World War I

(1914-1918)

The M.A.I.N. Causes of the First World War

Militarism

The process by which a nation builds up its military might for the purpose of

intimidating and deterring other countries.

•Glorification of military strength.

•Race to build bigger army and navy.

•Image of war as glorious.

•Need to be ready for war at all times.

European Military Size on the Eve of WWI

Russia 1,250,000

Austria-Hungary 750,000

Germany 8,250,000

France 1,500,000

Britain 750,000

Italy 750,000

Question: Why would you want your military bigger than other countries?

Alliances

Agreements between nations to help each other in the event of war.

One For All and All for One

Question: Would you make a promise to help someone no matter the situation?

Origins of World War One (Entangling Alliances)

The diagram in the box at the left shows

four nations that have alliances.

Suppose (B) is attacked. Which nation

will help her? _____

Which of the nations will help (D) if she is

attacked? _____

The diagram and sentences show how alliances work in war.

Follow the action and fill in the letters of the “nations”

where it is necessary.

1. Nation (A) attacks _____

2. (D) must help _____, so she attacks ____

3. Now (B) must help _____, so she attacks _____.

1 2

Imperialism

Over the past 300 years several European countries were trying to build up an

empire. However, the right to self-determination, the idea those ethnic groups

(groups with different racial/cultural backgrounds) within an existing country

or colony should want to break away and establish their own country and

government.

Question: What reasons are there to

explain why one country would want

to take over another country?

Nationalism

Question: If you have pride for your country, what would you be willing to sacrifice to help

your country?

Strong loyalty and devotion to one's country and culture. These bonds tie people

together.

Balance of Power (Austria-Hungary)

Wanted to stop the nationalist movements within its multi-national empire. Each nationalist movement within the Austria-Hungary wanted political

freedom and self-rule. The Austrians feared Russia’s interference in the

Balkans.

Count Berchtold

Austrian Prime Minister

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Heir to the Austrian-Hungarian Throne Emperor Franz Joseph

Austria-Hungary Map (Ethnic Groups)

The Austrian Empire ruled over several

Slavic nationalities as well as the

Hungarians and Romanians. Three

major religions, Roman Catholic,

Christian Orthodox, and Muslim also

divided the people of the Balkans.

It was a powder keg waiting to explode…

Balance of Power (Germany)

Germany was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II who wanted Germany to be the

dominant military power in Europe.

He immediately began an aggressive foreign policy and program to build up

Germany’s army and navy.

Most European governments distrusted Kaiser Wilhelm II and viewed as a

bully.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Kaiser Wilhelm II was born with his left arm crippled. Whenever he was photographed he

always covered up his deformed left hand with his right or when in public, his left arm was

always resting on his sword to cover-up his deformity from the public. He perceived that the

public would view it as a sign of weakness, especially someone of royal blood.

Balance of Power (France)

Wanted to regain lost territory (Alsace and Lorraine) it had lost to Germany

(Prussia) at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The area is

rich in minerals, iron ore, and other resources.

French President Fallieres was an outspoken

opponent of the death penalty and gave pardon

to many prisoners sentenced to death.

Balance of Power (England)

Great Britain (England) feared Germany’s increasing power and began an

arms race with Germany.

Promised European countries to come to their aid if war erupted in Europe

against Germany.

Causes of World War I [Horrible Histories]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpuOa6u6HX0&list=PL4TkpBgcLLMrx2_zADw0KkPaVE2s2KLk3&index=1

King George V of England looked uncannily

like his cousin, Czar Nicholas II of Russia.

Balance of Power (Russia)

Nicholas II will be the last

Russian Czar as the

Romanov Dynasty which

ruled Russia for 300 years

will come to an end. In 1917,

the Russian Revolution

erupted and the Communists

murdered the Czar and his

entire family.

Russia wanted to expand its borders and gain influence in Balkans by showing

support to the Slavic people. Russia also wanted to control the Black Sea and

The Straits of Constantinople in order to secure a warm-water port that

would be open all year since many of its ports in north were frozen for several

months. This could only be achieved through war with Austria-Hungary and

the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire.

