World War IWorld War I The The ““Great WarGreat War””

Dr. RobbinsDr. RobbinsWorld HistoryWorld History

MAIN Causes of WWIMAIN Causes of WWI

MMilitarismilitarismAAllianceslliancesIImperialismmperialismNNationalismationalism

Cause: MilitarismCause: Militarism

All major nations wanted a All major nations wanted a large army in response to large army in response to nationalism, imperialism and nationalism, imperialism and the perceived threats from the perceived threats from other armiesother armies

Cause: AlliancesCause: Alliances

Caused many countries to join Caused many countries to join fighting once war had begunfighting once war had begunBefore the war: Triple Alliance and Before the war: Triple Alliance and Triple EntenteTriple EntenteLater: Central Powers and Allied Later: Central Powers and Allied PowersPowers

Cause: ImperialismCause: Imperialism

Desire for increased territory Desire for increased territory and wealth led to competition and wealth led to competition over coloniesover colonies

Cause: NationalismCause: Nationalism

Desire to prove national Desire to prove national greatness led to rivalries greatness led to rivalries between great powersbetween great powersHighly nationalistic ethnic Highly nationalistic ethnic groups were calling for groups were calling for independence (e.g., Serbians, independence (e.g., Serbians, part of Slavic ethnic group)part of Slavic ethnic group)

What is a catalyst?What is a catalyst?

Ottoman Empire had Ottoman Empire had declined and some declined and some Balkan countries Balkan countries were now were now independentindependentAustria took over Austria took over (annexed) Bosnia (annexed) Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Herzegovina, part of Slavic ethnic part of Slavic ethnic groupgroupSerbia, also Slavic, Serbia, also Slavic, resented Austrian resented Austrian aggression; wanted aggression; wanted large Slaviclarge Slavic--controlled regioncontrolled region

The Catalyst: Background

The CatalystThe Catalyst

Assassination of Archduke Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of AustriaFerdinand of Austria--HungaryHungary–– Serbian nationalist group, Black Serbian nationalist group, Black

Hand, wanted Bosnia freed from Hand, wanted Bosnia freed from AustriaAustria

–– 1919--yearyear--old Gavrilo Princip of the old Gavrilo Princip of the Black Hand killed the Archduke on Black Hand killed the Archduke on June 28, 1914June 28, 1914

The Catalyst Leads to WarThe Catalyst Leads to War

––Austria wanted to punish Serbia Austria wanted to punish Serbia and set demands; most agreed and set demands; most agreed to, but not enoughto, but not enough

––Austria declares war against Austria declares war against Serbia on July 28, 1914Serbia on July 28, 1914

War SpreadsWar Spreads

July 28July 28——Russia (also Slavic) Russia (also Slavic) mobilized troops to the mobilized troops to the Austrian borderAustrian borderAug 1Aug 1——AustriaAustria’’s ally Germany s ally Germany saw this as a threat and saw this as a threat and declared war on Russiadeclared war on Russia

War Continues to SpreadWar Continues to Spread

Aug 3Aug 3——Germany declared war Germany declared war on France, Russiaon France, Russia’’s allys allyAug 4Aug 4——after Germany after Germany attacked neutral Belgium, to attacked neutral Belgium, to get to France, Britain declared get to France, Britain declared war on Germanywar on Germany

Alliances Before the WarAlliances Before the War

Triple Alliance: Triple Alliance: –– Germany, AustriaGermany, Austria--Hungary, ItalyHungary, ItalyTriple Entente:Triple Entente:–– France, Russia, BritainFrance, Russia, Britain

Alliances Shift After War Alliances Shift After War StartsStarts

Central PowersCentral Powers––Germany, AustriaGermany, Austria--HungaryHungary––later, Bulgaria and Ottoman later, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire (wanting to regain Empire (wanting to regain lost territories)lost territories)

Allied Powers (the Allies)Allied Powers (the Allies)––Great Britain, France, RussiaGreat Britain, France, Russia––soon Japan, and later Italysoon Japan, and later Italy––also Serbia, Greece, also Serbia, Greece, Romania, etc.Romania, etc.

