First World War Exam Quiz! Trivia
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For how many years did the First World War last?
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1
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2
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3
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4
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Do you know anything about the first World War? This quiz might be valuable to you. Concerning this quiz, you need to know which two countries allied with Franz and Wilhelm's rule. Russia aligned with Britain and France to form what agreement, who was the king of Belgium when Germany invaded in 1914, and how was the invasion of Belgium perceived in Britain. This quiz will put your knowledge of the first World War to the test.
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- 2.
Austrian Emperor Franz Josef once featured in a Tom & Jerry episode.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
At 84 he was the oldest reigning Monarch in Europe and ruled 45,000,000 subjects. He had suffered some personal tragedies: his brother was executed, his son killed himself, and his wife was assassinated. Although he considered Sophie 'beneath' Franz Ferdinand he eventually alloweded them to marry but insisted on her being treated differently at court because of her lower standing.Rate this question:
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- 3.
Water rations were sometimes stored in petrol canisters.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Giving them the unmistakeable after taste of petroleum.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Tanks often got stuck in the mud in no-man's land.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The first tanks were Fiats Tipos and could travel at 2mph. They were known as Little Willies, a jibe at the Kaiser's expense.Rate this question:
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- 5.
The Dual Alliance was between Franz Josef and Wilhelm. Which two countries did they rule?
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Germany and Russia
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Britain and France
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Austria Hungary and Germany
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Italy and Japan
Correct Answer
A. Austria Hungary and GermanyExplanation
In 1879 Germany and Austria-Hungary made an agreement to support one another in the event either were attacked. This was known as the Dual Alliance. This act between Franz Josef and Wilhelm was the first important step in the growth of the system of alliances.Rate this question:
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- 6.
Germany was seen as a 'land rat' and Britain a '_________ rat'.
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Cloud
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Air
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Water
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Space
Correct Answer
A. WaterExplanation
At the start of 1914 Germany had an army of 4,500,000 soldiers. So too did Russia but with many more in reserve. By comparison the British under French had only 100,000 soldiers in the British Expeditionary Force which the German Kaiser describes as contemptible. The French under Joffre had 800,000 soldiers. Germany was seen as a 'land rat' and Britain a 'water rat'.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Soldiers could catch frostbite.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The winter of 1916-17 in particular was one of the coldest in the Twentieth Century.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Which country had the largest Empire in the world before the outbreak of war?
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Spain
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France
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Germany
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Britain
Correct Answer
A. BritainExplanation
By 1900 Britain and France had huge empires in many continents in order to provide raw materials to feed industrial growth. Just some of Britain's colonies in 1914 included India, Canada, Australia, Guyana, Malaysia, South and East Africa, Sierra Leone, New Guinea, and Nigeria. Britain was the elite Imperial power.Rate this question:
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- 9.
There were celebrations on the streets in parts of Europe in 1914 and it was widely believed it would be a short war, 'over by __________''
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Easter
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Valentine's Day
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Christmas
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The start of the football season
Correct Answer
A. ChristmasExplanation
Many people use the word euphoria to describe the atmosphere in 1914.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What nickname did Haig acquire after the Somme?
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Slaughterer of the Somme
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Butcher of the Somme
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Murderer of the Somme
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Killer of the Somme
Correct Answer
A. Butcher of the SommeExplanation
Standard tactics involved soldiers simply walking over No man's land following a period of shelling and having to face machine gun fire, barbed wire, and churned up terrain caused by shelling. When Haig asked the Canadian Corps Commander, Arthur Currie, to capture Passchendaele Ridge during the final month of the battle, Currie flatly replied "It's suicidal" and then did as he was told.Rate this question:
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- 11.
Haig had suffered from toothache during the war.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Some people describe the Generals as ‘Chateaux Generals’ because they were in mansions many miles away from the front.Rate this question:
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- 12.
On 31st July 1914 Russia mobilised its army following a series of written _____________ between Nicholas and Wilhelm.
Correct Answer
Letters, letters, telegrams, correspondence, messages, notes, communicationsExplanation
This can be seen as provocative by Nicholas II and Sergey Sazanov. "The whole weight of responsibility lies solely on your shoulders", wrote Wilhelm to Nicholas in regard to this.Rate this question:
- 13.
