THE GREAT WARTHE GREAT WAR“World War I”“World War I”

A Local Conflict Goes GlobalA Local Conflict Goes Global

1914 - 1918

““MANIAMANIA””

Underlying causes of WWI:Underlying causes of WWI:

MMilitarism ilitarism

AAlliances lliances

NNationalism ationalism

IImperialism mperialism

AAnarchy (international)narchy (international)

In 1914, European armed forces stood In 1914, European armed forces stood like this:like this:

Germany: 2,200,000 soldiers, 97 warshipsGermany: 2,200,000 soldiers, 97 warships Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28 Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28

warships.warships. Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warshipsItaly: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warships France: 1,125,000 soldiers, 62 warshipsFrance: 1,125,000 soldiers, 62 warships Russia: 1,200,000 soldiers, 30 warshipsRussia: 1,200,000 soldiers, 30 warships Great Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185 Great Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185

warshipswarships

AlliancesAlliances

Defense Agreements Among NationsDefense Agreements Among Nations

Triple AllianceTriple Alliance - (1882) - (1882) Germany, Germany, Italy, Austria-HungaryItaly, Austria-Hungary - attempt to - attempt to isolate France isolate France

Triple EntenteTriple Entente - (1907) - (1907) France, France, Russia, Great BritianRussia, Great Britian• EntenteEntente:: Friendly understanding Friendly understanding

between nationsbetween nations

Immediate Causes of WWIImmediate Causes of WWI

Assassination of Assassination of Archduke Francis Archduke Francis Ferdinand Ferdinand • Austria-HungarianAustria-Hungarian• June 28, 1914June 28, 1914• SarajevoSarajevo• Killed by Gavrilo Killed by Gavrilo

Princip - member of Princip - member of Serbian nationalist Serbian nationalist group called the group called the “Black Hand”“Black Hand”

Why assassinated?Why assassinated?

Ferdinand planned to give Slavs of Ferdinand planned to give Slavs of Bosnia-Herzegovina a voice in the Bosnia-Herzegovina a voice in the gov’t equal to that of Austria-gov’t equal to that of Austria-Hungarians Hungarians

This This threatenedthreatened the movement for a the movement for a separate Slavic stateseparate Slavic state

What happens next?What happens next?

A-H hold Serbians responsible A-H hold Serbians responsible A-H seeks assurance (backup) from A-H seeks assurance (backup) from

Germany in event of war Germany in event of war • Germany issues “Blank Check” to A-Germany issues “Blank Check” to A-

H H • Kaiser Wilhelm II gives full support Kaiser Wilhelm II gives full support

to any actions A-H might take to any actions A-H might take against Serbiaagainst Serbia

Tension!!!Tension!!!

A-H issues A-H issues ultimatumultimatum to Serbia to Serbia • set of final conditions that must be accepted to set of final conditions that must be accepted to

avoid severe consequencesavoid severe consequences Demands that Serbia allow A-H officials Demands that Serbia allow A-H officials

into country to suppress all rebellious into country to suppress all rebellious movements & conduct investigation movements & conduct investigation

Gives Serbia 48 hours to agree or face war Gives Serbia 48 hours to agree or face war Serbia does not agree to all parts Serbia does not agree to all parts A-H A-H

declares war on Serbia! (July 28, 1914)declares war on Serbia! (July 28, 1914)

Other Countries Get InvolvedOther Countries Get Involved

Russia (friend of the Serbs) mobilizes Russia (friend of the Serbs) mobilizes troops along borders of Germany & troops along borders of Germany & A-H A-H

Germany warns Russia to stop - they Germany warns Russia to stop - they don’t! don’t!

Germany issues ultimatum to France Germany issues ultimatum to France – 18 hours to decide if it would – 18 hours to decide if it would support Russia – France implies it support Russia – France implies it would support Russia would support Russia

Allies with Russia

Declarations of WarDeclarations of War

Germany declares war on Russia Germany declares war on Russia • Aug 1, 1914Aug 1, 1914

Germany declares war on France Germany declares war on France • Aug 3, 1914Aug 3, 1914

Great Britain still hoped to remain Great Britain still hoped to remain neutral and not go to war, but…neutral and not go to war, but…

Germany Invades Belgium!Germany Invades Belgium!

