By Alexis AlvaradoPeriod 62/22/12

WWI TRADING CARDS

Statistics: The military alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during WWI opposing the Triple Entente. Importance: When Austria declared war on Serbia; it called on its allies to fight alongside them against Russia, Serbia’s allies. Trivia: Austria declared war on Serbia due to a Serbian nationalist assassinating the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

ALLIANCES & TREATIESThe Triple Alliance

Statistics: The military alliance of Britain, France, and Russia, opposing the Triple Alliance.Importance: When Germany declared war on Russia, France kept it’s part of the alliance by then joining the fight against Germany. England supplied forces and weapons to support it’s part of the alliance.Trivia: The alliance was also supplemented by other countries such as Portugal, Japan United States, Brazil, and Spain.

ALLIANCES & TREATIESThe Triple Entente

Statistics: One of the peace treaties at the end of WWI that ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers.Importance: It was signed November 11, 1918 ended the fighting between Germany and the Allies.Trivia: Although the actual fighting ended November 11, 1918, it took six months for negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference to conclude the peace treaty.

ALLIANCES & TREATIESTreaty of Versailles

Statistics: Took place on the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between the 25th of April 1915 and the 9th of January 1916.Importance: A battle initiated by the Allies in order to capture the Ottoman capitol, Istanbul, and to secure a supply route to Russia. Trivia:Considered as a great victory towards the Turks and a major failure towards the Allies.

BATTLES, PLACES, & EVENTSBattle of Gallipoli

Statistics: Took place at the Marne River from the 5th to the 12th of September, 1914. This battle was part of “The Schlieffen Plan”, created by count Alfred Von Schlieffen and modified by Helmuth Von Moltke, who’s goal was to quickly move through Belgium to take Paris and end the impeding two front war against Germany.Importance: The loss of this battle meant that Germany now had a two front battle to fight. Trivia: The battle was completely unexpected and hundreds of men in Paris rushed to the front lines in hopes of stalling until the army could arrive.

BATTLES, PLACES, & EVENTSFirst Battle of the Marne

Statistics: Took place in the lower Ardennes forest from the 21st through the 23rd of August, 1914 between the French and the German army. Underestimating German forces the French took the offensive and ultimately lost to German tactics and numbers.Importance: As the French clumsily retreated the Germans were able to obtain important iron resources and continue their advance towards Paris.Trivia: The French still wore brightly colored uniforms and unlike the Germans weren’t camouflaged. They became easy targets through the forest.

BATTLES, PLACES, & EVENTSBattle of Ardennes

Statistics: They covered most of the Eastern Front and had the upper hand in numbers and knowledge of the land, but the Eastern line was larger and harder to cover and against strong German tactics and new technology the Russians had a hard time maintaining their line.Importance: The Russian army gave the advantage to the Triple Entente and pushed Germany into a two front war.Trivia: The Russian army joining the fight against Germany would ultimately lead to a revolution and the collapse of the Russian monarchy.

EASTERN FRONTRussian Army

Statistics: Fought between the Central Powers and the Aliies. Importance: It is where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Ferdinand, took place causing the tension between the Austria-Hungarian and Serbian government to snap and in turn start WWI. Trivia: The Balkans were also known as the “Powder Keg of Europe” during WWI.

EASTERN FRONTThe Balkans

Statistics: A series of revolutions during 1917 leading up to the take over by the Bolshevik party and the downfall of the Tsarist autocracy.Importance: When the Bolsheviks took power they signed the Treaty of Brest-Litvosk on March 3, 1918 with the Central Powers indicating their exit from WWI.Trivia: Although not mentioned in the treaty it confirmed the independence of Ukraine, Finland, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

EASTERN FRONTRussian Revolution

Statistics: A grueling form of warfare where a defensive line is set up consisting mostly of trenches where troops can be sheltered from small and heavy artillery. Often two sides would set up a defensive line with a small strip of land in between also known as “No Mans Land”, and end up in long tedious stalemates.Importance: The most used form of warfare during WWI.Trivia: It became a commonly used symbol for the futility of war.

WESTERN FRONTTrench Warfare

Statistics: A long malleable barbed razor wire that can be wrapped around pickets to form an obstacle or boundary.Importance: Placed in front of trenches in order to set up a military obstacle for the opposing force.Trivia: During the war it was hand made by soldiers, but during modern day it is made in factories.

