WORLD WAR I

CAUSES, PRACTICES & EFFECTS OF WAR

World War IThe War was also known as THE GREAT WAR and famously

“THE WAR TO END ALL WARS”

It was a global military conflict that took place mainly in Europe between 1914 & 1918.

It was a total war which left great devastation, millions dead and shaped the modern world.

World War I created a decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars. The results of World War I would be important factors in the development of World War II; 21 years later.

Long-Term Causes

1870-1904

Long-term Causes: Why did the war break out?Napoleon Bonaparte and the Rise of Nationalist SentimentColonial ExpansionAnglo-German Naval RaceTension in the BalkansAscension of Kaiser Wilhelm IIWeb of alliances

MAIN CAUSES OF WWI

Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

***These background causes were building for 40-50 years before the actual outbreak of WWI.

Cause #1: MilitarismMilitarism: building up armed forces in preparation for warCharacteristics:

Army and military forces are given a high profile by the governmentIncreased military spending and productionImplementation of the draftLed to an arms race

The armies of both France and Germany had more than doubled between 1870 and 1914 and there was fierce competition between Britain and Germany for naval superiority. The British had introduced the 'Dreadnought', an effective battleship, in 1906. The Germans soon followed suit introducing their own battleships.

MILITARISM

1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914

94 130 154 268 289 398

European Military Spending

Year

Millions of $

Britain maintained a large lead over Germany in all categories of warships.

Both nations believed that command of the seas was vital to a great nation.

Country Soldiers Large Naval Vessels

TonnageSize/Carrying

Capacity

Russia 54,000 4 328,000

France 68,000 10 731,000

Britain 209,000 29 2,205,000

TOTAL 331,000 43 3,264,000

Germany 79,000 17 1,019,000

Austria-Hungary 16,000 3 249,000

TOTAL 95,000 20 1,268,000

The naval strength of the powers in 1914

Cause #2: AlliancesAn alliance is an agreement made between two or more countries to give each other help if needed. A number of alliances had been signed by countries between the years 1879 and 1914. These alliances meant that some countries had no option but to declare war if one of their allies declared war first

Formation of the WWI AlliancesIn 1879 Germany and Austria- Hungary agreed to form a Dual Alliance. This became the Triple Alliance when in 1882 it was expanded to include Italy. The three countries agreed to support each other if attacked by either France or Russia. It was renewed at five-yearly intervals. France felt threatened by this alliance. Britain was also concerned by the growth in the Germany Navy and in 1904 the two countries signed the Entente Cordiale (friendly understanding). The objective of the alliance was to encourage co-operation against the perceived threat of Germany. Three years later, Russia who also feared the growth in the German Army, joined Britain & France to form the Triple Entente. The Russian government was also concerned about the possibility of Austria Hungary increasing the size of its empire. It therefore made promises to help Serbia if it was attacked by members of the Triple Alliance The formation of the Triple Entente in 1907 by Britain, France and Russia reinforced the need for the Triple alliance.

Cause #3 - Imperialism Due to industrialization, countries needed new markets & resources Imperialism!Imperialism: establishing political, economic and military dominance over weaker nationsBy 1900, all large European powers had colonies in Africa or Asia (not Austria-Hungary)

Imperialist rivalries formed as countries competed and fought over new territories and resources The great powers had come into conflict over spheres of influence in Asia (Open Door Policy – China & Japan) and over territories in Africa (Moroccan Crisis) Germany embarked late, but aggressively, on colonial expansion under Emperor Wilhelm II

Cause #4: NationalismThe French Revolution resulted in chaos and the ascent of Napoleon to power. Napoleon's armies marched all over Europe, bringing not only French control, but French ideas. The rise of ideas of nationalism, devotion and pride for one's common people and ethnicity, increased in popularity during the Napoleonic Wars.Napoleon encouraged the spread of nationalism, which he saw in his troops, to better the French war machine. The French people began to feel pride in their culture and ethnicity. The world watched nationalism for the first time and saw the power the French gained from it. Following the Napoleonic Wars, all of Europe was sharing these ideas There were two types of nationalism that emerged during the era:

Desire for dominance & desire for independence

Nationalism

DiscussionIn your opinion, which of the four background causes (militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism) was the biggest cause of WWI? Explain!

