World Wars

Nationalism increased competition and tension among countries. For exams remember nationalism among the causes of the First World War.

Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo. For exams connect Sarajevo with the immediate trigger of the First World War.

After the assassination the crisis grew between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. For exams connect Serbia with the Balkan crisis.

The Triple Entente included Britain France and Russia. For exams remember it separately from the Central Powers.

The Triple Alliance included Germany Austria-Hungary and Italy. For exams connect alliance systems with the causes of war.

The Western Front of the First World War was mainly located in northern France and Belgium, where German forces faced the Allied armies. It was marked by prolonged trench warfare and major battles such as Verdun and the Somme. Russia and Poland were more closely associated with the Eastern Front. Exam tip: remember the Western Front through France-Belgium and trench warfare.

No man's land was the dangerous area between trenches. For exams connect it with the hardship of trench warfare.

Tanks helped cross trenches and obstacles like barbed wire. For exams connect tanks with new war weapons.

U-boats were German submarines. For exams connect them with naval warfare and the entry of the USA.

The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine. For exams connect it with anti-German feeling in the USA.

Germany encouraged Mexico against the USA in the Zimmermann Telegram. For exams connect it with the background of US entry.

After the Russian Revolution Russia moved toward leaving the war. For exams connect 1917 with both Russia and the USA.

An armistice is an agreement between opposing sides to stop fighting, so option A is correct. It does not necessarily end the war permanently; a peace treaty usually sets broader terms to formally end a conflict. Exam tip: remember ‘armistice’ as an agreed halt in fighting.

The Paris Peace Conference was held to decide post-war terms. For exams connect it with the Treaty of Versailles.

The war guilt clause blamed Germany mainly for the war. For exams connect it with German resentment.

The League of Nations had its headquarters in Geneva. For exams remember Geneva with international organizations.

Hitler's expansionist policy increased tension in Europe. For exams connect it with the failure of appeasement.

The Nazi Party came to power in Germany. Under Adolf Hitler, the Nazis gained power in Germany in 1933. Italy is the closest distractor because Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party, not the Nazi Party, came to power there. Exam tip: remember the link Nazism–Hitler–Germany and Fascism–Mussolini–Italy.

Fascism became prominent in Italy under Mussolini. For exams remember Fascism and Mussolini together.

After the invasion of Poland Britain and France declared war on Germany. For exams remember the events of 1939 in order.

The Maginot Line was built by France for defense against Germany. For exams connect it with the Second World War.

The Battle of Britain was an air struggle between Germany and Britain. For exams connect it with air power.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as Britain. During the Second World War, the RAF fought the German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. The Luftwaffe, not the RAF, was Germany's air force. Exam tip: associate the RAF with the Battle of Britain.

The USA started Lend-Lease to provide material aid to the Allies. For exams connect it with American support before full entry into war.

Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941. For exams remember that it led to US entry into the war.