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Romania joined the war in the summer of 1916, on the side of the Allies.

World War One: 1914-18 - The War On The Eastern Front

This GCSE History quiz looks at the Eastern Front, where huge distances, harsh conditions and shifting battle lines shaped a very different First World War experience.

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Fascinating Fact:

The Eastern Front stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Its huge distances meant more movement and less continuous trench warfare than in the West.

In GCSE History, the Eastern Front is studied as a vast theatre of war in Eastern and Central Europe. Pupils explore how geography, weak transport links and political collapse shaped strategy, casualties and the final German defeat.

Key Terms

Eastern Front: The main line of fighting in Eastern and Central Europe in the First World War, largely between Germany and Austria-Hungary on one side and Russia on the other.
War of movement: A style of warfare where armies advance and retreat over large areas, rather than remaining in fixed trench systems.
Offensive: A planned, large-scale attack where one side tries to break through the enemy’s defences and gain ground.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What was the Eastern Front in World War One?

The Eastern Front was the area of fighting in Eastern and Central Europe during World War One. It saw battles between Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire on one side and the Russian Empire and its allies on the other.

Why was the Eastern Front more mobile than the Western Front?

The Eastern Front was more mobile because it covered huge distances, had fewer strong defensive lines and less dense railway networks, making it harder to build continuous trenches and easier for armies to advance or retreat.

How did events on the Eastern Front affect the outcome of the war?

Defeats, shortages and unrest led to the Russian Revolution and Russia leaving the war in 1917. This freed German troops for the West but also spread instability, helping push Germany towards collapse in 1918.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which Russian general launched a successful offensive on the Eastern Front in the spring of 1916, thus easing the pressure on French forces still defending Verdun against a massive German onslaught?

Brusilov

Yudenich

Denikin

Wrangel

This general was one of Russia's least incompetent, and he made at least two other incursions on the Eastern Front - usually at the expense of Austro-Hungarian forces

2 .

Which of his relatives did Tsar Nicholas II replace as supreme army commander?

Grand Duke Michael

Grand Duke Sergei

Grand Duke Nicholas

Grand Duke Alexander

The Tsar believed that his move to the front would raise morale in Russia, but it left the Tsarina in Petrograd with "Our Friend" - Rasputin

3 .

Which Balkan state defected from its alliance with Germany in June 1916, and joined the Western Allies?

Bulgaria

Greece

Albania

Romania

The new ally brought with it significant quantities of raw materials like oil and grain

4 .

Which senior German commander assumed responsibility in the East soon after the start of hostilities?

Moltke

Falkenhayn

Hindenburg

Groener

The front needed buttressing following the Russian invasion of this region

5 .

In August 1914 Russian armies invaded German territory in the East and fought two battles there. What was the name of this part of Germany?

East Prussia

Posen

West Prussia

Brandenburg

The Russians were optimistic that the absence of most of the German army (otherwise engaged in France and Belgium) would enable them to defeat the Germans on their home ground

6 .

Which city in Russian Poland did the Germans capture in 1915, and retain until the end of the war?

Krakow

Gdansk/Danzig

Warsaw

Vilna

Poles resented the German presence, but they loathed the Russians more

7 .

What name was given to the German-led coalition fighting the Allies in the Great War?

The Triple Alliance

The Dual Alliance

The Central Powers

The Entente

The alliance system had grown up in Europe ever since 1879. However, by the middle of the Great War there had been changes on each side

8 .

Who was the Austrian chief-of-staff responsible for the Austro-Hungarian effort on the Eastern Front?

Radetzky

Mackensen

Conrad von Hoetzendorf

Liman von Sanders

This commander had played a key role in 1914. He had encouraged the Austrian Emperor, Franz Josef, to take a hard line against the Serbs in June and July 1914

9 .

In March 1918 negotiations between Russian Bolshevik and Imperial German negotiators bore fruit, and a treaty was signed that effectively ended the war in the East. Where was this deal signed?

Riga

Stettin

Brest-Litovsk

Lodz

This agreement satisfied both sides: Germany was able to concentrate on the war against Britain and France, while Lenin had his hands free to assert his authority over Russia

10 .

What was the approximate length of the Eastern Front in miles?

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

The Eastern Front was much longer than the Western Front so it was unlikely that trench warfare would ever become a major feature there

Author: Edward Towne