Are You A History Buff? Can You Answer These WWI Trivia Questions?
WWI was the first major international conflict of the 20th century, and the first on a large scale since the Napoleonic Wars. Maybe you took history as your minor in college, or perhaps have a BA in history—or you just did really well in history class and want to see if you can still remember your WWI facts.
Let's begin our WWI trivia with an easy one.
What Was The Name Of The Person Who's Assassination Sparked WWI?
This person's murder on June 28th 1914 is widely considered to be the catalyst for the First World War—but who was he?
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The assassination of Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austro-Hungary, is widely considered to be the death that began the chain of events leading to WWI.
Walter Tausch, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Name Of The Group Responsible For Franz Ferdinand's Assassination?
Franz Ferdinand's death was carried out by a separatist organization who sought to free Serbia from Austro-Hungarian rule—but what was it called?
Ferdinand Schmutzer, Wikimedia Commons
Young Boshia
This Bosnian separatist student-run group was formed in 1911 and carried out the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. They were aided by The Black Hand Group. Bonus points if you know who fired the shots: Gavrilo Princip, who was 19 at the time.
Марио Брвић, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Two Countries Were The First Declare War On Each Other, Officially Beginning World War I?
A month after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, these two countries declared war on each other—leading to other European countries declaring war on each other in the days and weeks that followed.
Austria-Hungary And Serbia
Given the Serbian separatist involvement in the assassination of Franz Ferdinard, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914.
Charles Scolik, Wikimedia Commons
Which Country Enacted Daylight Savings Time During WWI?
Daylight Savings Time is a familiar nuisance to most of us, but during the First World War, it was a pivotal shift in time-telling that helped this country to save coal that was in short supply.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The United States
First enacted in the US on March 19th, 1918, Daylight Savings Time (DST) was implemented as part of legislation known as the Standard Time Act, or the Calder Act.
United Cigar Stores Company, Wikimedia Commons
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Which Device Did Marie Curie Make Widely Available During World War I?
Marie Curie was a prolific radiologist and scientist and is credited with saving the lives of thousands of soldiers during WWI, regardless of which uniform they wore. But which device did she pioneer that helped save all those lives?
Henri Manuel, Wikimedia Commons
Portable X-Ray Machine
That's right! The modern X-ray machine that we use today was pioneered by Curie and placed in the back of ambulances to allow for X-rays to take place on-site and patients to be treated much faster. Bonus points if you knew that these machines were known as "Petits Curies" (Little Curies).
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Name Of Material Used In The World's First Surgical Dressing In 1914?
This material was invented by Kimberley-Clark, the American paper company in 1914 following a tour of the Western Front. But what was it called?
National Archives and Records Administration, Wikimedia Commons
Cellucotton
Due to the shortage of cotton at the beginning of the war, cellucotton was the name given to a new paper material that was five times more absorbent than cotton and far cheaper and easier to produce.
Auckland Museum, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Known As Dreadnought, This Type Of What Was Widely Used During World War I?
The British used this type of _________ during World War I.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Battleship
Dreadnought battleships were first used by the Royal Navy in 1906 and were the first ships to feature 10 to 12-inch guns. Bonus point if you knew that the first dreadnought vessel was called HMS Dreadnought.
The Sinking Of Which Ship Caused The United States To Enter WWI In 1915?
There were 128 Americans onboard this ship, which sank off the coast of Ireland after being targeted by German U-boats.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
RMS Lusitania
On May 7th 1915, German U-boats fired on the RMS Lusitania, a passenger ship transporting Americans from New York to England, torpedoing and sinking the vessel. This was the final straw for much of the American public, increasing support for a declaration of war.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
In Which Year Did The United States Declare War on Germany?
A hint: it wasn't in 1915, despite the sinking of the Lusitania.
Unknown Author, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, Wikimedia Commons
1917
On April 6th, 1917, the United States Senate confirmed a House vote on the Declaration of War. This was the fourth time the United States Congress and Senate had declared war on a country since 1812.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
What Nationality Was Nurse Edith Cavell—Who Helped Over 200 Allied Soldiers Escape Belgium?
Was she:
A) Belgian. B) Canadian. C) British. D) French, or E) American?
C) British
Despite having a Canadian mountain named after her in Banff National Park, Edith Cavell was a British nurse who helped soldiers on both sides of the war, and is credited with helping 200 Allied soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium in November of 1914. She was executed by the Germans for providing aid to the enemy on October 12th, 1915.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Who Was The Leader Of Germany During WWI?
We all know who led Germany during World War II, but who was the country's leader during World War I?
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Kaiser Wilhelm II
The German Emperor during World War I was Kaiser Wilhelm II—his abdication in 1918 at the conclusion of the War would mark the end of the German Empire.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Which Side Was Italy On During World War I?
Italian fascism in WWII is well-documented, but do you know who the Italians sided with 30 years prior?
