mapping wwi

Mapping World War I

The Central Powers consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

The Allied Powers included Great Britain, France, Russia, Belgium, and later Italy. Smaller countries also sided with the Allied Powers- Serbia, Romania, Albania, Montenegro, Greece, and Portugal.

Countries in each group agreed to help each other if a war were to break out. Such an agreement is called an alliance.

As tensions and distrust grew between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers, countries began to increase their armies and navies. An all-out war seemed inevitable.

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the leading countries of Europe competed for land and power in Asia and Africa. Soon bitter rivalries developed. Countries became jealous of one another and drifted closer to war. Eventually, rival nations separated into two opposing groups.

Events Leading to War

On the Map: Use a brown colored pencil to lightly shade the nations that were Central Powers.Use a green colored pencil to lightly shade the nations that were Allied Powers.

Central Powers Germany

Austria-Hungary BulgariaTurkey.

Allied Powers Great Britain

France Russia

BelgiumItaly

Serbia Romania Albania

Montenegro Greece

Portugal

The Start of World War IIn 1914, an event occurred

which sparked the start of World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who was in line to become the ruler of Austria-Hungary (a Central Power), was assassinated by a man from Serbia (an Allied Power). As a result of this incident, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and launched in invasion. The other members of the Central Powers and Allied Powers quickly joined in the fighting. The worst war the world had known to that time was underway.

On the Map: Put a 1 in the box next to the arrow showing Austria-Hungary’s attack on Serbia. Write Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia- August 1914 near that arrow.

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Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia- August 1914

Germany Attacks Belgium & France

As troops from Austria-Hungary invaded Serbia, the German army moved rapidly through defenseless Belgium and into northern France. Although the Belgians were no match for the fast-moving German army, they fought hard and were able to delay the German advance into France by a few days. This gave France and Great Britain enough time to organize armies to defend against the German attack on France. After bitter fighting, the German army was finally halted just 25 miles from Paris, France.

On the Map: -Put a 2 in the box next to the arrow marking Germany’s advance through Belgium and into Northern France. -Write Germany attacks Belgium & France- August, 1914 near the arrow.

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2Germany Attacks Belgium- & France- August 1914

Germany Declares War on Russia

Germany’s leader- Kaiser Wilhelm II

As German troops marched through Belgium and into France (the Western Front), Germany also declared war on Russia (the Eastern Front). Germany hoped to quickly crush France and then turn the full force of its military strength against Russia. The plan was nearly successful.

Ironically, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and King George V of England were all cousins.

On the Map: -Put a 3 in the box next to the arrow marking Germany’s advance into Russia. -Write Germany attacks Russia- August, 1914 near the arrow.-Trace the dotted line in France red and label it the Western Front.-Trace the border of Germany and Russia orange and label it the Eastern Front.

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3Germany attacks Russia-

August 1914

Western Front Eastern Front

Early Years of WWI- Trench WarfareDuring the first years of

the war, 1914-1916, neither the Central Powers or Allied Powers could gain an overall advantage. In northern France, both sides dug trenches along a 600-mile line. From these trenches, millions of men waged war for the next several years. Each side paid a terrible price in soldiers killed and wounded. Despite all the bloodshed, neither side could defeat the other.

On the Map: -Put a 4 in the box in France showing where trench warfare took place between France and Germany. -Write Trench Warfare near the box.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

Early Years of WWI- Central Power Victories

While both sides fought evenly in France, the Central Powers made gains elsewhere in Europe. The Central Powers (mainly Austria-Hungary) overran Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and Romania, and unleashed a fierce attack against Italy.

On the Map: -Put a 5 in the boxes showing the Central Power’s invasion of Montenegro, Romania, and Italy.-Write Central Power Victories- 1914-1916 near the boxes.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

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55Central Power Victories

1914-1916

Early Years of WWI- Allied Power Naval Victories

The Allied Powers were vastly superior at sea, mainly through the strength of the British Navy. The British set up a blockade in the North Sea, which, for the most part, forced the German fleet to remain in port throughout the war. The blockade also cut off supplies being sent to Germany from other nations. Germany’s only effective naval weapon was the submarine, or U-boat.

On the Map: -Put a 6 in the box next to the zig-zag line showing Britain’s naval blockade against Germany.-Trace the zig-zag line in the North Sea blue and label it British Naval Blockade.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

5


1914-1916

6British Naval

Blockade

Early Years of WWI- The United States

When the war began in 1914, Americans breathed a sigh of relief that the United States was not involved. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation of neutrality, announcing that the US would not take sides in the war.

Some Americans chose to fight for an Allied country that was involved in the war. This poster is an advertisement from Britain calling for former British men to return to Britain and help fight the war.

Early Years of WWI- The United StatesBut as the fighting went on,

Americans grew more sympathetic with the Allied Powers. This happened for a number of reasons:1. Most Americans thought Austria-Hungary

and Germany started the war.2. News of the war usually came from the

Allies, who spread stories that the Germans were ruthless conquerors trying to take over the world.

3. Because of the British blockade of Germany, the United States mainly traded with the Allies.

4. Most importantly, Americans were angered by Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare. Germany’s U-boats sank ships, including unarmed passenger ships, without warning in effort to cut off the flow of supplies to Britain. In May of 1915, a U-boat sank the British passenger ship the Lusitania that was carrying 128 American passengers.

On the Map: -Put a 7 in the box which marks the spot where the Lusitania sank off the southern coast of Ireland.-Write Lusitania Sinks- May 1915 next to it.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

5


1914-1916

6British Naval

Blockade

7Lusitania Sinks

May 1915

WWI- The United States

After a strong American protest over the sinking of the Lusitania, Germany temporarily ended unrestricted submarine warfare. But this continued only until 1917. In April of that year, after U-boats had sunk several American ships, the US declared war on Germany.

WWI- RussiaAbout this time, a

great revolution took place in Russia. The Russian people, tired of crushing defeats at the hands of German armies, overthrew Czar Nicholas. The new Communist government, led by Vladimir Lenin, signed a peace treaty with Germany ending Russian involvement in World War I. Germany then moved all it’s forces to the Western Front.

Czar Nicholas II of Russia

On the Map: -Write Bolshevik Revolution ends War in Russia- 1917 in Russia.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

5


1914-1916

6British Naval

Blockade

7Lusitania Sinks

May 1915

Bolshevik Revolution ends War in Russia

1917

WWI- The United States

The United States began sending large numbers of troops and supplies to Europe. American soldiers helped the Allies win key battles at Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood. Partly because of America’s involvement in the war, and partly because of the failure of the German offensive in the spring of 1918, the Central Powers were forced to retreat. US troops led by General John J. Pershing defeated the Germans at St. Mihiel, drove them from the Argonne Forest, and advanced into the Meuse Valley. Finally, on November 11, 1918, Germany surrendered and the war was over.

On the Map: -Put an 8 in the boxes next to the three arrows showing the arrival of American troops and supplies in Europe.-Write United States Troops Arrive- 1917 near the arrows. -Write Germany Surrenders- November 1918 in Germany.

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August 1914


4Trench Warfare

5


1914-1916

6British Naval

Blockade

7Lusitania Sinks

May 1915

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8United StatesTroops Arrive

1917

Bolshevik Revolution ends War in Russia

1917

Germany SurrendersNovember 1918

The End

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