Who was the Archduke of Austria?
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Frankie Howerd
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France Germany
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Frank Lampard
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Franz Ferdinand
Correct Answer
A. Franz FerdinandExplanation
The terrorist group were called The Black Hand.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Britain created a new type of battleship in the naval race that made all others obsolete. What was it called?
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Dreadnought
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Fearnone
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Notscared
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Noterror
Correct Answer
A. DreadnoughtExplanation
It was invented in 1906 under Admiral George Callaghan.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Britain's King George V had a dragon in national colours tattooed onto his body
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Britain was a very nationalistic country - the King did this in 1882.Rate this question:
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- 16.
What was the French Plan in the event of a German invasion?
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Plan 15
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Plan 16
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Plan 17
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Plan 18
Correct Answer
A. Plan 17Explanation
In 1913 France had drawn up a strategy to invade Germany, known as Plan 17. This suggests people in France's army, such as Joffre, were expecting war.Rate this question:
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- 17.
When Haig died of a heart attack aged 66 on 29th January 1928, ten years after leading his country to victory in the bloodiest conflict known to man (up to that point), he was given a hero's burial with his funeral being made a day of national mourning. His grave was marked by a simple standard Commonwealth War Graves commission white headstone. However, views about him began to change in the 1960s when a man called Alan Clark wrote a book he called _______________
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The Asses
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The Mules
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The Horses
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The Donkeys
Correct Answer
A. The DonkeysExplanation
In this book Clark argued that he agreed with German First World War General Erich Ludendorff who reportedly stated: "The English Generals are wanting in strategy. We should have no chance if they possessed as much courage and bravery as their men. They are lions led by donkeys." This view of incompetent and foolish leaders in charge of brave young men became very popular and can be seen in the novel All Quiet on the Western Front (which later also became a movie) as well as in the TV comedy series Blackadder Goes Forth. Haig in particular was portrayed as a 'Chateau General', living in splendour miles behind the front line and totally indifferent to the lives (and deaths) of the young men under his command. In one scene in Blackadder Haig sweeps up model soldiers from a large map with a dustpan and brush, before tossing them over his shoulder. Today most school-students of the First World War believe this view - that Haig and his generals were donkeys.Rate this question:
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- 18.
What disease did lice cause?
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Trench fever
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Trench foot
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Shellshock
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Dysentery
Correct Answer
A. Trench feverExplanation
Lice was a never-ending problem. Clothes would be deloused but eggs could be hidden in seams and within hours body heat would cause the eggs to hatch. The lice then caused trench fever, a very painful disease.Rate this question:
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- 19.
The periscope was invented during the First World War.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Novices, such as conscripted recruits in Britain's Kitchener's Army, sometimes peered over the parapet to see no-man's land and were killed by snipers. This was especially the case if soldiers were smoking cigarettes because the sniper would aim their scope above the smoke. More experienced soldiers used periscopes - in its simplest form just a stick with two angled pieces of mirror at the top and bottom.Rate this question:
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- 20.
Just one month into the war in 1914 German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg wrote up the ____________ Programme.
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September
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October
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November
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December
Correct Answer
A. SeptemberExplanation
This was a list of territories Germany hoped to conquer in the war. The speed of this suggests Germany had planned the war as a war of expansion.Rate this question:
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- 21.
Which of the following was NOT something which added to the terrible smell of the trenches?
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Bacon
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Poison gas
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Creosote
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Chloride of lime
Correct Answer
A. BaconExplanation
The smell of the trenches would be terrible - a combination of rotting bodies (200,000 were killed on the Somme for example, many in shallow graves) would add to this.Rate this question:
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- 22.
How was the invasion of Belgium perceived in Britain?
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The murder of Belgium
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The rape of Belgium
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The theft of Belgium
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The GBH of Belgium
Correct Answer
A. The rape of BelgiumExplanation
50,000 soldiers and 6,000 civilians died in what became known as The Rape of Belgium. The German Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg simply called the treaty a "scrap of paper".Rate this question:
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- 23.
