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Quiz about WWI  A  20th Century Tragedy
Quiz about WWI  A  20th Century Tragedy

WWI: A 20th Century Tragedy Trivia Quiz


"To man's blind indifference to his fellow man And a whole generation that was butchered and damned." Eric Bogle, from his famous anti-war song 'The Green Fields of France'.

A multiple-choice quiz by Fiachra. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
Fiachra
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
134,677
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
15
Difficulty
Difficult
Avg Score
7 / 15
Plays
2253
Last 3 plays: Guest 184 (7/15), Guest 172 (12/15), Guest 24 (4/15).
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Question 1 of 15
1. How much time elapsed between the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Austria's declaration of war on Serbia? Hint


Question 2 of 15
2. Who commanded the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), in 1914? Hint


Question 3 of 15
3. Where did the French government retreat to in the expectation that Paris would fall? Hint


Question 4 of 15
4. What Russian general was encircled at Tannenberg? Hint


Question 5 of 15
5. With which country would you associate a 'pal's battalion'? Hint


Question 6 of 15
6. Which German commander intended his attack on Verdun 'to bleed the French white'? Hint


Question 7 of 15
7. Name the new French commander appointed to take charge at Verdun? Hint


Question 8 of 15
8. Who completed the plans for the Somme offensive in 1916? Hint


Question 9 of 15
9. Which country was the first to use chemical weapons i.e. gas in WW1? Hint


Question 10 of 15
10. Whose offensive in 1917 led to mutiny in the French army? Hint


Question 11 of 15
11. In which year was the 'Lusitania' sunk? Hint


Question 12 of 15
12. Who was the US Army Chief of Staff during WWI? Hint


Question 13 of 15
13. Where did the Central Powers have a significant break through in the Allied lines in 1917? Hint


Question 14 of 15
14. Who signed the Armistice on behalf of Germany in 1918? Hint


Question 15 of 15
15. Why was Ludwig von Reuter considered a national hero in Germany by 1919? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 184: 7/15
Mar 03 2024 : Guest 172: 12/15
Feb 06 2024 : Guest 24: 4/15
Feb 05 2024 : Guest 1: 11/15
Jan 30 2024 : Guest 96: 12/15

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. How much time elapsed between the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Austria's declaration of war on Serbia?

Answer: One month

A month to the day after the Austrian heir's death war was declared. Few could imagine the hell that was about to be unleashed upon the world.
2. Who commanded the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), in 1914?

Answer: Sir John French

Sir John French led 70,000 troops against the First German Army of 160,000 men led by von Kluck. He was forced to withdraw and suffered heavy casualties. He wanted to withdraw to the coast but Kitchener insisted on the River Marne. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery during the retreat from Mons.
3. Where did the French government retreat to in the expectation that Paris would fall?

Answer: Bordeaux

500,000 civilians also fled the city causing traffic chaos on the roads and railways. At one stage the French Sixth Army was under such pressure that it used taxis to get 6,000 reservists to the front line.
4. What Russian general was encircled at Tannenberg?

Answer: Samsonov

He was appointed Russian Commander with the objective of invading East Prussia in 1914. Poor communications and a quarrel with Rennenkampf, with whom it is believed he did not speak, did not help chances of success. He committed suicide when he realisd his hopeless situation.
5. With which country would you associate a 'pal's battalion'?

Answer: UK

It was comprised of soldiers from the same locality who enlisted together on the promise that they would serve together for the duration. They also died together.
6. Which German commander intended his attack on Verdun 'to bleed the French white'?

Answer: Falkenhayn

Verdun, (a series of forts), was a salient in the German lines and so could be attacked on three sides. On Feb. 21st 1915, Crown Prince William opened the battle with 1,400 guns along an 80 mile front, 100,000 shells poured into Verdun every hour.
7. Name the new French commander appointed to take charge at Verdun?

Answer: Pétain

Pétain re-organised the deployment of French artillery and designated one road as an artery. It became known as the 'Sacred Road'. No tactical or strategic advantage was gained by either side, but the casualties came to a million, of whom at least half were fatalities.
8. Who completed the plans for the Somme offensive in 1916?

Answer: Haig

The attack date was moved forward one month to relieve the pressure on Verdun. The Allies outnumbered the Germans but the war of attrition went on. Dud shells, loss of the element of surprise, loading soldiers with 56 lbs. of equipment, failure to cut the German barbed wire, all meant another million men became casualties. No wonder someone wrote 'humanity must be mad'.
9. Which country was the first to use chemical weapons i.e. gas in WW1?

Answer: France

Most people believe it was Germany, but in August 1914 the French fired tear gas grenades with XYLYL Bromide at the Germans. Nevertheless Germany was the first to use such weapons on a mass scale.
10. Whose offensive in 1917 led to mutiny in the French army?

Answer: Nivelle

Nivelle promised to break the stalemate in a remarkably short time ... 48 hours. He used 19 divisions and attacked along the Hindenburg line. He successfully captured the 'Chemin des Dames' ridge, but the price was very high, 187,000 French casualties.

It took longer than 48 hours. disillusionment spread, Nivelle was replaced by Petain, who only restored order by promising not to commit troops to offensive action.
11. In which year was the 'Lusitania' sunk?

Answer: 1915

She was sunk by a single torpedo off the Old Head of Kinsale on the Irish coast. Over a thousand people lost their lives, many of whom were American. The sinking turned American public opinion against the Central Powers. Many questions have been asked about the Lusitania. What was she doing sailing with civilians into a war zone? Where was her escort the 'Juno'? Was she carrying arms?
12. Who was the US Army Chief of Staff during WWI?

Answer: Tasker Howard Bliss

He favoured lenient treatment for both the Germany and Austria-Hungary. Like Woodrow Wilson he was in favour of the League of Nations. Alas! no one listened.
13. Where did the Central Powers have a significant break through in the Allied lines in 1917?

Answer: Caporetto

Nine Austrian and six German divisions under the command of Otto von Below attacked using a heavy artillery barrage of high explosives, gas and grenades. The Italian line gave way almost immediately and they withdrew to the River Piave, with a casuality figure of 300,000. The advance could not be continued as the German supply routes were stretched to the limit.
14. Who signed the Armistice on behalf of Germany in 1918?

Answer: Erzberger

This was signed in Foch's railway carriage in Compiègne. Hitler used the same carriage when the French surrendered in 1940 and then had it burned.
15. Why was Ludwig von Reuter considered a national hero in Germany by 1919?

Answer: He scuttled the High Seas Fleet

He believed Germany would not sign the Versailles Treaty and he did not want the fleet, at anchor in Scapa Flow, to be handed over to the Royal Navy. He issued a secret coded message 'Paragraph Eleven : Confirm', in all 66 ships were scuttled. Given the Draconian measures in the Versailles Treaty, no wonder he was considered a hero.
Source: Author Fiachra

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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