MR NYAMUDEZA

HISTORY STUDY PACK: FORM 3

SYLLABUS CODE: 0470

WEEK 5: (LESSON 1)

TOPIC: WORLD WAR 1 -Why was the war not over by December 1914
 OBJECTIVES

• State the reasons why war was not over by December.

• Describe these reasons.
• Analyse the most important of these reasons in prolonging war beyond December 1914.

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

LESSON BREAKDOWN
TIME ALLOCATED TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES
0-10mins • Learners confirm their presence by stating problems faced by
soldiers in the trenches.
• Teacher comments on learners’ feedback.
15-20mins • Teacher hammers on important points about these problems
and leads leaners why the war was not over by December
1914. Teacher then assigns group work.

20-30mins • Group discussions on their various tasks.

30-60mins • Groups give feedback of their tasks.

• Lesson is concluded through a class discussion on main points
discussed.
It should be noted that when the First world war broke out, it was assumed that the war would
be over by December 1914. The Germany general Von Moltke had declared to the Kaiser
that, “your majesty it will be over by Christmas.”

However, the war had to last for more 4 years, until 1918. These are some of the factors that
caused war to prolong beyond December 1914.

1. Failure of the Schlieffen plan (Group 1-Anotida, Tanatswa M, Tatenda K, Pharell)

➢ This made the Germans not surrender war but restartigise thereby prolonging the
war.
➢ It also made the Germans to start fighting war on two fronts thereby prolonging it
2. Role of the BEF Group 2-(Michelle W, Takudzwa M, Hebert C, Tania G)
 ➢ It halted German’s war plan as the Germans did not anticipate that Britain would
intervene to help France and Belgium.
➢ It also delayed Germany passage through Belgium as it fought bravely at Mons.
➢ It was strong and resistant to avoid Germans in capturing Paris especially at
Marne.
3. Belgian resistance (group 3-Grace M, Zengeya, Polite H, Will M)

It delayed the movement of Germany forces.

Frustrated the Schlieffen plan.
Drained Germany’s resources.
4. Battle of Marne (Group 4 Kundai M, Tanaka M, Hazel C, Michelle M)

➢ It resulted in the trench warfare.

 ➢ It made the Germans stop attacking and retreat.
➢ It gave the final blow to the Schlieffen plan as the Germans couldn’t capture Paris.
5. Trench warfare. (Group 5- Matthew V, Tinevimbo, Natasha C, Funeka)

➢ It made the war to become static

➢ It resulted in a stalemate on the western front

PRACTICE QUESTION

1. How important was the battle of Marne in extending the war beyond December 1914?
(10)