BELLWORK 3/30In one sentence, explain how each of the short-term effects increased hostilities between the European Powers:

1. First Moroccan Crisis2. Bosnian Crisis3. Second Moroccan Crisis4. First Balkan War5. Second Balkan War6. THINKER: Every one of the short-term causes made a future war

more likely, but why didn’t any of these conflicts lead to an actual war? How did European powers avoid war following these conflicts?

Europe in 1914Europe in 1914 By 1914 Europe was divided in a power-

struggle for the top place in the world economic market.

At the start of the Great War in 1914, Germany was a relatively young power, only coming into existence following a series of wars in 1871. Germany's Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, aimed to maintain peaceful ties with Russia.

When Kaiser Wilhelm II came to power, he quickly retired Bismarck, and upset the Chancellor's delicate balance of power by refusing to renew Germany's friendship with Russia.

Germany soon found itself as a minority. Its only European ally was the weakest of the European powers, Austria-Hungary.

Short-Term Causes

1905-1913

Moroccan Crisis: 1905In 1904 Morocco had been given to France

by Britain, but the Moroccans wanted their independence. In 1905, Germany announced her support for Moroccan independence. War was narrowly avoided by a conference which allowed France to retain possession of Morocco. However, in 1911, the Germans were again protesting against French possession of Morocco. Britain supported France and Germany was persuaded to back down for part of French Congo.

***Why did Germany interfere in Morocco in both 1905 and 1911?

Bosnian Crisis: 1908 In 1908, Austria-Hungary took over the former Turkish province of Bosnia.This angered Serbians who felt the province should be theirs. Serbia threatened Austria-Hungary with war, Russia, allied to Serbia, mobilized its forces. Germany, allied to Austria-Hungary mobilized its forces and prepared to threaten Russia. War was avoided when Russia backed down. There was, however, war in the Balkans between 1911 and 1912 when the Balkan states drove Turkey out of the area. The states then fought each other over which area should belong to which state.Austria-Hungary then intervened and forced Serbia to give up some of its acquisitions. Tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was high.

International Situation by 1913Increased division between the two alliancesIncreased militarism (arms race, conscription)Increased nationalismLiterature, press & education prepared public for warWas war inevitable at this point?

German War PlansWhat was the goal of Germany’s Schlieffen plan? Was this plan a success?

French War Plans

What was France’s war plan?

Russian War PlansInvade Central Powers!!!!!

How did the short-term causes effect alliances?

Serbian NationalismNationalism means being a strong supporter of the rights and interests of one's country. The Congress of Vienna, held after Napoleon's exile, aimed to sort out growing problems in Europe. Delegates from Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (winners in Napoleonic Wars) decided upon a new Europe that left both Germany and Italy as divided states.Strong nationalist elements led to the Re-unification of Italy in 1861 and Germany in 1871.Large areas of both Austria-Hungary and Serbia were home to differing nationalist groups, all of whom wanted freedom from the states in which they lived.

Kaiser Wilhelm IILast German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe. Launched Germany on a "New Course" in foreign affairs that culminated in his support for Austria-Hungary in 1914.

BELLWORKBELLWORKWhat was the Black Hand? What was their objective in the assassination?After the assassination, why was Austria-Hungary hesitant to declare war on Serbia? What changed this?Summarize the Kaiser’s “blank cheque” to Austria (28). What did this promise? After the assassination, it seemed like this would just be another short term conflict, so why was this conflict impossible to contain in the Balkans?THINKER: Do you think countries should be required to take the blame for starting war? If so, should they be punished following the war? Why or why not?