Triple Entente (Allies)

Military alliance between Britain, France and Russia. All had economic and

territorial ambitions and they all disliked Germany, so they formed an alliance for

protection.

Tsar Nicholas II (Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias) and

his cousin King George V (King Emperor) in a photo taken in

1913 prior to the start of the First World War.

Tsar Nicholas II King George V

World War I Cousins [Horrible Histories]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEUZ4rFiac

Central Powers

Military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman

Empire formed for protection from the Triple Entente.

Weakness of Central Powers

Germany’s Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan, had been carefully crafted to deal with a two-front war

scenario, such as in the case it found itself at war against France and Russia

at the same time. Germany calculated that France was the lesser threat and

planned to conquer France and knock her out of the war within five weeks

before Russia could effectively mobilize for war on the 'Eastern Front,'

(which the Germans estimated would take six weeks). Then use its entire

resources to fight Russia.

Germany’s Schlieffen Plan had

a number of flaws, among them

called for a sweep through

neutral Belgium in order to

attack France because the

French-German border was

too heavily fortified. This

assumption did not take into

consideration that it would

draw England into the war.

Former German Army

Chief of Staff Alfred von

Schlieffen

Black Hand

Serbian nationalist [terrorist] group who believed that Bosnia belonged to

Serbia rather than Austria-Hungary.

Sarajevo was in Bosnia, the province that, to Serbia's anger,

had been annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908.

Black Hand Seal

Ritual cross of the Black

Hand

Austria-Hungary in 1914

Assassination of the Archduke The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian

throne) and his wife Sophia happened on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia. killed

by a Serbian student, Gavrilo Princip. The Black Hand organization which sought

Serbian independence from Austria-Hungary claimed responsibility.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the throne of

Austria-Hungary. He was inspecting the army in

Sarajevo with his wife Sophie. The royal couple

arrived by train at 9.28am.

Seven young Bosnian Serbs planned to assassinate

Franz Ferdinand as he drove along the main road in

Sarajevo.

Princip pulled out a gun and shot at Franz Ferdinand,

hitting him in the jugular vein. There was a tussle, during

which Princip shot and killed Sophie. By 11.30am, Franz

Ferdinand had bled to death.

The Archduke’s blood-

soaked tunic.

Assassination of the Archduke

Car the Archduke was riding in when

he was assassinated.

“There is no need to carry me to another prison. My life is already

ebbing away. I suggest that you nail me to a cross and burn me

alive. My flaming body will be a torch to light my people on their

path to freedom.”

Gavrilo Princip

Because of his age (19 yrs, 11 months),

Princip could not be executed for this

crime. The law required an individual

to be at least 20 years old. Princip died

in prison during the war of

tuberculosis.

Pistol used by Princip

Archduke Francis Ferdinand

Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo on June

28, 1914. His assassination started WWI.

Despite being the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne,

Ferdinand was scorned by family because he married

Sophia, a person not of royal blood. She was considered a

commoner. Her casket was several inches lower than the

Archduke’s to symbolize her lower social status.

Today, Princip is considered a

Serbian national hero and there is a

bronze plaque over the sidewalk

marking where he stood when he

fired the fatal shots, which triggered

WWI.

“The lights are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit

again in our lifetime.

Sir Edward Grey,

British Foreign Secretary on the eve of the war. ”

The Lights Go Out in Europe

July 28, 1914

– Austria blamed Serbia for the assassination of Archduke and attacked Serbia.

July 30, 1914

– Russia began mobilization to support Serbia.

August 1, 1914

– Germany declared war on Russia.

August 3, 1914

– Germany declared war against France.

August 4, 1914

– Germany invaded Belgium in route to attack

France.

– Great Britain (England) declared war on

Germany.

– Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia. Origins: Rap Battle - WW1 Uncut – BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCEUZ4rFiac

Start of WWI Flow Chart

The Guns of August: The War Begins On Aug 3, 1914, the First World War began when Germany invaded Belgium

in route to the French capital of Paris. The Battle of the Marne halted the

Germans 40 miles from Paris.

