- a) What was the nickname commonly used to describe the troops of the British Expeditionary Force?
The nickname commonly used to describe the troops of the ‘British Expeditionary Force’ was ‘General French’s Contemptible Little Army’.
b) How does Source D help you to reach your answer to (a)?
Source C helps you to reach your answer to (a) because, we were told that General French was the British General and that was being called ‘contemptible little army’ which made me come to the conclusion of the nickname
- a) What was the nickname commonly used to describe the troops of the British Expeditionary Force?
The nickname commonly used to describe the troops of the ‘British Expeditionary Force’ was ‘General French’s Contemptible Little Army’.
b) How does Source D help you to reach your answer to (a)?
Source C helps you to reach your answer to (a) because, we were told that General French was the British General and that was being called ‘contemptible little army’ which made me come to the conclusion of the nickname
- In what ways can these illustrations be useful to the historians of the First World War?
Sources E and F’s illustrations can be useful to the historian of the
First World War because, they give the date (year) of when it
was painted and you can see the basic outline of what is happening in
the image in Source E. Source F is better and clearer but still quite basic.
If it didn’t say ‘a photograph of British troops retreating in 1914’, then
we wouldn’t really know much about than that they were men on horses
travelling, but by saying that they are retreating tells you where they are
plotted in the story of the war and by telling us that they are British, we
know quite possibly, what country that they are in/leaving. Really there
isn’t much clarity in what is going on in the illustration in Source E.
If the picture was clearer, we could give more detail but it just looks like
a blur and if we didn’t have been given a hint of what the picture could
be/is would be able to say how it helps.
With both of the pictures it could be misleading but also showing us
what happened because the picture of the cavalry charging, it tells you
that they are then attacking the enemy and the Source F shows that they
were defeated and then retreating and admit defeat.
4. Which of the two German comments on the failure of the failure of the
Schlieffen Plan is likely to be more reliable?
In my opinion, I think that Source I, the second of the two comments is likely to be more reliable because before the actual comment starts, it gives a description. ‘in his memoirs, published in 1919’ tells you when the quotes were told/pronounced. Also who; General Ludendorff. Then it goes on to say that this way, his explanation for the failure in 1914. Although the writing is short and brief, it does give the information adequately.
Quoting ‘In the west, the German advance had ended in a reverse’, this already shows that it doesn’t go on anymore and that’s where the part ends. ‘The right wing was too weak and did not extend far enough’, this quote is just jumping back on itself.
- ‘The offensive of 1914 failed simply because the German High Command did not keep to the Schlieffen Plan’ do these sources show this answer to be true?
Source A is just a map of the original Schlieffen plan. Therefore this source is neither relevant nor useful. It could have actually worked though if they had actually stuck to the original plan but instead Moltke rapidly changed it.
Source B is once again, a map and therefore it doesn’t really show any fact or clarity. This map is that of the one that Moltke amended. Saying that, this map could work if only the right wing had not been weakened. On his deathbed, Alfred von Schlieffen said ‘ keep the right wing strong and you will be victorious’ (if only they had listened to Schlieffen).
Source C, in my opinion this the most useful of all of the sources. From what it
says it gives me the opinion that that Moltke thought that in order to defeat France he should order his army to turn and fight Russia. He says that in order to win they all must stay in the defence of Russia but still stay on the offensive of France. But to carry through with this he would then have to take some of his men needed on the western front off and transfer them over to the eastern front. Therefore I agree that Source C agrees with the quote.
Source D does the same as Source C and agrees, because they are making it sound like Kaiser Wilhelm II was worrying that the Russians would close in on the Germans. And was scared because the majority of his army had been put on the western front. All that he wished for was, was a quick victory; something that nobody could guarantee.
Source E is really that relevant because the only information that it gives is that of the fact that it is the cavalry charging at their enemy.
Source F only shows British troops retreating. The fact that it tells us that they are British, helps us know that the Germans are receiving success but also that there is not too much to worry about.
Source G does contain some useful information as it says that the Prussian Guard has been defeated which would have probably helped stop with the failure of the Schlieffen plan.
Source H also agrees with some of the quote; the French are retreating in good order, which is why the Germans are advancing. So even though in the end the plan failed, it was working in some certain areas. So in truth it does not prove that the quote is accurate.
Source I, agrees the most, as it makes out that General Ludendorff is trying to blame their defeat on Moltke.