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U-Boats

Throughout the war, the British and German navies engaged each other at sea.

Early battles

Early battles

  • Between November and December 1914 AD, Germany attacked coastal towns such as Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough.
    • Despite this technically being a German victory, it provoked British public opinion and triggered a wave of recruits for the British army.
  • In January 1915 AD, the British decoded German messages and prevented a German attack on Dogger Bank.
U-boats

U-boats

  • The Germans turned to u-boat (submarine) warfare.
    • Using unrestricted u-boat warfare, the Germans targeted merchant (trade) ships to and from Britain.
  • In May 1915 AD, the Germans sunk a liner called Lusitania.
    • This caused 1,200 civilian casualties. 128 of these were American.
    • This seriously damaged relations between the US and Germany. Some argue that the sinking of the Lusitania brought America into the war against Germany.
More attacks

More attacks

  • Between 1915 AD and 1918 AD, the number of German u-boats grew from 21 to almost 200.
  • By 1917 AD, one in four merchant ships failed to reach their final destination because of German attacks.
  • This showed that German u-boat warfare seriously threatened Britain's survival in the war.
Battle of Jutland

Battle of Jutland

  • Britain was blockading the German home front.
  • In May 1916 AD, Germany tried to stop the British blockade in the Battle of Jutland.
Convoy system

Convoy system

  • In response, the British established the ‘convoy system’. This meant that merchant ships sailed in a 'convoy' surrounded by naval ships.
  • Q ships (or Q-boats) were decoy ships. The Allies disguised armed ships as merchant ships to lure U-boats in. They would then shoot at the U-boats, aiming to sink them.
Blockades vs. u-boats

Blockades vs. u-boats

  • Convoys significantly reduced the success of the German u-boats.
  • In the end, British blockades were very successful and starvation on the German home front seriously weakened the German war effort.
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Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1

The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2

The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3

The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4

The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5

Medieval Religion

1.6

The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7

How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8

Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9

Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

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Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11

Medieval England & Her Neighbours

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European Renaissance

1.13

Norman Conquest & Control

1.14

Historical Skills

2

The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1

Anglo-Saxon England

2.2

The Contest for the English Throne

2.3

Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4

King John

2.5

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2.6

The Black Death

3

Worldviews

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The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

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The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

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The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

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The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

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Religion in the Middle Ages

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Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10

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US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

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The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

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The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

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Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

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World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17

The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18

The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19

World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20

The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21

Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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