––much later, the U.S. (1917)much later, the U.S. (1917)

Europe in 1914Europe in 1914

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan

FirstFirst——attack France to the westattack France to the westSecondSecond——attack Russia to the eastattack Russia to the eastWorked well to start: in Paris by Worked well to start: in Paris by Sept 3Sept 3Intended to keep Germany from Intended to keep Germany from having to fight on two fronts at the having to fight on two fronts at the same timesame time

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan

Count Von Schlieffen

Kaiser Wilhelm II

““ShortShort”” war goes longwar goes long

German plan worked well to start: German plan worked well to start: in Paris by Sept 3in Paris by Sept 3Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne—— began on began on Sept 5, after 8 days of battle, Sept 5, after 8 days of battle, German offensive was stoppedGerman offensive was stoppedRussians soon attacking Germany Russians soon attacking Germany in the eastin the east–– the Schlieffen Plan has failedthe Schlieffen Plan has failed

Stuck in the trenchesStuck in the trenchesExample of trench warfareExample of trench warfare–– Battle of Verdun in Feb 1916Battle of Verdun in Feb 1916——each each

side lost more than 300,000 menside lost more than 300,000 men

Trenches on the Trenches on the Western FrontWestern Front

New technology of warNew technology of war

Machine gunsMachine gunsPoison gasPoison gasGrenadesGrenadesArmored tanksArmored tanksLarger artillery: canonsLarger artillery: canonsSubmarinesSubmarinesAirplanes armed Airplanes armed with machine gunswith machine guns

Western FrontWestern Front

Mostly in Mostly in FranceFrance, near German border, near German border500 miles of trenches500 miles of trenches dug in Francedug in FranceTrench warfareTrench warfareNo ManNo Man’’s Lands Land——the uninhabited land the uninhabited land between the rows of trenchesbetween the rows of trenchesSTALEMATESTALEMATE——””stuckstuck””, nobody makes , nobody makes any real progressany real progress

Eastern FrontEastern Front

Along RussiaAlong Russia’’s borders with s borders with Germany and AustriaGermany and Austria--HungaryHungaryFewer trenches, more mobile Fewer trenches, more mobile and more brutal than western and more brutal than western frontfrontRussians always short of Russians always short of suppliessupplies

RussiaRussia’’s Roles Role

RussiaRussia’’s huge population s huge population provided plenty of soldiers to provided plenty of soldiers to send to the frontsend to the frontRussia kept Germany from Russia kept Germany from winning the war by occupying winning the war by occupying them in the east, dividing them in the east, dividing forcesforces

GallipolliGallipolli, 1915 , 1915

““GlobalGlobal”” warwar

Every continent throughout the Every continent throughout the GLOBEGLOBEFighting over coloniesFighting over coloniesAlso colonial subjects served Also colonial subjects served their European masterstheir European masters

WhoWho’’s Fighting?s Fighting?

Middle East (Arab nationalists helped Middle East (Arab nationalists helped Britain)Britain)Asia (Japan took German colonies; Asia (Japan took German colonies; India fought for Britain)India fought for Britain)Africa (English & French wanted Africa (English & French wanted German land)German land)Americas: Brazil, Canada and later, U.S.Americas: Brazil, Canada and later, U.S.Australia (fighting for British)Australia (fighting for British)

““TotalTotal”” WarWar

Every country involved Every country involved devoted its devoted its TOTAL TOTAL resources resources to the war effortto the war effortGovernments took over Governments took over factories, etc.factories, etc.

Life on the Home FrontLife on the Home Front

Rationing in EuropeRationing in Europe–– Limiting the amount of daily supplies that Limiting the amount of daily supplies that

people could buy (gasoline, sugar, etc.)people could buy (gasoline, sugar, etc.)–– On a volunteer basis in U.S.On a volunteer basis in U.S.Propaganda Propaganda –– Persuading the population to support the Persuading the population to support the

warwar

Women worked in factories & on farms replacing men who had gone to fight

U.S. Enters the WarU.S. Enters the War

U.S. policy of isolationism had U.S. policy of isolationism had kept it out of the war, though kept it out of the war, though they helped Alliesthey helped AlliesUnrestricted submarine warfare Unrestricted submarine warfare by Germans sank British and by Germans sank British and U.S. ships, including passenger U.S. ships, including passenger ships (Lusitania)ships (Lusitania)

U.S. Enters the War U.S. Enters the War cont.cont.

Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note——US learned of US learned of German telegram offering Mexico German telegram offering Mexico US territory if it joined GermanyUS territory if it joined GermanyUS entered war on April 2, 1917US entered war on April 2, 1917Took a year to get 2 million US Took a year to get 2 million US soldiers oversoldiers over

RussiaRussia’’s Problemss Problems

WWI had contributed to problems WWI had contributed to problems in Russia and helped cause in Russia and helped cause revolutionrevolutionRussian Revolution of March, 1917 Russian Revolution of March, 1917 led to fall of Czar Nicholas IIled to fall of Czar Nicholas IINew provisionary government New provisionary government does not leave war, this led to does not leave war, this led to resentment andresentment and……

Russia Leaves the WarRussia Leaves the War

Bolshevik Revolution of Nov, Bolshevik Revolution of Nov, 1917 led to Communist 1917 led to Communist takeover of Russiatakeover of RussiaBolshevik leader Lenin signed Bolshevik leader Lenin signed peace treaty with Germany in peace treaty with Germany in November, 1917November, 1917––Treaty of BrestTreaty of Brest--LitovskLitovsk

The Final ActThe Final Act

With Russia out, Germany With Russia out, Germany could focus on Western Frontcould focus on Western FrontBUTBUT……arrival of US troops and arrival of US troops and exhaustion of German army exhaustion of German army and supplies led to defeat of and supplies led to defeat of GermanyGermany

Fighting EndsFighting Ends

Germany signed the Armistice Germany signed the Armistice (end to fighting)(end to fighting)——Nov 11, 1918Nov 11, 1918Other Central Powers signed their Other Central Powers signed their own Armistice agreements:own Armistice agreements:–– Bulgaria on Sept 30Bulgaria on Sept 30–– Ottoman Empire on Oct 30Ottoman Empire on Oct 30–– AustriaAustria--Hungary on Nov 14Hungary on Nov 14

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Allied Powers met to create a Allied Powers met to create a postpost--war treaty at the Palace of war treaty at the Palace of VersaillesVersaillesStarted on Jan 18, 1919 & signed Started on Jan 18, 1919 & signed on June 28, 1919 (5 years after on June 28, 1919 (5 years after assassination)assassination)Big 4: US, France, Britain, Italy Big 4: US, France, Britain, Italy (Japan virtually shut out)(Japan virtually shut out)

The FourteenThe Fourteen--Point PlanPoint PlanWoodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson’’s proposal for peaces proposal for peace

–– End to secret treatiesEnd to secret treaties–– Freedom of seasFreedom of seas–– Reduce national armies and naviesReduce national armies and navies–– SelfSelf--determination for colonial determination for colonial

peoplespeoples–– ““justjust”” peace (no harsh punishment)peace (no harsh punishment)–– League of NationsLeague of Nations

In the EndIn the End……

Britain & France agreed to Britain & France agreed to League of Nations but not the League of Nations but not the rest of Wilsonrest of Wilson’’s plans plan

Germany was punished:Germany was punished:–– ““War guiltWar guilt”” clause, Germany to pay $33 clause, Germany to pay $33

billion over 30 years to Allies billion over 30 years to Allies about $400 billion in 2013 moneyabout $400 billion in 2013 money

–– Lost territory in Germany and all coloniesLost territory in Germany and all colonies–– Restrictions on German militaryRestrictions on German military

Limit to 100,000 soldiersLimit to 100,000 soldiersOnly 6 battle ships & no air forceOnly 6 battle ships & no air force

Other Treaties

Other Central Powers signed separate treaties with the Allies– Lost land to neighbors & new nations– Forced to reduce their militaries– Forced to pay reparations

although not as much as Germany

The ResultThe Result

4 Empires Ended4 Empires Ended––Russian, German, Ottoman, Russian, German, Ottoman, AustroAustro--HungarianHungarian

ExEx--colonies administered by colonies administered by League of NationsLeague of Nations––colonies angry at treatment by colonies angry at treatment by EuropeEurope

More ResultsMore Results

Japan and Italy angryJapan and Italy angry——gained gained littlelittleGermany left virtually Germany left virtually destroyed, broke, in debt, destroyed, broke, in debt, embitteredembittered……ready for Hitler 20 ready for Hitler 20 years lateryears later

Total CostsTotal Costs

8.5 million soldiers died8.5 million soldiers died21 million soldiers wounded21 million soldiers wounded1918 flu epidemic killed as many 1918 flu epidemic killed as many as 50 millionas 50 million–– Made worse by wartime conditionsMade worse by wartime conditions

Total Costs Total Costs cont.cont.

A generation A generation ““lostlost””Farmland, homes, & villages Farmland, homes, & villages destroyeddestroyedTotal cost in 1918 dollars: $338 Total cost in 1918 dollars: $338 billion (about $4 trillion in todaybillion (about $4 trillion in today’’s s money)money)