GCSE History: The First World War 1914–18 – Stalemate to Armistice

This material covers the course of the First World War as studied in GCSE History conflict and tension options – for example parts 2 and 3 of AQA's 'Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918'. The causes of the war are covered in a separate material in this category, and medical care on the Western Front in the medicine materials.

You revise why the German Schlieffen Plan failed in 1914 – Belgian resistance, the British Expeditionary Force at Mons, Russian mobilisation and the First Battle of the Marne – and how the 'race to the sea' produced a line of trenches from Switzerland to the Channel coast. You study why attacking was so costly in trench warfare, the attritional Battle of Verdun, the Battle of the Somme with its first day of about 57,000 British casualties and the first use of tanks, Passchendaele, and the debate about General Haig's leadership. New weapons – gas, tanks and aircraft – are assessed for what they changed and what they did not.

The wider war is covered through Gallipoli and the reasons for its failure, and the war at sea: the Battle of Jutland, the British blockade of Germany, unrestricted U-boat warfare in 1917 and the convoy system. You then look at why 1917–18 changed the balance – the entry of the USA after the Zimmermann Telegram, Russia's exit at Brest-Litovsk, the German Spring Offensive of March 1918 and why it failed, the Allied Hundred Days from Amiens in August 1918, and the collapse in Germany that led to the Kaiser's abdication and the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

The quiz tests key events, dates and reasons, including a chronology question. The flashcards drill the main battles and terms. The written work asks for explanations of stalemate and of why Germany lost, an evaluation of Haig, and a judgement on the most important reason for Allied victory; one item uses a short extract from Haig's Special Order of the Day of April 1918, which is in the public domain. In the oral exam an examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

The material is revision practice written by Zestly and is not produced or reviewed by any exam board; check the details of your own specification with your teacher.

• Explain why the Schlieffen Plan failed and why stalemate developed on the Western Front
• Describe the battles of Verdun, the Somme and Passchendaele and evaluate Haig's leadership
• Assess the impact of new technology: gas, tanks and aircraft
• Explain the importance of the war at sea, including Jutland, the blockade, U-boats and convoys
• Explain why Gallipoli failed
• Explain why Germany was defeated in 1918

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE history subject content (wider world depth study) and parts 2–3 of options such as AQA 'Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918'. Quotation: Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig (1861–1928), Special Order of the Day, 11 April 1918, public domain.