a war of attrition is a conflict in which each side tries to wear the other down by inflicting maximum casualties

a stalemate is a situation in which further progress by opposing sides seems impossible

conscription is the process of forcing people to join the armed forces

long, narrow ditches which soldiers dug to protect themselves during the war against enemy attacks

a 400-mile long strip of land through France and Belgium were the largest battles of WW1 were fought

The Western Front in WW1

History

In this unit, pupils explore how World War One's total impact extended across the British Empire, affecting various communities. This sets the stage for the next unit, ‘WW2: which events turned the tide in the story of the Second World War?’, where pupils will build on their understanding of global conflict to analyse key events that shifted the course of World War Two.

In ‘The British Empire: how far was it transformed in the mid-nineteenth century?’, pupils explored the empire’s growth and industrial changes. This unit builds on that by examining how World War One affected people across the British Empire, focusing on the extent of its impact on various communities.

In this unit, pupils learn about the First World War through the lens of its imperial dimension. They analyse the reasons for the outbreak of war and assess how it affected Britain at home and abroad.

World War One: how 'total' was it for people in the British Empire?

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

When was conscription introduced for British men?

Complete this sentence by filling in the missing name. The name of the battle in which German troops first used chlorine gas was the Second Battle of __________.

Which British colony had 1.5 million soldiers ready for war in 1914?

What is the three-word term used to describe a conflict in which each side tries to wear the other down by inflicting maximum casualties?

using recruiters and posters to encourage men to join

using recruiters and poster to remind men of the risks of war

encouraging many women to join the war effort as soldiers

making the war seem like an exciting adventure

Which **three** are examples of the steps Lord Kitchener took to recruit as many men as possible?

military leaders wanted to create a stalemate

military leaders thought they had figured out how to break the stalemate

the troops thought they had figured out how to break the stalemate

new tactics were not used in the Battle of the Somme

Which **one** of the following best explains why new tactics were used in the Battle of the Somme in 1916?

Which **one ** of these countries did Germany assume would remain neutral if Germany launched its Schlieffen Plan?

the process of forcing people to join the armed forces

a conflict in which each side tries to wear the other down

long narrow ditches which soldiers dug to protect themselves

when further progress by opposing sides seems impossible

Match each key word to the correct definition.

Which **one** of the following countries had planned to use the Schlieffen Plan in the event of a European war?

the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Serbia refuses to accept all the terms of Austria Hungary's ultimatum

Russia, France and Germany become involved in the war

Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into the order in which they happened

too many people have volunteered to join the army

not enough people have volunteered to join the army

too many people have medical conditions that disqualify them from volunteering

there are not enough soldiers in the army at the time war breaks out

the population of a country is made up of mostly children and elderly people

Which **two** of the following conditions best describes why a country would introduce conscription?

deaths of relatives and friends in the war

increase in trade and availability of goods, especially food

introduction of new laws to help the whole country support the war

important issues that do not directly relate to the war are delayed or ignored

Which **three** of the following are examples of the impact war can have on civilians?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

The Western Front in WW1

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.