Trench Warfare Trench warfare was most prominent on the Western Front during World

War I. Trench warfare is a form of land warfare in which troops are protected

from the enemy's small arms fire and are sheltered from artillery.

During World War I, both sides constructed elaborate trench, barbed wired,

and dugout systems opposing each other from Belgium, across France, to the

border of Switzerland.

Trenches, First Days in the [Horrible Histories]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyFCmwgCUvU&list=PLeiESi5PTC54T

PfrRywtppkVCuaHnhPAq

Trench, Life in a [World Wars]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G4ZY66BG38&index=22

&list=PLob1mZcVWOahCu7-pViYP2z8BdyoPCKes

Trench Warfare Diagram

No Man’s Land

The stretch of land between enemy trenches. The area was very dangerous and

contained miles of barbed wire, hundreds of corpses, and land mines.

No Man's Land was heavily guarded by machine gun and sniper fire and

could be as narrow as 15 yards or as wide as several hundred yards.

Soldiers were forced to cross it while advancing toward the enemy positions.

Trench Foot

Trench foot is a medical condition caused by cold, wet and insanitary conditions. Affected

feet become numb and turn red or blue as a result of poor vascular supply. Feet will begin

to swell and may begin to have a decaying odor as the condition worsens.

Advanced trench foot often involves blisters and open sores, which lead to fungal

infections. If left untreated, the skin starts to peel off and tissues begin to die resulting in

gangrene., which would require the need for amputation.

Inspecting Feet for Trench Foot

Early symptoms of

Trench Foot

Preventive treatment

meant keep your feet dry,

changing socks, and using

foot powder.

Severe symptoms of Trench Foot

Rats Rats in their millions infested trenches gorging themselves on decaying human

remains and could grow to the size of a cat. These rats would even scamper

across their faces as they tried to sleep. Many said the rats got braver as the

war went on because they got used to humans and bold enough to steal food

from right under the soldiers' noses.

Rats Exasperated soldiers would attempt to rid the trenches of rats by various

methods; some used their guns even though this was a waste of ammunition,

others used their bayonets, or clubbed them with anything they could find. It

was futile however: a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a

year, spreading infection and contaminating food. The rat problem remained

for the duration of the war (although many veteran soldiers swore that rats

sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and disappeared from view).

Splat that Rat Game [Horrible Histories]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7RnzwM5eOc&list=

PL4TkpBgcLLMrx2_zADw0KkPaVE2s2KLk3&index=7

As well as making

excellent company

for soldiers, dogs

on the front line

were also given

various jobs. Many

made excellent rat

catchers.

Lice

Men in the trenches suffered from lice. One soldier writing after the war described them

as "pale beige in color, and they left blotchy red bite marks all over the body."

As well as causing frenzied scratching, lice also carried disease. This was known as

pyrexia or trench fever. The first symptoms were shooting pains in the shins and were

followed by a very high fever. Although the disease did not kill, it did stop soldiers from

fighting and accounted for about 15% of all cases of sickness.

German Soldiers Picking Lice from Clothes

Lice were sometimes called ‘chats’;

Soldiers who spent many an hour removing

them from the seams of their clothing

passed the time in discussions with their

mates This led. to the popularizing of

chatting

Various methods were used to remove the

lice. A lighted candle was fairly effective,

but the skill of burning the lice without

burning your clothes was only learnt with

practice. Where possible the army arranged

for the men to have baths in huge vats of

hot water while their clothes were being put

through delousing machines. Unfortunately,

this rarely worked. A fair proportion of the

eggs remained in the clothes and within two

or three hours of the clothes being put on

again a man's body heat had hatched them

out. Lice Wars [Horrible Histories]

Hitler and WWI

A jubilant Hitler was among the crowd in Munich,

Germany when war was declared in August 1914.

Adolph Hitler enlisted in the German army (Reichswehr) and was assigned to the 16th Bavarian

(German) Infantry Regiment where he served as a dispatch runner on the Western Front.

Hitler’s was wounded twice and awarded four medals for bravery including the Iron Cross.

