World Wars

The assassination started the crisis but long-term tensions already existed. For exams write immediate and long-term causes separately.

Alliances can provide security and also widen a crisis. For exams understand alliances as a double-edged system.

Rapid military preparation pressured leaders to decide quickly. For exams understand the relation between military planning and diplomacy.

The attack on Belgium became a key basis for British entry. For exams connect the position of small states with power politics.

Machine guns and artillery made open attacks very costly. For exams remember the imbalance between technology and tactics.

Both strategies targeted economy and logistics beyond soldiers. For exams treat war also as a struggle over resources.

The sinking of the Lusitania and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare raised concerns about the safety of American citizens and neutral maritime rights. The Zimmermann Telegram proposed that Mexico join Germany against the United States, increasing fears about national security. Thus, US entry into the First World War resulted from multiple pressures, including maritime rights and security concerns. Explaining it as only an economic decision is incomplete. Exam tip: Link Lusitania with submarine warfare and the Zimmermann Telegram with a security threat.

Russia's exit relieved Germany but US entry changed the balance. For exams treat 1917 as a year of two major changes.

Wilson wanted open and just peace but many secret agreements already existed. For exams understand the difference between idealism and power politics.

The harsh terms of the treaty increased German resentment. For exams connect Versailles with the background of the Second World War.

The mandate system showed a contradiction between language of freedom and imperial control. For exams remember the limits of self-determination.

The League was weak but commitment of powerful countries was also limited. For exams examine both structure and politics.

Economic crisis increased public insecurity and disappointment with government. For exams connect economic crisis with political extremism.

Nazi propaganda linked crisis with narratives of humiliation and enemies. For exams understand the combination of crisis and ideology.

Historians debate Munich on both strategic and ethical grounds. For exams avoid a one-sided answer.

The pact was based more on security and territorial interests than principles. For exams identify realpolitik.

The attack and division of Poland show interests of major powers. For exams study maps and the secret protocol together.

Blitzkrieg was based on combined arms and rapid decision. For exams remember both its conditions of success and limits.

The fall of France resulted from several military and strategic causes. For exams avoid a single-cause explanation.

Direct answer: A, radar and control networks sent fighters to the right place at the right time. In the Battle of Britain, Britain did not need to keep every aircraft continuously in the air. Radar detected approaching German aircraft, while reporting stations, telephone links and command centres collected and shared information. Controllers then directed available fighter aircraft towards the important target at a useful moment. This made limited aircraft and pilots much more effective. B is wrong because Britain did use many aircraft. C is wrong because Germany was the attacking side and did not provide Britain's defensive information. D is wrong because the League of Nations did not fight this battle. Memory cue: radar detects, communication reports, command directs.

Barbarossa was not only a military campaign but also tied to Nazi expansionist ideology. For exams understand ideology and campaign together.

Soviet depth gave time and factory relocation preserved production. For exams treat both geography and industry as decisive.

Soviet planning targeted the weak flanks of the German advance. For exams understand the cause of encirclement.

After Kursk Germany was no longer able to launch decisive attacks in the east. For exams link Stalingrad and Kursk in sequence.

The Allies protected sea supply through production and information. For exams study logistics and intelligence together.