Immediate Cause of WWI

The assassination of Ferdinand and the outbreak of war

The Black HandThe Black HandIn May 1911, ten men in Serbia formed the Black Hand Secret Society. Early members included Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic, the chief of the Intelligence Department of the Serbian General Staff.The main objective of the Black Hand was the creation, by means of violence, of a Greater Serbia. Its stated aim was: "To realize the national ideal, the unification of all Serbs. This organization prefers terrorist action to cultural activities; it will therefore remain secret."

By 1914 there were around 2,500 members of the Black Hand. The group was mainly made up of junior army officers but also included lawyers, journalists and university professors. Three senior members of the Black Hand group, Dragutin Dimitrijevic, Milan Ciganovic, and Major Voja Tankosic, decided that Archduke Franz Ferdinand should be assassinated. The political objective of the assassination was to break off Austria-Hungary's south-Slav provinces so they could be combined into a Greater Serbia or a Yugoslavia.

The Black HandThe Black Hand

The People chosen for the taskGavrilo Princip, Nedjelko Cabrinovic and Trifko Grabez from Serbia made plans to assassinate him.

Assassination at Sarajevo• On 28 June 1914, the Archduke

Franz-Ferdinand and his wife visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, to review the troops.It was also Serbia's National Day - the anniversary of the battle, in 1389, when Serbia had been conquered by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, yet at which a Serb hero, Milos Obilic, had assassinated the Ottoman Sultan. This day was inextricably linked with Serbian nationalism, and with the assassination of foreign rulers.Waiting for Franz Ferdinand, lined up along the Appel Quay, Sarajevo's main road, were six young men. They were armed with pistols and bombs supplied by the Black Hand.  They were going to try to murder Franz Ferdinand

Austrian spies in Serbia had reported that there was going to be an assassination attempt. Panicked, the Prime Minister of Serbia, had also told the Austrian government that there was going to be trouble. Franz Ferdinand ignored these warnings. Only 120 policeman were on duty in Sarajevo, and they were so excited that they forgot to watch the crowds, and looked at the procession instead.Franz Ferdinand was disguised in the uniform of an Austrian cavalry general.To reach the Town Hall the procession had to drive along the Appel Quay.   The six conspirators had posted themselves along the route; the Appel Quay was `a regular avenue of assassins.' At 10.10 am, as the procession drew near the Cumuria Bridge.

Near the Cumuria bridge: 1st  Mehmed Mehmedbasic: told a friend that he could not get a clear opportunity and that a policeman had approached him just as he was to throw the bomb.2nd Vaso Cubrilovic: told investigation that felt sorry for the Duchess; said that he was badly placed.3rd   Nedeljko Cabrinovic: threw a bomb.   Wearing a long black coat and a black hat, he asked a policeman to tell him which car the Archduke was in; seconds later he had knocked the cap off a hand grenade against a metal lamp-post and aimed it at the Archduke seated in the open car.   Franz Ferdinand later claimed that he had knocked away the bomb with his hand; witnesses at the trial, however, all agreed that the bomb had bounced off the folded-back hood of the Archduke's car.   It blew up the car behind, killing two officers and injuring about twenty people.   Cabrinovic swallowed poison, but it failed to work.   After stopping to see what had happened, Franz Ferdinand's car sped to the Town Hall.4th (landward side) Cvetko Popovic: told a friend that could not see which was Franz Ferdinand because he was short-sighted; told the trial the lost his nerve.In order to avoid the city center, the royal car traveled straight along the Appel Quay and took a right turn into Franz Joseph Street.

