World War 1: Facts & History

Attack of the Dead Men:

The event you are referring to is known as the "Attack of
the Dead Men," which occurred during the Battle of
Osowiec Fortress in World War I. Osowiec Fortress was
a Russian stronghold located in modern-day Poland. The
battle took place between German and Russian forces in
1915, with the most famous event occurring on August 6,
1915.

The Germans had been laying siege to the fortress for

several months and, in an attempt to break the Russian defenses, they deployed a massive artillery
bombardment followed by a release of chlorine gas. The Russians, lacking proper gas masks, were heavily
affected by the poisonous gas, which caused severe respiratory distress, lung damage, and even death.

Despite the devastating effects of the gas attack, the remaining Russian soldiers, many of them severely
injured and coughing up blood, counterattacked the advancing German forces. These Russian soldiers
appeared as "dead men" due to their ashen faces and bloodied uniforms, hence the name "Attack of the Dead
Men." The sight of these seemingly lifeless soldiers charging was so terrifying that it caused panic and
confusion among the German soldiers, who retreated in disarray.

Although the Russians were ultimately forced to abandon the fortress a few weeks later due to a larger
strategic retreat, the "Attack of the Dead Men" is a testament to their resilience and determination in the face of
seemingly insurmountable odds.

1. In which year did the Battle of Osowiec Fortress take place?

a. 1912
b. 1914
c. 1915
d. 1917

2. What weapon did the Germans use to try to break the Russian defenses at Osowiec Fortress?
a. Mustard gas
b. Flame throwers
c. Chlorine gas
d. Heavy machine guns

3. What impact did the "Attack of the Dead Men" have on the morale of both the German and Russian forces
involved in the battle?

4. How did the tactics employed by the German forces, such as the use of chlorine gas, change the nature of
warfare during World War I?
Alvin York:
Alvin Cullum York, also known as Sergeant York, was an American soldier who
served in the United States Army during World War I. Born on December 13,
1887, in Pall Mall, Tennessee, York was a skilled marksman due to his upbringing
in a rural area. He was initially opposed to participating in the war due to his
religious beliefs but ultimately decided to serve his country after much
contemplation.

Sergeant York is best known for his actions during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
in France on October 8, 1918. His unit was tasked with capturing German
positions in the Argonne Forest. During the assault, York's unit came under heavy machine-gun fire, which caused
numerous casualties. York, who was then a corporal, assumed command and led the remaining soldiers in a
counterattack.

In an incredible display of marksmanship and courage, York attacked the German machine-gun nests, killing more than
two dozen enemy soldiers with his rifle and pistol. At the same time, he managed to avoid being hit by enemy fire. When a
group of six German soldiers charged him with fixed bayonets, he shot and killed all of them in self-defense.

Following this encounter, York and his men captured a German officer who offered to order the remaining German troops
to surrender. York's actions that day resulted in the capture of 132 German soldiers and the neutralization of multiple
enemy machine-gun nests.

For his heroism, York was promoted to the rank of sergeant and received numerous military decorations, including the
Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military award. The French government also awarded him the Croix de Guerre
and the Italian and Montenegrin governments recognized his service as well.

Sergeant Alvin York's story became a symbol of American courage and determination during World War I. His life and
actions were later depicted in the 1941 film "Sergeant York," with Gary Cooper playing the role of York. The film was a
major success and earned Cooper an Academy Award for Best Actor.

1. What was the main reason for Alvin York's initial opposition to participating in World War I?
a. Political disagreement
b. Health issues
c. Religious beliefs
d. Family obligations

2. What specific tactics and strategies did Alvin York employ during his heroic actions in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive?

3. In what ways did Alvin York's story become a symbol of American courage and determination during and after the war?

4. What award did Alvin York receive from the United States government for his heroism?
a. Distinguished Service Cross
b. Silver Star
c. Medal of Honor
d. Navy Cross
Armenian Genocide:
The Armenian Genocide refers to the systematic extermination of ethnic
Armenians living within the Ottoman Empire during & after World War I.
This mass atrocity took place between 1915 & 1923 and it is estimated
that 1 to 1.5 million Armenians perished as a result.

The Ottoman Empire, which was ruled by the Young Turks government,
viewed the Christian Armenian population as a potential threat to the
state, suspecting them of being more loyal to Christian governments, such as Russia. The genocide began on April 24,
1915, when the Ottoman authorities arrested and later executed several hundred Armenian intellectuals and community
leaders in Constantinople (now Istanbul). This event is now commemorated as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Following these initial arrests, the genocide escalated, and the Ottoman Empire enacted policies that led to the
widespread massacre of Armenians. These policies included forced deportations, death marches through the Syrian
Desert, mass shootings, and burnings. Many Armenians also died from starvation, disease, and exposure during these
forced marches. Women, children, and elderly people were not spared from the brutality.

The Armenian Genocide has been widely recognized by historians and scholars as one of the first modern genocides, and
it served as a precursor to future acts of genocide, such as the Holocaust. The term "genocide" itself was coined by
Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-Jewish lawyer, in 1944, partly in response to the mass extermination of the Armenians.

Although the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide has grown in recent years, the government of Turkey, the
successor state to the Ottoman Empire, has not officially acknowledged the events as genocide. This issue remains a
point of contention in international relations and has impacted Turkey's relations with Armenia and other countries that
have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide. On April 24, 2021, President Biden, Jr. recognized the 1915 mass
killing and deportation of an estimated one million Armenians in Turkey as genocide.

1. Who was in power in the Ottoman Empire during the Armenian Genocide?
a. The Sultanate
b. The Young Turks government
c. The Kemalist government
d. The British Empire

2. What were some of the methods used by the Ottoman Empire to carry out the Armenian Genocide? How many
Armenians are estimated to have perished during the Armenian Genocide?

3. In what ways can the acknowledgment and recognition of the Armenian Genocide contribute to preventing future acts
of genocide and promoting peace and tolerance?

4. What is the current position of the Turkish government on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide?
a. The Turkish government has acknowledged it as a genocide
b. The Turkish government has denied it as a genocide
c. The Turkish government has offered reparations to the descendants of the victims
d. The Turkish government has requested an international commission to investigate the events