Iron Mike's WW I History Quiz
Editor Andrew Sylvia and several readers have asked [nagged] for this quiz.
I drafted it over 20 years ago for Army officers. Since then, many history teachers and school administrators have failed to complete it; – most don't even bother. If you think the subject matter is unimportant in 2013, - you've been poorly educated in History, and the role of unintended consequences.
Try the test. Feel free to research. I'll post the answers in two weeks.
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World War I History Quiz
1. (2 points) WWI was fought during what years? _________ to ____________
2. (6 points) List three major causes of friction between the major powers prior to WWI:
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
c. __________________________________________________________
3. (4 points) What event(s) triggered the start of the war?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. (4 points) What unexpected events slowed or changed the initial German advance?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. (12 points) List at least six (6) technologies or weapons / weapon systems which were either introduced for the first time, or which for the first time became significant in the outcome of battles, campaigns, or the war.
_______________________ ____________________________
_______________________ ____________________________
_______________________ ____________________________
6. (4 points) What were the names of the German and the French war plans?
German: ____________________ French: _______________________
7. (4 points) What were the names of two key French generals?
__________________________ ______________________________
8. (4 points) What were the names of two key British generals?
__________________________ ______________________________
9. (10 points) Name five (5) major battles / campaigns: _________________
________________________ ___________________________
________________________ ___________________________
10. (6 points) What event(s) caused the United States to become involved as a combatant?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
11. (6 points) Name the:
U.S. President _______________ Russian ruler [w/title] _______________
British Prime Minister _________ Austrian ruler [w/title] ______________
German ruler [w/title] ________ French ruler [w/title] _______________
12. (2 points) How big was the U.S. Army before the war? _____________
13. (2 points) How big was the U.S. Army by the end of the war? _________
14. (4 points) What was the total casualty toll for all parties in WWI [in millions]? ______________
15. (4 points) What were the total U.S. casualties in WWI?
KIA __________ WIA __________ POW/MIA ____________
16. (6 points) Name three U.S. generals who played key roles in the prosecution of the war.
___________________ __________________ ___________________
17. (4 points) Name a key event that occurred on the Eastern Front in 1917.
______________________________________________________
18. (4 points) Describe an unusual event that occurred on the Western Front late in the first year of the war. ____________________________________
19. (4 points) Name the decisive or final event on the Western Front: _____
________________________
20. (4 points) Who were called “the Canaries”, - and why so? ___________
______________________________
21. (4 points) What treaty ended the war? __________________________
22. (1 point extra credit each) Name [at least] five (5) officers/ NCOs [not yet generals] who were involved in fighting WWI, - and who would become significant players in the years that followed:
aviators: ___________________ _______________________
infantry: ___________________ _______________________
infantry: ___________________ ________________________
cavalry: ___________________ ________________________
artillery: ___________________ ________________________
Joe
3:37 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Would love to see how the Chelmsford teachers do : )
Vivian Merrill
4:49 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Showed this to a former Dracut teacher who wholeheartedly agreed that history after 1900 is not given the attention it should be. Being a history buff himself, he knew a lot of these questions right off the top of his head. I, on the other hand, achieved a total of 6 points. Then again, I've been out of school a number of years.
Anna Bucciarelli
9:27 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Me too Vivian ... 6 points! I so agree with your teacher guy, history in general is very overlooked in schools today and not only that prior to 1900, but even up to and including WW11 ... such relevant times in our history, how could they go unattended.
I-Mike ... thanks so much for this ... now on to your WW11 history quiz ... Please???
Andrew Sylvia
8:57 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thanks Mike!
You did a great job here, so please forgive me in advance for nagging you for follow ups.
Mr. G
9:28 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
26 points.#FAIL. I think I broke the Google on the internets machine.
Mike Combs
4:33 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
We should have a Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq War quiz in the hopes that we might stop repeating history.
Tom Gilroy
5:33 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Mike, some great questions, how little is taught in the schools today about the wars of the Twentieth Century is terrible and the revisionist history that has entered the curriculum is criminal. I will try without the use of the internet and see how I do.
Tyler Jozefowicz
8:58 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tom : go into some detail and explain the "revisionist history that has entered the curriculum" since you made the accusation , believe you need to back it up. Interested in your reply, but I believe your statement is a propaganda point and cannot be supported .
Prove me wrong, Tom . I'm sure the readers would be interested in the 'revisionist history" that the teachers have plotted to brainwash the students . Believe you should expose this publicly and appear before your School Committee and go on record. Maybe Patch will do a story or you can write a blog, or present your findings to the local town paper.
My suspicion is that we will never hear from you again on the topic since you cannot back it up , or it is so farfetched that it would be laughable . So let's hear
John
10:34 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Off the top of my head it looks like I got somewhere between a 87 an 93, but I will have to see when the results are posted. That said I'm a history nerd and have read a few books on the subject. There's some significant stuff missing in the test, but then again it was meant for a specific audience.
Iron Mike
9:09 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tyler, none of us believe [based on your series of rather foolish and immature comments over the months] that you're old enough to remember real history instruction.
So before you open your mouth too wide, - tell us how many questions you got right...?
Tom Gilroy
9:34 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Tyler you have been previously exposed as a serial responder, who lives outside the area most likely in your Mother's basement. All you have to do is pick up a current history book and I defy you to say that it is not a revisionist history, totally devoid of WW I, the Russian Revolution and even what led to the beginning of WW II.