MR NYAMUDEZA

HISTORY STUDY PACK: FORM 3

SYLLABUS CODE: 0470

WEEK 3: (LESSON 1)

TOPIC: WORLD WAR 1 -BATTLE OF YPRES 1914

 OBJECTIVES

 Identify the location of the battle of Ypres

 Outline the causes of the battle of Ypres
 Describe the battle of Ypres.

WEBSITES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5YSO23QbbY

KEY WORDS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS

Race to the sea-competition to control the sea ports

Battle -a sustained fight between large organized armed forces.

BEF-British Expeditionary Force

Casualties- a people killed or injured in a war or accident

COMMAND WORDS

Identify-state

Outline-summarise the main points

Describe-outline the main features

The First Battle of Ypres was fought in 1914, during WWI (1914-1918). This was the last fight
of a series of battles that broke out between the Germans and the British during the Race to the
Sea. On October 19, 1914, near the Belgian city of Ypres, Allied and German forces begin the
first of what would be three battles to control the city and its advantageous positions on the north
coast of Belgium during the First World War. After the Germans captured the Belgian city of
Antwerp early in October, Antwerp’s remaining Belgian forces along with troops of the British
Expeditionary Force (BEF), commanded by Sir John French, withdrew to Ypres, arriving at the
city between October 8 and 19 to reinforce the Belgian and French defenses there. Meanwhile,
the Germans prepared to launch the first phase of an offensive aimed at breaking the Allied lines
and capturing Ypres and other channel ports, thus controlling the outlets to the North Sea.

On October 19, a protracted period of fierce combat began, as the Germans opened their
Flanders offensive and the Allies steadfastly resisted, while seeking their own chances to go on
the attack wherever possible. Fighting continued, with heavy losses on both sides, until
November 22, when the arrival of winter weather forced the battle to a halt. The area between
the positions established by both sides during this period—from Ypres on the British side to
Menin and Roulers on the German side—became known as the Ypres Salient, a region that over
the course of the next several years would see some of the war’s bitterest and most brutal
struggles.

The 1st Battle of Ypres The control of the city of Ypres was important to both sides because of its
location next to the North Sea. A ‘race to the sea’ developed between the Allied and German troops
with the fighting moving towards the North Sea until it reached Ypres in Belgium. Britain, France and
Belgium had reinforced the defences around the city of Ypres before the Germans arrived. There was
heavy fighting from 19 October to 22 November that ceased in mid November due to the bad winter
weather. Heavy rain had turned the roads into mud baths and it was extremely difficult to move at any
speed.

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Why was the battle of Ypres fought?

2. Who was involved in this battle?
 3. What was the race to the sea?

EXAMPLE

Why did the Battle of the Marne matter? (6)

 The Battle of the Marne was crucial to the Allies since it was a factor that led to the
failure of the Schlieffen Plan.
 The German army had reached the River Marne by 5 September and were getting close to
Paris. Although the German army had been slowed up, the Schlieffen Plan was on
schedule.
 In the Battle of the Marne the British Expeditionary Force and the French stopped the
German advance and the Germans fell back.
 The Schlieffen Plan had failed, and a swift German victory was prevented.
 It was important because it saved Paris.
 It meant that the Schlieffen Plan failed.
 The advance of the German army was stopped by the British and the French.
 The battle made a quick German victory impossible.
 It was important because it meant neither side could make progress.
 The allied victory was one reason for the stalemate and trench warfare that would follow.

EXERCISE

What was the ‘race to the sea’? (4)