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The Allies
That's right—Italy was an ally of Britain, France, and the United States during WWI. They declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915, despite being a member of the Triple Alliance between the three powers at the beginning of the war, but declaring neutrality in 1914.
Italian Army Photographers 1915-1918, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Which German Statesman Founded The German Empire And The Triple Alliance?
Hint: His name appears in the title of a 1960 black and white film classic and was the name given to the eponymous battleship in the movie.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Otto Von Bismarck
Otto Von Bismarck was a German statesman and the Minister President of Prussia and the First Chancellor of the German Empire. His diplomatic skills led to the forming of a defensive military alliance between Italy, Austria-Hungary, and the German Empire known as the Triple Alliance in 1882.
Bundesarchiv Bild, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Name Of The British–French–Russian Alliance During WWI?
You know that Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary were the Triple Alliance, but what about the victors?
Jules Gervais-Courtellemont, Wikimedia Commons
The Triple Entente
Known as the "Triple Entente", or "Triple Agreement" in English, the Triple Entente was an alliance between France, Britain, and Russia, formulated out of separate agreements between the British and French in 1904—the "Entente Cordiale", and the British and Russians, known as the "Anglo-Russian Entente" of 1907.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
What Type Of Warfare Was Developed During WWI?
Although WWI saw the advent of many different types of warfare, this particular type would prove one of the most costly of the First and Second World Wars.
Press Agency photographer, Wikimedia Commons
Trench Warfare
Responsible for the creation of the "trench coat", a long coat developed by Thomas Burberry in 1901, trench warfare was heavily developed during the War, despite appearing in warfare as (defensive) "Lines" dating back to Roman times.
Bain News Service, Wikimedia Commons
Where Did The Battle Of Passchendaele Take Place?
A famous Canadian military engagement during WWI, the Battle of Passchendaele lasted from July 31st to November 10th, 1917, but in which country did it take place?
Frank Hurley, Wikimedia Commons
Belgium
The four-and-a-half-month engagement took place in Ypres, Belgium.
What Was The Longest Battle Of WWI?
This lengthy, brutal battle of World War I lasted from February 21st till December 18th, 1916.
Collier and Son, Wikimedia Commons
The Battle Of Verdun
Fought between the French Second Army and the German 5th Army on the banks of the River Meuse in Northern France, the Battle of Verdun lasted for 302 days. Casualty estimates exceed 700,000, making it one of the costliest battles in human history.
Collection DocAnciens/docpix.fr, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Deadliest Battle Of WWI?
You might think that Verdun was the deadliest battle of The Great War, with over 700,000 casualties. Tragically, it wasn't. But what was?
Ernest Brooks, Wikimedia Commons
The Battle Of The Somme
Fought between July 1st and November 18th, 1916, the Battle Of The Somme claimed over one million lives on both sides of the conflict.
Imperial War Museums, Wikimedia Commons
Which Method Of Warfare Was First Used During WWI?
Now banned for use in conventional warfare, this method of warfare was first deployed during WWI, to the horror and dismay of soldiers, commanders, and observers of the War.
National Library of Scotland, Wikimedia Commons
Chemical Warfare
On April 22nd, 1915, the German Army initiated the first modern chemical weapons attack in the history of warfare, launching a chlorine gas attack on French and Algerian troops at Ypres, killing 5,000 people.
Europeana 1914-1918, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Country Developed The World's First Tank?
One of the greatest feats of military engineering in history, which country is responsible for creating the world's first tank?
Bain News Service, Wikimedia Commons
Great Britain
The British invented the Mark I tank in 1915, intended to break the stalemate that had developed in trench warfare. Did you know that "tank" was originally a codename that stuck?
Ernest Brooks, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Name Given To Woodrow Wilson's "Roadmap For Peace" In 1918?
US President Woodrow Wilson developed this roadmap for peace in 1918, giving a speech that outlined it to Congress on January 8th, 1918.
Harris & Ewing, Wikimedia Commons
The Fourteen Points
Comprising of (surprise, surprise), 14 points outlining how peace could be achieved in Europe, American President Wilson's speech is considered to be one of the most important speeches of 1918 and foundational for a post-war peace plan.
On Which Date Did WWI End?
Known as "Victory In Europe Day", or VE Day, this date marked the end of World War I and would forever be remembered as "Remembrance Day".
Mrjspence, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
November 11th, 1918
At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, WWI ended.
Maurice Pillard Verneuil, Wikimedia Commons
What Was The Name Of The Treaty That Ended The Great War?
Although the war was over on November 11th, 1918, this treaty created the peace plan for a post-war Europe was and was signed on June 29th, 1919.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
The Treaty Of Versailles
In the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles in 1871, Germany proclaimed the foundation of a new German Empire. When French Prime Minister Georges Clémenceau was choosing a location for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles that ended the War, he picked the Hall of Mirrors, symbolizing the coming "full circle" of the German Empire, which ended with the signing of the Treaty.
Germany lost an enormous amount of territory, was ordered to pay $31.4 billion in reparations and accept full responsibility for the war.
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