One of the conspirators, Gavrilo Princip, was standing on the corner at the time. An advisor immediately realized the driver had taken the wrong route and shouted "What is this? This is the wrong way! We're supposed to take the Appel Quay!"The driver put his foot on the brake, and began to back up. In doing so he moved slowly past the waiting Gavrilo Princip. The assassin stepped forward, drew his gun, and at a distance of about five feet, fired several times into the car. Franz Ferdinand was hit in the neck and Sophie in the abdomen. Princip's bullet had pierced the archduke's jugular vein but before losing consciousness, he pleaded "Sophie dear! Sophie dear! Don't die! Stay alive for our children!“Franz Urban drove the royal couple to Konak, the governor's residence, but although both were still alive when they arrived, they died from their wounds soon afterwards.

Princip Bridge: sight of Archduke Ferdinand’s assassination

Nedjelko Cabrinovic, statement in court (23rd October, 1914)

We did not hate Austria, but the Austrians had done nothing, since the occupation, to solve the problems that faced Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nine-tenths of our people are farmers who suffer, who live in misery, who have no schools, who are deprived of any culture. We sympathized with them in their distress. We thought that only people of noble character were capable of committing political assassinations. We heard it said that he (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) was an enemy of the Slavs. Nobody directly told us "kill him"; but in this environment, we arrived at the idea ourselves. I would like to add something else. Although Princip is playing the hero, and although we all wanted to appear as heroes, we still have profound regrets. In the first place, we did not know that the late Franz Ferdinand was a father. We were greatly touched by the words he addressed to his wife: "Sophie, stay alive for our children." We are anything you want, except criminals. In my name and in the name of my comrades, I ask the children of the late successor to the throne to forgive us. As for you, punish us according to your understanding. We are not criminals. We are honest people, animated by noble sentiments; we are idealists; we wanted to do good; we have loved our people; and we shall die for our ideals.

Name SentenceGavrilo Princip 20 yearsNedjelko Čabrinović 20 yearsTrifun Grabež 20 yearsVaso Čubrilović 16 yearsCvjetko Popović 13 yearsLazar Đukić 10 years

Danilo Ilić Death by hanging (executed 3 February 1915)

Veljko Čubrilović Death by hanging (executed 3 February 1915)

Nedjo KerovićDeath by hanging; commuted to 20 years in prison by Kaiser Franz-Joseph based on Finance Minister's recommendation

Mihaijlo Jovanović Death by hanging (executed 3 February 1915)

Jakov MilovićDeath by hanging; commuted to life in prison by Kaiser Franz-Joseph based on court's and Finance Minister's recommendation

Mitar Kerović Life in prisonIvo Kranjcević 10 yearsBranko Zagorac 3 yearsMarko Perin 3 yearsCvijan Stjepanović 7 years

Time to play a game……

THE BLAME GAME!!!

Who is to blame for starting WWI?Who is to blame for starting WWI?You will be assigned a group, and each group will be responsible for blaming a different country for their involvement in WWI.In your group you must prepare a speech/presentation to present to an International Tribunal which will decide….. Who is to blame?Take into consideration:

Their involvement in short/long term causes, responsibility for the beginning of the war, their acts of aggression, lack of prevention of war, and historians arguments

GERMANYAyham, Rachel, Coleman, Calli, Cezanne, Bridgette

AUSTRIA-HUNGARYLiam, Hannah, Hunter, Katja, Chandni

RUSSIAMatt, Sarah, Courtney, Andres, Sophia, Afrooz

BRITAINJoseph, Cassie, Nate, Kim, Lauren, Genevieve

Which countries were bound to each other by which alliance?How did imperialism contribute towards Germany’s increasing anger with Britain and France?Why was nationalism an important factor?Describe the part played by Germany in increasing European militarism.What links were there between the two crises and:

AlliancesImperialismMilitarismNationalism

BELLWORK - 13 March 2013Time to review over the background causes of WWI! For each of the four causes, explain how and why that cause created problems/tensions in Europe and pushed them closer to war.

1. Militarism2. Alliances3. Imperialism4. Nationalism5. THINKER: In your opinion, which of the four causes had the

biggest impact or created the most problems eventually leading to WWI?

6. Explain the Bosnian Crisis.