In 1871 France was decisively beaten by Prussia in a war that led to the creation of Germany. Germany took the area of Alsace-Lorraine and forced the French to pay, known as an indemnity. It was said that 'Europe had lost a mistress and gained a ____________'
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Baker
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Professor
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Master
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Pussycat
Correct Answer
A. MasterExplanation
Many in France, including Rene Viviani and especially Raymond Poincare, sought revanchist action - i.e. revenge. Some people spoke of 'war in perpetuity' and even today Germany Vs France football matches have an 'edge' to them! To prevent France from attacking the German Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, made an alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879.Rate this question:
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- 24.
On 8th December 1912 a German Imperial War Council took place. Which historian believes this was when the Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to deliberately engineer a European war.
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Fritz Fischer
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Gary Sheffield
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Richard Holmes
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James Joll
Correct Answer
A. Fritz FischerExplanation
In attendance at the meeting were Admiral Von Tirpitz and General Von Moltke.Rate this question:
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- 25.
Both sides would relieve tension with machine gun fire, shelling, and small arms fire. What was this known as?
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Evening wistfulness
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Afternoon joy
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Morning hate
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Mid-day blues
Correct Answer
A. Morning hateExplanation
18 pound shells could cause terrifying damage. Many British shells were however duds due to problems in munitions factories and even in the events where they were not they did little damage to enemy barbed wire which simply went up and came down again.Rate this question:
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- 26.
Were Kitchener's Army all trained career soldiers?
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Yes
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No
Correct Answer
A. NoExplanation
They were not professional soldiers like they had been in 1914.Many made simple errors and the 31st Division was nicknamed the ‘Thirty Worst’Rate this question:
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- 27.
The British navy had followed the _______ Power Standard, meaning the navy had to be twice the size of its nearest competitors.
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One
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Two
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Three
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Four
Correct Answer
A. TwoExplanation
By 1914 Britain had 29 Dreadnoughts with a total navy personnel of 209,000 under the charge of Callaghan (who was soon sacked and replaced by Jellicoe). Dreadnoughts could travel at 21 knots and were equipped with five 12 inch guns, twenty five 12 pde guns, and five 18 inch torpedo tubes. Moreover, the British navy had followed the Two Power Standard, meaning the navy had to be twice the size of its nearest competitors. This is an example of militarism.Rate this question:
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- 28.
Gavrilo Princip was the first member of the Black Hand.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. FalseExplanation
He was a 19 year old suffering from tuberculosis (which will eventually kill in 1918) who believed in the concept of pan-Slavism. From a poor farming background, he lost six siblings in childhood, and had been expelled from school before joining the terrorist branch of a group called Young Bosnia. This branch is known as The Black Hand and its motto is "union or death." It was he who fired the shots that killed the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie Chotek on Franz Josef Street in Sarajevo. (Contrary to what many people might tell you - he was not eating a sandwich at the time). He had been angry at Austrian rule and hoped the assassination would cause Austria to leave Bosnia. After the assassination he swallowed cyanide which had expired because it was old and tried to shoot himself but the pistol was wrestled from his hand. Instead he was given a 20 year sentence in Theresienstadt prison. He weighed a little over 6 stone when he died, in 1918. He stated however "I regret nothing."Rate this question:
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- 29.
What phrase meant attacking enemy trenches by going through no-man's land?
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Around the side
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Under the bottom
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Through the middle
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Over the top
Correct Answer
A. Over the topExplanation
There were many lines of German trenches on one side and many lines of Allied trenches on the other. The distance between trenches could vary from several hundreds of yards to just 30 yards (at Vimy Ridge). In the middle was no-man's land, so-called because it didn't belong to either army. Soldiers crossed no-man's land when they wanted to attack the other side. This was known as going 'over the top'.Rate this question:
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- 30.
Antibiotics saved many lives during the First World War.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. FalseExplanation
Medical Stations were set up but were often ill-prepared for the number and nature of casualties. Antibiotics had not yet been discovered. There were however some advances in medicine which came about during the war. These included the first X-Rays, the first blood transfusions, and also the first attempts at plastic surgery.Rate this question:
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- 31.
9B are the most amazing people on this planet.
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True
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False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Post your score on Moxtra to claim your House Points (screenshot please)Rate this question:
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- 32.
