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The Schlieffen Plan
The Schlieffen Plan – Put into play December 1905
According to the Schlieffen plan, Germany invaded Belgium, a neutral country. Therefore, Britain declared war on Germany, as Belgium was their ally, bringing the Allied troops, including Canada, into the war. According to the Schlieffen plan, Germany invaded Belgium, a neutral country. Therefore, Britain declared war on Germany, as Belgium was their ally, bringing the Allied troops, including Canada, into the war. -
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World War One
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Robert Borden
Robert Broden was elected into the House of Commons 1890 and 1896. Later on, he became the leader of the Conservative Party in 1901 and was not elected until 1911. During the World War 1, Robert Borden was a big supporter of Britain and sent Canadian troops to Great Britain. -
Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes – In Office from 10th October 1911 – 12 October 1916
Sam Hughes served as Canada’s Minister of Militia and Defence from 1911 to 1916. He was the one who introduced and modified the Ross rifles, which over-heated and jammed easily, to Canadians. Because of Hughes, Canadian soldiers did not receive the proper equipment for the war. Their boots, for instance, were made out of cardboard and poor leather, resulting in trench foot. -
The Second Battle of Ypres
Battle of Ypres – April 1915
The first poison gas attack occured at the Second Battle of Ypres. Over 6,000 Canadians lost their lives at this battle. This is the famous battle of ‘Flanders Fields’, resulting in the Canadian poem “In Flanders Fields”. -
Trench Warfare
Trench Warfare – Used in 1914 – on (though used earlier as well; in the Boer War etc.)
Trench warfare is a type of war tactic that was commonly used in World War 1. Soldiers on both sides of a battle field would dig trenches to avoid enemy fire and form a defence position. However, diseases like trench foot were common, resulting in a certain amount of deaths. -
No-Man's Land
No-Man’s Land – Part of Trench Warfare : 1914 - on
No-man’s land is the piece of land between trenches that are occupied by different parties. Soldiers who enter no-man’s land usually die instantly due to the vast amount of machine guns aimed at that area and snipers hiding beneath the trenches. -
Attrition
Attrition – Most Prominent in 1915 and 1916 battles.
A war of attrition is a war in which both sides suffer; yet they neither side gain territory. Attrition had occurred throughout various battles in World War 1, including the battle of the Somme, the battle of Ypres, etc. -
Trench Foot
Trench foot was found in soldiers throughout WW1 (1914 -1918)
Trench foot is a medical condition resulting from the exposure of the feet to damp, wet and cold environments. Trench foot was a result of trench warfare because soldiers were constantly in wet and muddy environments. -
Western Front
The Western Front is the border created between Germany and France, made up of multiple battles that had come to a stalemate. The first battle happened on August 4, 1914 -
Stalemate
A stalemate is a situation where both sides are unable to advance. Stalemates were a result of trench warfare, as, due to the new weapons, old military tactics did not work well anymore, and the battle field was evenly matched. The biggest example of a stalemate in World War 1 is the stalemate between Germany and the Allies on the Western Front. -
Lusitania
The Lusitania was a British passenger ship that was sunk by German U-Boats. Many of the the passengers on the ship were American. Therefore, the American view of the Germans changed and the Americans got involved in the war because of it. -
Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop was Canada's top pilot during World War 1. He was famous for shooting down 72 emeny plans. As a result, Billy Bishop was rewarded the Victoria Cross for it. -
Battle of the Somme
The battle of the Somme was a disastrous attack on the Germans made by the Allied forces; composed of many Canadians, at the French side of the Western Front. The attack was supposed to “end trench warfare”, but the Allies had overestimated their gear, weaponry, and battle tactics. After five months of a disgusting loss of life – 1.25 million soldiers killed from both German and Allied troops – and nothing but a couple miles of land passing hands, this battle was given up. -
First Russian Revolution
Riots and protests broke out on ‘International Women’s’ Day’ - multitudes of women were joined by men and soldiers to protest the reign of the Tsar. The Duma (state legislature) and various military officials also joined the cause and pressured Tsar Nicholas II Nikolovena to give up the throne.The Tsar appointed his brother, who also abdicated, leaving Russia without government. On March 2,the Duma took control as Provisional Government.The royal family was then sent into exile and brutally murd -
Battle of the Vimmy Ridge
The battle of Vimy Ridge was a series of attacks waged by multiple nations that took place at Vimy Ridge, in France near the Belgian border, and stretched from October to April. Germany took control of the area in October, and French and British troops fought until the task of regaining Vimy Ridge was “awarded” to Canadian troops, because of their “performance” at the battles of Ypres and the Somme. Led by Currie, Canada regained Vimy Ridge and was given credit as a nation independent of Britain -
Military Service Act/Bill
This bill was a governmentally proposed and enforced form of conscription – forcing all men between the ages of 20 to 35 to join the Canadian military. It was introduced by P.M. Borden. Enforcement of the bill continued into 1918. The act was a result of the insurmountable number of war casualties – too many soldiers were dying to keep up Canada’s promised number of soldiers to be sent to war. Despite the clashing opinions of the English and French Canadians over this matter, the act was signed. -
Second Russian Revolution
After gaining popularity, and a strong following, since the abdication of the Tsar, Vladimir Lenin and his supporters, the Bolsheviks, took over the Russian government on October 26th 1917, and became Russia’s new Provisional Government. -
Battle of Passchendaele
Canadian troops were ordered to take the German town Passchendaele, despite General Currie's protests agains the rough terrain. The Canadian troops still won the battle, held it until reinforcements came and gained 7 km of land as well, proving their prowess and independence. Despite this, the Germans won back their land and 16,000 men were killed without reason. -
Treaty of Versailles
After World War 1, all the ‘victorious’ nations congregated in Paris and its suburbs, to decide on a peace agreement – what to do with the ‘loosing’ countries. The result of these meetings – called the Paris Peace Talks – was the Treaty of Versailles. It ‘punished’ Germany and Austria-Hungary,and completely re-drew the map of Europe, making many small new countries for different ethnicities, and may have contributed to World War 2 by creating tension between the random borders created. -
League of Nations
At the Paris Peace Talks, an idea for a league of nations was brought up by U.S President Woodrow Wilson, and was included in the Treaty of Versailles. The idea of the League of Nations was to create a “collective security” among countries – like a giant, inclusive alliance. The countries included would police themselves, and protect each other.It worked in theory, but the League of Nations failed miserably in actuality
