World War I

Handout Three

Topic: First Battles

OUTLINE:

 III. 1914: The First Battles

     A. Let the Fighting Begin.

B. Here Comes the BEF.

C. Mons.

D. Le Cateau.

E. Retreat, Retreat, Retreat.

F. The Marne.

G. Tannenberg

H. The Race to the Sea.

I. First Ypres

 QUESTIONS: 

1. The Schlieffen Plan may have worked if Helmuth von Moltke maintained his composure. What was the German operational plan to defeat France? What did the German plan require? What would have happened if  Moltke did not modify Schlieffen’s initial plan?

2. What was the duty of Sir John French, the Commander of the BEF, according to Lord Kitchener? How important was the BEF? What role did the BEF play in the early days of World War I?

3. How important were the early British engagements at Mons and Le Cateau in the big picture during the opening days of war?

4. What role did Tannenberg play in the Allied victory at the Battle of the Marne? What factors account for the German crushing victory over the Russians? Explain.

 TERMS:

Joseph Joffre            First Battle of Ypres

Mons                       Kindermord zu Ypres

Race to the Sea        Massacre of the Innocents at Ypres

Le Cateau                 Paul von Hindenburg

Lord Kitchener         Rennenkampf

Sir John French        Samsonov

Joseph Gallieni         Conrad

Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria

Battle of the Frontiers

Liege

Krupp 420 mm Howitzers

Erich Luddendorff

Sir Douglas Haig