Which plan would see Germany invade France through Belgium in order to avoid a long term two front war?
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Moltke Plan
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Big stick policy
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Plan 17
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Schlieffen Plan
Correct Answer
A. Schlieffen PlanExplanation
As a future French leader would say "one thing is for certain, they will not say Belgium invaded Germany." This suggests the war was the fault of German aggression. Von Moltke's predecessor, Von Schlieffen, had already designed a plan for a European war back in 1905. This involved attacking France through neutral Belgium, defeating them in just six weeks, before turning the might of the German army against Russia in the east.Rate this question:
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- 33.
Russia allied with Britain and France, forming the Triple ____________
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Agreement
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Alliance
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Friendship
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Entente
Correct Answer
A. EntenteExplanation
This was formed in 1907.Rate this question:
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- 34.
Kaiser Wilhelm II and Bethmann-Hollweg offered Austria a 'blank ________' of support when they decided to declare war on Serbia.
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Loan
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Payment
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Credit card
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Cheque
Correct Answer
A. ChequeExplanation
It can be argued they did this to start a war which would involve Russia and France. Germany had offered Austria its "full support" in a meeting at Potsdam as early as 5th July 1914. Why would they do this, knowing Serbia was allied to Russia, and in turn Russia to France and Britain?Rate this question:
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- 35.
In which car was Franz Ferdinand travelling?
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Phaeton
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Mitsubishi
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Fiat
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Vauxhall
Correct Answer
A. PhaetonExplanation
He was in the third of four cars (a phaeton) in an overtop motorcade when the first bomb was launched. His driver then sped off and took a wrong turn, leaving Appel Quay, which is where 19 year old Gavrilo Princip shot him in the neck. Ironically, he had been a leading voice for peace.Rate this question:
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- 36.
Soldiers were ordered to climb up on the fire step to guard against a dawn raid by the enemy with their bayonets fixed. What was this known as?
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Sit down
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Stand to
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Roll over
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Hop along
Correct Answer
A. Stand toExplanation
This took place an hour before dawn each day.Rate this question:
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- 37.
What did soldiers put on their feet to prevent getting trenchfoot?
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Seal oil
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Penguin oil
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Whale oil
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Otter oil
Correct Answer
A. Whale oilExplanation
Trench foot was a fungal foot infection caused by cold and wet conditions. Feet would become numb, turn red (erythema) or blue (cyanosis), swell, blister, and decay. They could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. To prevent this soldiers would be paired and each made responsible for the feet of the other. Whale oil was often used to keep feet dry and soldiers would wrap their legs up in bandages known as puttees to help prevent trench foot.Rate this question:
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- 38.
On what precise date did a terrorist group assassinate the heir to the Austrian throne?
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28th June 1914
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28th July 1914
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28th August 1914
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28th September 1914
Correct Answer
A. 28th June 1914Explanation
This took place in Sarajevo in a part of the world known as The Balkans. This event triggered a combination of factors to bring about war.Rate this question:
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- 39.
Who was Douglas Scott's famous grandfather?
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John French
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Douglas Haig
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HH Asquith
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Lord Kitchener
Correct Answer
A. Douglas HaigExplanation
Scott was appalled at the treatment Haig's reputation went through.Rate this question:
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- 40.
In a 1908 interview with a British newspaper Kaiser Wilhelm II described himself as a "friend of England." Which newspaper?
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The Times
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The Daily Telegraph
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The Guardian
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The Sun
Correct Answer
A. The Daily TelegraphExplanation
He pointed out in the interview that if he were not a friend he would have helped British enemies in the Boer War.Rate this question:
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- 41.
Which of the following were NOT used in close-combat fighting?
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Brass knuckles
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Bayonets
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Trench shovels
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Machine guns
Correct Answer
A. Machine gunsExplanation
Patrols would be sent out into no-man's land to repair barbed wire or to spy on the enemy at listening posts. Those who met could not risk firing their weapons for fear of attracting machine gun fire. Instead they had to scuttle away quickly or engage in to-the-death hand to hand combat using brass knuckles, trench shovels, and bayonets. We can only imagine how horrendous these night time fights must have been.Rate this question:
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- 42.