Hitler was never promoted beyond

the rank of corporal because his

superior officers thought him

unstable because of his anti-Semitic

ramblings.

Hitler’s several narrow escapes

from death convinced him that God

had put him on earth for some

divine mission. Hitler was

temporarily blinded on November

10, 1918 and was in a field hospital

recovering when he received word

of Germany’ surrender.

Hitler's Life, British Soldier Spared [World Wars]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu0Z1eshtRU

Weapons of World War I

The Machine Gun

Machine guns made it possible for a few gunners to mow down waves of

soldiers. The machine gun was the most feared weapon during WWI.

The Machine Gun was capable of wounding and killing

massive numbers of men, they became a weapon to be feared.

Often machine gunners would fire up to the last second then

try to surrender. This made the gunners hated men by enemy

soldiers and they were usually killed on the spot in retaliation

instead being taken prisoner.

All Quiet on the Western Front- War Scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXtsiqrhqsU

World War 1 Wee Wee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9292ohg14RQ&list=P

LFCp1PLqgPzDDqu3Xxbq76mNr15C8NVGg

Samuel Dies [Legends of the Fall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha4SHiHf8Vw

Tristans Revenge for Sam [Legends of the Fall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j48GDZKZTUo

WWI Airplanes

World War I was the first war in which aircraft were deployed on a large

scale.

Initially, they were used mostly for reconnaissance, but also used in direct

cooperation with ground forces (especially ranging and correcting artillery

Fire.) Ace fighter pilots were portrayed as modern knights, and many became

popular heroes.

Snoopy vs the Red Baron [Music Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11IUfGfDis0&list=RD11IUfGfDis0&index=1

Fighter Plane [Horrible Histories]

Red Baron v. Eddie Rickenbacker

Eddie Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an

American fighter ace in World War I

and Medal of Honor recipient. With 26

aerial victories, he was America's most

successful fighter ace in the war.

Red Baron

Red Baron was a German fighter

pilot during World War I. He was

officially credited with 80 air

combat victories. By 1918, he was

regarded as a national hero in

Germany, and was very well known

by the other side. The Red Baron

was shot down and killed near

Amiens on April 21, 1918. He

remains perhaps the most widely

known fighter pilot of all time.

WWI Battleships

Naval technology in World War I was dominated by the battleship as both

Britain and Germany competed in a naval arms race.

By the middle of WWII, the battleship became obsolete and replaced by the

aircraft carrier.

Chemical Warfare

Chemical weapons were primarily used to demoralize, injure and kill entrenched defenders. The types of weapons

employed ranged from disabling chemicals, such as tear gas and the severe mustard gas, to lethal agents like

phosgene and chlorine. The killing capacity of gas was limited because it was possible to develop effective

countermeasures against chemical attacks, such as gas masks.

The Germans Release the First WMD [WWI The First Modern War] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHJIbKnzVnc

The Tank

Not used until late-1916 , tanks protected advancing troops as they broke

through enemy defenses. Early tanks were slow and clumsy.

Tanks used during WWI frequently broke down and were slow moving. Their purpose was more

psychological than anything else.

Tank, British Consider Abandoning the [WWI The First Modern War]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sUKGu3nFDo

Early Tank Designs

The name “Tank" comes from the security

surrounding the development of the weapon.

The British did not want the Germans to

know what they were developing, so they

used a code word. The British called the new

vehicle a "water carrier." The story was

spread that these vehicles were being built to

carry water to the men fighting in the Sinai

Desert. The name stuck with the vehicles

when they were shipped to France in crates

stamped "Tank." They thought if the

German saw the crates anywhere, they would

think they were water tanks.

An early prototype of the military tank

In Leonardo da Vinci’s time the closest thing to a tank that

could be found on the battlefield were Elephants with up to

three men mounted on them. Leonardo despised harming or

injuring animals in any way, this may be one of the reasons for

his early designs of the tank.

Tank, Western Front Inspires the [WWI The First Modern War]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eex4QGCKklI

U-boats

German submarines that traveled under water and wreaked havoc in the

Atlantic during the war.