Germany demands passage across Germany demands passage across Belgium to fight France Belgium to fight France • (*Part of Schlieffen Plan (Chicos este (*Part of Schlieffen Plan (Chicos este

nombre es importante) nombre es importante) British protest demand made by British protest demand made by

Germany upon Germany upon neutralneutral nation of nation of Belgium Belgium • 1839 Treaty signed by G.B., Russia, France 1839 Treaty signed by G.B., Russia, France

& Germany guaranteed Belgium’s & Germany guaranteed Belgium’s neutralityneutrality

Germany invades Belgium anywayGermany invades Belgium anyway G.B. demands they withdraw G.B. demands they withdraw Germany responds calling treatyGermany responds calling treaty

““a scrap of paper” a scrap of paper”

G.B. declares war on Germany G.B. declares war on Germany • Aug 4, 1914Aug 4, 1914

The Schlieffen Plan The Schlieffen Plan

Germany’s invasion of Belgium was Germany’s invasion of Belgium was part of this planpart of this plan

Germany had enemies to East & Germany had enemies to East & West & West & did not want to fight a war on did not want to fight a war on both fronts at the same time both fronts at the same time

Believed Russia would be slow to Believed Russia would be slow to mobilize and that they could fight & mobilize and that they could fight & defeat France (W. Front) first in 6 defeat France (W. Front) first in 6 weeks & then fight Russia on Eastern weeks & then fight Russia on Eastern Front Front

Allies vs. Central PowersAllies vs. Central Powers AlliesAllies

• Great BritainGreat Britain• RussiaRussia• ItalyItaly• FranceFrance• United States – April 6, 1917United States – April 6, 1917

Central PowersCentral Powers• GermanyGermany• Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary• TurkeyTurkey• BulgariaBulgaria

ExpectationsExpectations

Both sides thought the war would be a Both sides thought the war would be a quick ordeal… quick ordeal…

Kaiser told his soldiers, “you’ll be home Kaiser told his soldiers, “you’ll be home before the leaves have fallen from the before the leaves have fallen from the trees.” trees.”

They underestimated the role They underestimated the role industrialization would play in this war – industrialization would play in this war – development of weaponsdevelopment of weapons

Russia, because of its size was considered Russia, because of its size was considered a “steamroller” – how untrue!a “steamroller” – how untrue!

Types of WarfareTypes of Warfare War in trenchesWar in trenches

• poisonous gasespoisonous gases• Machine gunsMachine guns• TanksTanks• No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

War at SeaWar at Sea• SubmarinesSubmarines

War in the AirWar in the Air• AirplanesAirplanes• ZeppelinsZeppelins

World War I was the catalyst for more major World War I was the catalyst for more major military technological innovations than any military technological innovations than any

other war in history! other war in history!

Warfare of the Great Warfare of the Great WarWar

U-BoatU-Boat

Unterseeboot – German term Unterseeboot – German term Attacked merchant convoys bringing Attacked merchant convoys bringing

supplies to Allied forces from US and supplies to Allied forces from US and CanadaCanada

Sank three American merchant ships Sank three American merchant ships in 1917 – prompting US to enter warin 1917 – prompting US to enter war

U-boat garageU-boat garage

Convoy of merchant ships and battleships

War of the AirWar of the Air

PlanesPlanes

Used to deliver bombsUsed to deliver bombs Spy workSpy work Later became fighter aircraft armed with Later became fighter aircraft armed with

machine guns, bombs and some times machine guns, bombs and some times cannonscannons

DogfightsDogfights• Fights between two planes in the skyFights between two planes in the sky

ZeppelinZeppelin

War on LandWar on Land

TrenchesTrenches• Good ones were Good ones were

built in a zig-zag built in a zig-zag patternpattern

• Underground citiesUnderground cities Western frontWestern front

• 6,000 miles of 6,000 miles of trenchestrenches

Machine GunsMachine Guns

4-6 men to work them4-6 men to work them Had to be on a flat surfaceHad to be on a flat surface Fire-power of 100 gunsFire-power of 100 guns