When the First World War ended which Article of the Treaty of Versailles laid the blame for the outbreak of the war firmly on Germany?
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123
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231
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312
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132
Correct Answer
A. 231Explanation
When the war ended Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, known as the War Guilt Clause, laid the blame for the war squarely at the feet of the defeated Germany. This was the traditional view. But in the 1920s and 1930s some people revised their opinions and argued that blame should be shared. This is the revisionist view. Then in 1961 a German historian called Fritz Fischer wrote a book which blamed Germany, again, arguing they sought a war of aggression. Another historian, Gerhard Ritter, argued the opposite and said Germany wanted only to maintain the status quo in Europe by supporting Austria.Rate this question:
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- 43.
German overseas territories did not include which of the following?
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Cairo
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Tanganyika
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Namibia
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The Carolines
Correct Answer
A. CairoExplanation
Germany and Wilhelm II became jealous of other European powers' Empires and wanted a 'place in the sun.' German possessions in places like Tanganyika and Namibia (since 1884) were not seen as nearly enough. Namibia for example was largely desert, whereas British interests included neighbouring South Africa, whose diamonds made it more profitable.Rate this question:
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- 44.
By November 1914 there was a continuous line of trenches covering __________ miles from Switzerland to the North Sea.
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4
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40
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400
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4,000
Correct Answer
A. 400Explanation
For this reason the First World War is commonly associated with trench warfare - there was stalemate between the two opposing sides.Rate this question:
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- 45.
A word given to a self-inflicted wound.
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Jerry Wound
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Tommy Wound
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Poilu Wound
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Boche Wound
Correct Answer
A. Tommy WoundExplanation
Some soldiers deliberately inflicted wounds on themselves so they could leave the front line. These were referred to as 'Tommy wounds' and if somebody lost a thumb or was shot in the foot it was said they had 'copped a Tommy'. Can you imagine how terrible conditions must have been to make people do this?Rate this question:
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- 46.
What colour enveloped meant a soldier's letter would not be censored?
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Green
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Red
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Yellow
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Orange
Correct Answer
A. GreenExplanation
Soldiers would write letters home. The war meant it was actually faster to send a letter from France to London than it is today (!) and soldiers would sometimes be given green envelopes which meant they would not be censored (although the vast majority of letters home were censored for security reasons as well as national morale).Rate this question:
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- 47.
Which type of gas was used first? (April 1915)
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Mustard
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Chlorine
Correct Answer
A. ChlorineExplanation
Chlorine gas was a real threat after it was first used by Germany in April 1915 at the second Battle of Ypres. It caused lung damage and could kill, although it could be unreliable if the wind changed direction as it could blow back and was quite visible. For this reason gas masks were introduced. Prior to this soldiers would urinate on a piece of cloth as the urea disabled the poison. Mustard gas however was less easy to detect. It would produce burns and could take out entire battalions.Rate this question:
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- 48.
What happened to so-called 'worthless men' who refused to fight?
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Shot at dawn
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Shot at noon
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Shot at twilight
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Shot at midday
Correct Answer
A. Shot at dawnExplanation
Haig gave the final signature to the death warrants of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were sentenced to death by court martial. 346 were executed, 266 for desertion, 37 for murder, and 18 for cowardice. Haig had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and those killed were regarded as 'worthless men.' Many were shot at dawn in the town of Poperinghe. At the time this was felt a necessary measure to ensure Britain won the war but as the years have passed many of these men have been pardoned.Rate this question:
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- 49.
Who painted 'Bravo Belgium?'
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Pablo Picasso
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F H Townsend
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David Low
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Otto Dix
Correct Answer
A. F H TownsendExplanation
King Albert of Belgium had a determined army of just 43,000. He was 39 with three children and married to Elisabeth, who was German! During the war 90% of his nation was overran with fighting. He did, however, actually fight himself and even let his 14 year old son fight too! A famous British cartoon called 'Bravo, Belgium!' by F. H. Townsend portrayed him as a small but determined child carrying a stick defending his land against a big German bully with sausages hanging from him.Rate this question:
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Mar 22, 2023Quiz Edited by
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May 13, 2017Quiz Created by
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