea”
1
5. Watch and read “First Battle of Ypres”

Why were the Channel ports so important to Great Britain?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. Watch and read “Neuve Chapelle”
7. Watch and read “Second battle of Ypres”

Approximately how much ground was gained by the Germans?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Figure out how many men were lost for each mile gained.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Chlorine gas was used for the first time in this battle. What were the effects of the use
of the gas? You might want to use http://www.firstworldwar.com/weaponry/gas.htm or
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/poison_gas_and_world_war_one.htm
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
8. Watch and read “Loos and Aubers Ridge”
9. Watch and read “the Battle of Verdun” (there are two slides)

What are the dates of this battle?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

How long has the war been going on?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Why didn’t the Germans achieve victory at Verdun?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What was the casualty toll at Verdun for both sides? Compare
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
10. Watch and read “the Battle of the Somme” (there are two slides)

Why were soldiers excited for the start of the battle?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2

Why was the seven day bombardment largely unsuccessful?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

How many were killed the first day of the battle?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What were the total casualties of the Somme for each country?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
11. Watch and read “the Hindenburg Line”

When did the Germans pull back to the Hindenburg Line?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What made the line easier to defend?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
12. Watch and read “Arras” and “Nivelle’s offensive”

Why would capturing a ridge be a strategic advantage?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What is a mutiny? How might a successful mutiny change the course of the war?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
13. Watch and read “Third battle of Ypres Passchendaele” (there are two slides)

Note the date of the battle. What has happened in the US by this point? How has the
US prepared for war? You might need to use our textbook to find this out.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What is a battle of attrition? You might want to go to the glossary of the PBS website
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/ or your homework to find this out.
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Why was Passchendaele considered the lowest point of the war?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
3
14. Watch and read “Cambrai”

What new technology was used at Cambrai?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Why weren’t the British able to maintain their gains?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
15. Watch and read “German offensives”

How did the Russia Revolution help the Germans?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Why did the German offensives “fizzle out”? You might want to use
http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/historian/hist_wilson_07_march.html
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What is artillery?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What are infantry?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
16. Watch and read “Allied offensives”
17. Watch and read “Armistice”

What is an armistice?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

What happened on November 11, 1918 that made it the logical choice for the date of
Veteran’s Day?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
IF YOU STILL HAVE TIME IN CLASS, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU FURTHER RESEARCH
WORLD WAR I. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE, THE
RED BARON, FLAMETHROWERS, TANKS, PLANES, TOTAL WAR, PALS BATTALIONS, POETRY,
MUSIC, PROPAGANDA AND MANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE WAR. JUST
READ AND LEARN.
4