WESTERN FRONTConcertina Wire

Statistics: An anti-Bolshevik army formed during 1917. It consisted mostly of officers and cossacks. Most soldiers were upset with the fact they would have to be serving as privates in the new regime.Importance: Continually pressured the Bolshevik government and played a part in the signing of the Treaty of Best-Litvesk.Trivia: The Bolshevik army was known as “The Red Army”, while the Volunteer Army was known as “The White Army”

WESTERN FRONTVolunteer Army

Statistics: The German Emperor who reigned from the 27th of January, 1859 until he was abdicated on the 4th of June, 1941. Importance: He continually supported foreign affairs in Austria-Hungary and led Germany into WWI.Trivia: When his Wilhelm’s father was crowned Emperor, his father was already suffering from throat cancer and ended up only reigning 99 days before dying.

PEOPLE (POLITICAL, MILITARY, ETC.)

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Statistics: The 28th president of the U.S.A who served from 1913 to 1921. He came up with the WWI post-war peace plan, Fourteen Points, and was the founder of the League of NationsImportance: He played a large part in the negotiations at the Treaty of Versailles and gave the call for the U.S. to enter in to WWI.Trivia: In 1919 Wilson had a horrible stroke which he suffered with until his death in 1921.

PEOPLE (POLITICAL, MILITARY, ETC.)

Woodrow Wilson

Statistics: The Emperor of Russia he ruled from 1894 till his abdication on the 15th of March, 1917.Importance: He led Russia unprepared into WWI where he continually displayed horrible leadership skills and unskillful military tactics. He was overthrown by the Bolsheviks in 1917.Trivia: Him and his entire family and servants were killed in the Alexander Palace on the 16/17th of July 1918 by the Bolsheviks.

PEOPLE (POLITICAL, MILITARY, ETC.)

Czar Nicolas II

Statistics: A yellow sulfuric gas that eats away at mucus membranes.Importance: It was used by both Central Powers and Allies during WWI and was ineffective as a weapon due to the fact it affected both your enemies and allies.Trivia: Later the use of chemical warfare was banned and any production or stockpiling of the gas was prohibited.

WEAPONS & TECHNOLOGY

Mustard Gas

Statistics: A mask invented in order to protect soldiers from the gas used during a battle. Most of the masks were burlap bags with goggles in them that you place over your head. They had a very low rate of efficiency.Importance: The masks were not very effective and were there to hopefully protect your eyes and prevent you from inhaling the gas. They mostly gave the person a sense of false protection.Trivia: Even to today masks have a 10% chance of being ineffective.

WEAPONS & TECHNOLOGY

Gas Mask

Statistics: A large automatic portable gun which would shoot at high speed rates and was easily reloaded with a large ammunition belt.Importance: With this gun there was no need for precision. All a soldier had to do was aim in a certain direction and mow down the oncoming forces. It quickly and efficiently killed and heightened death rates.Trivia: The gun is slightly portable but usually is placed on a small bi-pod.

WEAPONS & TECHNOLOGY

Machine Guns

Statistics: Manfred Von Richtofen a.k.a. The Red Baron was a German Fighter Pilot and the aces-of-aces in WWI .Importance: He had 80 victories during WWI which is more than any other pilot during that time. He was infamous among the Allies and a national war hero in Germany.Trivia: He was shot down and killed near Amiens on the 21st of April, 1918.

WAR IN THE AIR

The Red Baron

Statistics: A form of aerial combat between fighter planes which are both aware of each other's presence. First originated in WWI.Importance: It gave the advantage to the one side when they could scout and drop bombs from above.Trivia: After WWII many people believed that with modern technology and weapons dog fights would become obsolete.

WAR IN THE AIR

Dog Fights

Statistics: An aircraft with two fixed main wings.Importance: The wings gave the plane a structural advantage. Thus, giving the one with the bi-plane the advantage.Trivia: The bi-plane design was first used by the Wright Brothers and was continually used for the next 30 years.

WAR IN THE AIR

Biplanes

Statistics: Military submarines usually operated by Germans during WWI and WWII. Used mostly to sink convoys from U.S.A. to Europe.Importance: The constant sinking of American ships was a very strong factor in the cause of America joining the war.Trivia: While U-Boats could have been used as effective weapons against enemy naval warships, they were mainly used in economic warfare.

WAR AT SEA

U-Boats

Statistics: A cruise ship, also known as the Titanic's sister, was on it’s way to England carrying English and American citizens when it was sunk by a German U-Boat after being suspected of carrying supplies to support the Allies.Importance: With the sinking of the Lusitania, the American unrest with Germany grew to new heights. It was a major factor for the U.S. joining WWI/Trivia: 1,119 of the 1,924 aboard died including 114 Americans.

WAR AT SEA

Lusitania

Statistics: An underwater propelled weapon with an explosive warhead.Importance: Allowed submarines to sink ships while continually remaining unseen. It gave the submarine the upper hand in battle. Trivia: Beginning in 1870 the term torpedoes was used to describe self-propelled underwater weapons.

WAR AT SEA

Torpedoes