Torpedo

War Moves Beneath the Waves [World Wars]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVgmmtDdPeI

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare The German's policy of attacking all ships in the Atlantic Ocean.

U-boats were menacing during WWI, but hunted

alone. During WWII, the German navy would employ

“wolf packs,” or groups of U-Boats on patrol. (See

WWII notes)

Germans Engage In Unrestricted Submarine Warfare [World Wars]

Convoy System

The convoy system was introduced by the Allies in May 1917 as a response to mounting losses of

merchant shipping to U-Boat attacks. Under the convoy system a large number of ships would all sail

at the same time and at the same speed. This meant the British navy could provide warships to escort

them, making it harder for U-Boats to launch successful attacks.

Previously, merchant ships sailed individually, which meant it was impossible for the British navy to

protect them from direct attack. It also made them easy targets for U-boats. Once a U-boat sighted a

merchant ship, it could surface and destroy the defenseless vessel with gunfire.

Lusitania

British passenger ship torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1915.

Twelve hundred people died in the attack, including 128 US citizens. People

in the U.S. were furious.

The Lusitania, a British passenger ship was sunk off the coast of Ireland by a German U-boat. Germany

claimed it was carrying munitions to England. The United States denied it, but later it was discovered that

the Germans were correct.

American Neutrality Not backing either side.

Isolationism

The philosophy that the United States should stay out of international

conflicts.

The U.S. did not see a war in Europe as being of any concern to the US.

United States Sympathized with the Western Powers

United States sided with the Western Allies and ignored George Washington's

advice about not getting involved in foreign affairs and began to send military

supplies to the Western Allies.

• The U.S. sympathized with England because of common language and customs

• The U.S. sympathized with France because France aided U.S. during the American

Revolution.

Zimmerman Telegram In 1917, the German Foreign Minister, sent a telegram to the German

embassy in Mexico.

Wanted Mexico to attack the US if it declared war on Germany. In return,

Germany promised to help Mexico win back land the US had acquired as a

result of the Mexican-American War.

April 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and officially entered

World War I.

Pancho Villa Expedition March 14, 1916 to February 7, 1917

During the political turmoil of Mexico in 1916, bandit Pancho Villa murdered

sixteen Americans, and then burned down the town of Columbus, New Mexico.

The U.S. was outraged and a military expedition of 12,000 U.S. soldiers led by

General John J. Pershing was conducted to catch Francisco "Pancho" Villa, the

leader of a paramilitary force of Mexican revolutionaries. The expeditions had

one objective: to capture Villa “Dead or Alive” and put a stop to any future

forays by his paramilitary forces on American soil. The massive U.S. response

angered some Mexicans and led to hostilities. Pancho Villa was never caught.

Pancho Villa Remains Elusive Decades

After His Death

The trigger finger of this gunslinger is as

good a place to start as any. It is said to be

on display in the front window of Dave's

Pawn Shop, an El Paso, Texas, outfit a stone's

throw from the border at Ciudad Juárez.

Graying and curled, the thing still has its

fingernail. "The sale price today is $9,500,“

explains the store's David Delgadillo.

The car in which

Mr. Villa was

ambushed.

Pancho Villa’s life came to a quick end when Mr. Villa's Dodge

roadster was ambushed by Texas Rangers on a cactus-lined

road in Hidalgo del Parral and riddled with dozens of machine-

gun rounds. Nine hit him, four in the head. According to the

lore, his final words were: "It shouldn't end this way. Tell them

I said something."

The United States Declares War

The U.S. declared war on Germany April 6, 1917 and began to send troops to

France.

Returned favor to France for her help during the American Revolution.

Jeannette Rankin

The first woman to sit in the House of Representatives (elected in 1916) and

the only member of Congress to vote against the US entry into both world

wars. She was a life-long pacifist.

“Peace is a woman’s job,” she declared, “because men have a natural fear of

being classed as cowards if they oppose war.”

War is the slaughter of human beings,

temporarily regarded as enemies, on as large

a scale as possible.

