British Civilisation

Week 7-8

World War I Dr. Granville Pillar

World War I The Industrial Revolution led to the mass

production of weapons and ammunition. It brought the invention of the aeroplane,

motorised vehicles and radio. In 1917 Winston Churchill was appointed

the Minister of Munitions. Churchill began large scale production of

the Tank (armoured tracked vehicle with petrol engine) to replace trench warfare.

Tanks eventually replaced horse cavalry.

World War I Poison gas was used which caused

vomiting and suffocation Flame-throwers were used which shot out

a stream of burning fuel. The German Navy used submarines,

known as U-Boats. Planes were used to observe the enemy,

but were later fitted with rapid-firing machine guns and bombs.

World War I World War I was the first mass global war

of the industrialised age. It demonstrated the strength, resilience

and killing power of the modern countries. It employed high-tech weapons – quick

firing artillery and machine guns. It employed low-tech defences – trenches

and barbed wire. Cavalry was little use in trench warfare.

World War I On 28th June Archduke Franz Ferdinand,

heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian terrorist.

Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Germany’s invasion of France through the

neutral Belgium, led to the British declaration of war on Germany on 4 August 1914.

Austria-Hungary sided with Germany.

World War I The Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia and

USA. The Central Powers: Germany and Austria-

Hungary. ‘The Great War’ lasted from 1914-1918. Germany surrendered on 11 September 1918. Treaty of Versailles signed with Germany in

June 1919. Severe conditions on Germany by the Allied

Powers created conditions which led to World War II.

World War I The causes of the war:

The rise of nationalism A buildup of military might Competition for colonies A system of military alliance

The results of the war: Toppled the Emperors of Austria-Hungary,

Germany, and Russia New nations arose from the defeated powers Europe lost its position in world affairs Helped create conditions for World War II

World War I The consequences of the war

Destruction and casualties 10 million soldiers dies, 20 million wounded

Economic consequences Cost of $337 billion (in 1918, 10 million per hour)

Political consequences 4 Monarchies toppled – Russia, Austria-Hungary,

Germany and the Ottoman Empire Social consequences

Shattered beliefs in the superiority of European Civilisation

World War I Britain tried to prevent war and proposed

and international conference. The German Emperor, Wilhelm II, urged

his cousin, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia not to mobilise.

Russia mobilsed along the Austria-Hungarian and German border.

World War I Germany declared war on Russia

(Britain’s ally) on 1 August 1914. Germany declared war on France

(Britain’s ally) on 3 August 1914. Germany declared war on Britain on 4

August 1914. The Allied Powers declared war on the

Ottoman Empire in November 1914. Turkish troops invaded Russia.

World War I Japan declared war on Germany in late

August 1914. Australian and New Zealand troops

seized German colonies in the Pacific. The United States joined the Allied

Powers in 1917. The U.S. troops gave the Allied Powers

the manpower they needed to win the war.

Bulgaria joined the Central Powers on 14 October 1915.

World War I The Peace Settlement 32 Nations from the victorious powers

came together in Paris. Germany reluctantly accepted the peace

settlement only after the Allies threatened to invade Germany.

The treaty was signed in Palace of Versailles near Paris on 28 June 1919.

Treaties were made with the other Central Powers.

World War I The Peace Settlement Decisions were made on behalf of the

Allied Powers by the “Big Four.” U.S President, Woodrow Wilson Britain’s Prime Minister, David Lloyd George France’s Premier, Georges Clemenceau Italy’s Premier, Vittorio Orlando

World War I The Peace Settlement Treaty of St Germaine was signed with

Austria in September 1919 The Treaty of Neuilly was signed with

Bulgaria in November 1919. The Treaty with Trianon was signed with

Hungary in June 1920. The Treaty of Sevres with the Ottoman

Empire in August 1920.

World War I The Peace Settlement Germany had to pay $33 billion dollars in

reparations to the Allies. Germany gave up territory in Belgium,

Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France & Poland, and lost all its colonies.

Austria and Hungary were reduced to one third of their former area.

The Treaties recognized the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland and what was to become Yugoslavia.

Italy and Romania received territories that had belonged to Austria-Hungary.

Mesopotamia, Palestine and Syria were taken away from the Ottoman Empire.

World War I The Peace Settlement The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsher

terms than Germany had expected. Having accepted the terms, weakened

Germany’s postwar government. Paved the way for the success of the

NAZI Party led by Adolf Hitler. Hitler ignored the Treaty of Versailles,

and in 1939 invaded Poland. World War II had begun.