No Man’s LandNo Man’s Land

Area of land between opposing Area of land between opposing trenchestrenches

Many men died within first days of Many men died within first days of war because of the allure of it war because of the allure of it (peering over the edge – sniper (peering over the edge – sniper bullet)bullet)

TanksTanks

““Little Willie”Little Willie” Daimler engine (Chrysler), Daimler engine (Chrysler),

caterpillar track, crew of 3caterpillar track, crew of 3 Maximum speed was 3mphMaximum speed was 3mph COULD NOT cross trenchesCOULD NOT cross trenches End of War – modernized tankEnd of War – modernized tank

• Fits 10 menFits 10 men• Revolving turret (gun)Revolving turret (gun)• 4mph4mph

Mustard GasMustard Gas

Mustard gas was the most deadly weapon Mustard gas was the most deadly weapon usedused

Fired into the trenches in shellsFired into the trenches in shells Colorless and takes 12 hours to take effectColorless and takes 12 hours to take effect Effects include: blistering skin, vomiting, sore Effects include: blistering skin, vomiting, sore

eyes, internal and external bleedingeyes, internal and external bleeding Very painful – victims had to be tied to bed!Very painful – victims had to be tied to bed! Death can take up to 5 weeksDeath can take up to 5 weeks Remain in soil for several more weeksRemain in soil for several more weeks

Trench ProblemsTrench Problems

LiceLice

Would breed in the seams of filthy clothing Would breed in the seams of filthy clothing (warm areas) and cause uncontrollable (warm areas) and cause uncontrollable itching itching

Lice caused Trench FeverLice caused Trench Fever• painful disease that began suddenly with painful disease that began suddenly with

severe pain followed by high feversevere pain followed by high fever• Recovery - away from the trenches - took up to Recovery - away from the trenches - took up to

twelve weeks.  twelve weeks.  Lice were not actually identified as the Lice were not actually identified as the

culprit of Trench Fever until 1918culprit of Trench Fever until 1918

RatsRats

Millions of them infected trenchesMillions of them infected trenches Black and brown ratsBlack and brown rats Gorge themselves on human remainsGorge themselves on human remains

• disfigured dead bodies by eating disfigured dead bodies by eating their eyes and livertheir eyes and liver

• could grow to the size of a cat could grow to the size of a cat A single rat couple could produce up A single rat couple could produce up

to 900 offspring in a year – ultimately to 900 offspring in a year – ultimately spreading infection and spreading infection and contaminating food.contaminating food.

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Why did it take so long for Why did it take so long for America to get involved in the America to get involved in the

war?war?• America was isolationist America was isolationist • ““Why should I get involved in Why should I get involved in

someone else’s problems”someone else’s problems”

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Which side should the US pick?Which side should the US pick?

•11 million German-Americans •Irish-Americans hated Great Britain

•Close cultural ties •Shared transatlantic cables (so censored stories)•Big business loaned much $ to allies

Central Powers: Allies:

Nations 1914 1915 1916 Britain $594,271,863 $911,794,954 $1,526,685,102 France $159,818,924 $364,397,170 $628,851,988 Germany $344,794,276 $28,863,354 $288,899

US Exports to both sides:

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What did it take to get the US What did it take to get the US involved?involved?1. Blockades

•Britain blockaded (stopped) all German ships going to America

•Germany announced a submarine war around Britain

Y-53 German Submarine 1916

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What did it take to get the US What did it take to get the US involved?involved?1. Blockades

•In May, 1915 Germany told Americans to stay off of British ships

•They could/would sink them

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What did it take to get the US What did it take to get the US involved?involved?1. Blockades

•Lusitania torpedoed, sinking with 1200 passengers and crew (including 128 Americans)

•Was eventually found to be carrying 4200 cases of ammunition

German Propaganda Justifying Lusitania sinking

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What did it take to get the US What did it take to get the US involved?involved?1. Blockades

•The US sharply criticized Germany for their action

•Germany agreed not to sink passenger ships without warning in the future

Note in Bottle After Lusitania Disaster