Jeanette Rankin

I want to stand by my country, but I

cannot vote for war.

Jeanette Rankin

General John J. Pershing

Head of the American Expeditionary Forces, insisted the AEF remain a

separate, independent army. The US troops who shipped out to France

would do their fighting under American command, and not under Allied

commanders.

General “Black Jack” Pershing obtained the nickname

because as a junior officer he commanded black troops in the

American Army.

Selective Service 1917

Stated that all men between the ages of 20 and 45 had to be registered for

possible military service. Used in case draft became necessary.

Conscientious Objectors

A general right to refuse military service. In March 1916, Britain introduced

an which allowed for objectors to be exempted, to perform alternative civilian

service, or to serve they could convince a Military Service Tribunal of the

quality of their objection. Around 16,000 men were recorded as conscientious

objectors, when they refused orders to serve, they were sent to prison.

American Expeditionary Force [Doughboys]

American Expeditionary Force was the first American ground troops to

reach the European front. Commanded by Pershing, they began arriving in

France in the summer of 1917. US in World War I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHn1Egt6Xdg&index=21&list=PLob1mZcVWOahCu

7-pViYP2z8BdyoPCKes

African American Enlistees in the Military

Some 400,000 African Americans also served in the military. However, Many southern politicians

feared arming African Americans. Nevertheless, they were drafted in segregated units, where

they were assigned to menial labor and endured crude abuse and miserable conditions.

Ultimately, more than 42,000 blacks would see combat in Europe, however, and several black

units served with distinction in various divisions of the French Army.

International soldiers [Horrible Histories]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FFOXJPlci4 Harlem Hellfighters [First World War]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEuoAl1elLU

369th Infantry Regiment An all African American unit that served so admirably in combat. Known

as the "Harlem Hell Fighters."

The 369th Infantry Regiment spent more time in

the trenches, 191 days, and received more medals

than any other American outfit. The French

government awarded the entire regiment the

Croix de Guerre.

Great Migration

After WWI many African Americans began leaving the South in growing

numbers to pursue better economic opportunities in northern cities and in

hopes of escaping southern racism.

WWI Home Front

The home front of the United States in World War I saw a systematic

mobilization of the entire population and the entire economy to produce the

soldiers, food supplies, munitions, and money needed to win the war.

Daylight Savings Time

Having citizens turn their clocks ahead one hour during certain months,

people would have more daylight and burn less fuel.

Committee on Public Information

An independent agency of the government of the United States created to

influence U.S. public opinion regarding American participation in World

War I.

It used every medium available to create enthusiasm for the war effort and

enlist public support against foreign attempts to undercut America's war

aims.

War Industries Board

The most powerful agency of the war, it had to satisfy the allied needs for

goods and direct American industries in what to produce.

WWI War Bonds

Liberty bonds were first utilized during the first World War to support the

allied cause in World War I. Subscribing to the bonds became a symbol of

patriotic duty in the United States and introduced the idea of financial

securities to many citizens for the first time. This allowed private citizens to

purchase a bond to help support the military effort. After the war, the bond

could be redeemed for its purchase price plus interest.

Espionage and Sedition Acts

These acts made it illegal to interfere with the draft, obstruct the sale of

Liberty Bonds, or make statements considered disloyal to, or critical of, the

government, the Constitution, or the US military.

Eugene V. Debs Imprisoned

Debs repeatedly ran for president as a socialist, he was imprisoned after he

gave a speech protesting WWI in violation of the Sedition Act.

In 1920, Socialist Eugene Debs

received 920,000 votes for

president of the United States.

Yet he ran his entire campaign

while he was in jail.

Collapse of Czarist Russia

Russian army suffered huge losses on the Eastern Front and the Russian

people began riots in Russian cities because of food shortages and poor

morale. Czar Nicholas II abdicated.

Bolsheviks (Communists) toppled the government during a revolution in

November 1917. The Bolsheviks withdrew Russia from WWI with the signing

of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany.

On July 17, 1918, the royal family was

awakened and led down into a half-

basement at the back of the house.

The pretext for this move was the

family's safety.

Nicholas was shot multiple times in

the chest and was the first to die.

Alexandra and their children with

their doctor and three of their

servants (who had voluntarily chosen

to remain with the family) were all

stabbed with bayonets and then shot

at close range in the head.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk The Bolsheviks withdrew Russia from WWI with the signing of the Treaty of

Brest-Litovsk with Germany.

Russo-German Armistice (December 15, 1917)

Fourteen Points

Wilson's plan called for a reduction in armaments (weapons), the right of

self-determination (power to govern oneself) for ethnic groups, freedom of

the seas, and the creation of a League of Nations.

Self Determination

After WW I, Germany, Eastern Europe and the western portion of the former

Russian Empire split into new countries. Wilson wanted them to have their

own governments.

Armistice Cease-fire or agreement to stop fighting. On November 11, 1918, the First World

War came to an end after four long and bloody years. “Eleventh hour, of the

eleventh day, of the eleventh month.”

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty that ended the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles made

Germany take total responsibility for the war and led to great bitterness on

the part of most Germans. Made it possible for a young, charismatic leader

named Adolf Hitler to rise to power.

Photo of the “Big Four” taking a break from the

Treaty of Versailles Conference.

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the most important

causes that led to Hitler's rise in Germany. From the

German point of view the treaty was incredibly harsh

and devastating for Germany.

The Big Four at Versailles

1. Woodrow Wilson

a. President of the United States.

b. Wanted to create a better world and wanted a just peace.

2. Georges Clemenceau (Klemon-so)

a. Prime Minister of France.

b. Sought to ensure France’s security against future German invasions

and wanted a treaty that was harsh towards the Germans.

3. David Lloyd George

a. Prime Minister of Great Britain.

b. Sought to expand Britain’s colonial empire, preserve its naval and

industrial supremacy, and make Germany “pay for the war.”

4. Victorio Orlando

a. Prime Minister of Italy.

b. Wanted to make sure that pre-war agreements, which promised

more land for Italy were honored.

*Left the Versailles Conference after Italy was not given what it

was promised.

Georges Clemenceau

David Lloyd George

Woodrow Wilson

Victorio Orlando

Treaty of Versailles (U.S. Opposition)

Victorious Allies imposed punitive reparations on Germany. U.S. Versailles

delegation was led by Wilson who fought for a just peace. U.S. Senate rejected

the Versailles Treaty as too harsh and against the League of Nations.

Article 10 of the Versailles Treaty

Created the League of Nations.

League of Nations

Devised by President Wilson, its purpose was to provide a world court

where countries could peacefully discuss solutions to their differences or

grievances rather than go to war. Proved to be very weak and unable to

prevent WWII.

How the Versailles Treaty Affected Germany

1. Germany was reduced to a weaken state.

• German army was limited to 100,000 troops.

• German navy limited for purposes of conducting trade only.

• Germany was not allowed an air force.

2. Forced to pay huge reparations of about $32 billion dollars.

3. Had to accept Article 231 in which Germany had to accept blame for

starting the war. (Very insulting)

Reparations

Money to compensate for losses from the war.

Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war

as part of the Treaty of Versailles. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly led to a

severe depression in Germany.

How the Versailles Treaty Affected the

Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires

The Austro-Hungarian Empire was spilt

into Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and

Hungary.

The Ottoman Empire was reduced and divided

into several smaller countries.

Turkey, Iran, and Iraq.

“The War to End All Wars”

Extent of damage inflicted.

•More than 8.5 million dead.

•More than 17 million wounded.

•Mass famine

•Over 300 billion dollars in damage to property.

•Millions of civilians left homeless.

The First World War was so devastating that people thought that

nobody would ever want to fight another war like it again.

Rather than risk war again during the 1930’s, England and France

tried to appease Hitler to avoid another world war.

The Horrors of War World War I Shell Shock [Short Video]

The Horrors of War

Shell Shock [Short Video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS1dO0JC2EE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jll9_EiyA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWHbF5jGJY0

WWI Veteran Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of

World War I, passed away in 2011.