World War IWorld War I

What will we cover?What will we cover? Long and short term causes of the warLong and short term causes of the war Opposing sides and nations involvedOpposing sides and nations involved Trench WarfareTrench Warfare Weapons used during the warWeapons used during the war Equipment used during the warEquipment used during the war Events/battles during the war, including the Events/battles during the war, including the

Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution How nations paid/provided for the warHow nations paid/provided for the war Use of propaganda during the warUse of propaganda during the war End of the warEnd of the war Results/impact of the warResults/impact of the war

The long term causes of World War I:The long term causes of World War I:

1.1. Militarism – arms races/build up of artillery in Militarism – arms races/build up of artillery in anticipation of conflict anticipation of conflict

2.2. Alliances – European nations teamed up to offer Alliances – European nations teamed up to offer support to one another in event of conflictsupport to one another in event of conflict

3.3. Imperialism – efforts to expand and possess Imperialism – efforts to expand and possess foreign territoriesforeign territories

4.4. Nationalism – extreme pride and patriotism; Nationalism – extreme pride and patriotism; confidence in one’s countryconfidence in one’s country

MAIN Causes of the Great War MAIN Causes of the Great War •MMilitarismilitarism

•AAllianceslliances

•IImperialismmperialism

•NNationalismationalism

Militarism

Caused by tension between alliance networks in Europe (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente)

arms race to increase military strength (quantity and quality)

universal conscription a policy of many European powers

Plans developed for mobilization of forces in case of outbreak of war (ex. Schlieffen Plan)

Increased military budgets by European Powers between 1870-1914

Naval expansion (especially between Germany and Great Britain)

Alliances

In order to protect themselves and strengthen their status in Europe, nations formed alliances.

These alliances were in many cases meant to PREVENT war.

However, the alliances had the potential to turn a small conflict between two nations into a more widespread conflict (which they eventually did)

Triple EntenteBritainFranceRussia

Triple AllianceItaly

GermanyAustria

VS.

Alliances

How did these alliances start?How did these alliances start?

1871 – Germany is a ‘satisfied power’1871 – Germany is a ‘satisfied power’ • Aimed now at keeping peaceAimed now at keeping peace• France is biggest threat to peaceFrance is biggest threat to peace• Try to isolate France by taking away alliesTry to isolate France by taking away allies

1879 – Germany forms Dual Alliance1879 – Germany forms Dual Alliance• GermanyGermany• Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary• 3 years later, Italy joins forming the 3 years later, Italy joins forming the Triple AllianceTriple Alliance

1881 – Germany signs treaty with Russia 1881 – Germany signs treaty with Russia • taking another ally away from France.taking another ally away from France.

http://www.worldwar1.com/tlalli.htm#dual – For a complete timeline of all alliances

Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II

German RulerGerman Ruler

““I and the army I and the army were born for one were born for one another”another”

1890 – new German leader 1890 – new German leader allows treaty with Russia to allows treaty with Russia to lapselapse

Russia retorts by forming an Russia retorts by forming an alliance with Francealliance with France• just what Germany didn’t wantjust what Germany didn’t want• Germany would be forced to Germany would be forced to

fight from two sidesfight from two sides

Germany starts building Germany starts building ships comparable to British ships comparable to British shipsships

Britain reacts by forming an alliance with FranceBritain reacts by forming an alliance with France

1907 – Britain then makes another treaty with 1907 – Britain then makes another treaty with Russia and France, forming the Russia and France, forming the Triple Entente Triple Entente

Britain was not bound to fight with France and Britain was not bound to fight with France and Russia, but rather promised not to fight against Russia, but rather promised not to fight against them.them.

Imperialism

Contributed to the increase in rivalry in Europe

Great Britain, Germany and France competed for economic expansion in Africa.

In the Middle East, the crumbling Ottoman Empire was alluring to Austria-Hungary, the Balkans and Russia.

Nationalism

Nationalist movements led to the unification of Italy in 1861 and that of Germany in 1871.

Another result of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 was that France was left seething over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany, and regaining that territory was a major goal of the French.

Nationalism posed a problem for Austria-Hungary and the Balkans, areas comprised of many conflicting national groups.

The short term/immediate cause of World War I:The short term/immediate cause of World War I:

June 28, 1914:June 28, 1914:

Archduke Franz Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Ferdinand of Austria was Austria was assassinated in assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian Princip, a Serbian nationalist.nationalist.

Why/how did this happen?Why/how did this happen?

1908 – Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina1908 – Austria annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina

Serbia who had hoped to rule these provinces Serbia who had hoped to rule these provinces became upset.became upset.

Tension between Serbia and Austria grew…Tension between Serbia and Austria grew…• Serbia continually vowed to take the land backSerbia continually vowed to take the land back• Austria continually vowed to crush any Serbian Austria continually vowed to crush any Serbian

effort of the land…effort of the land…

Bosnian Crisis of 1908

•Serbia threatened war on Austria-Hungary following the annexation of Bosnia.

•Russia pledged support to Serbia and began to mobilize.

•Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, to threaten war on Russia.

• The beginning of World War I was postponed when Russia backed down, but relations between Austria- Hungary and Serbia were greatly strained.

Basic representation of the alliances centered on the Balkans.

The Balkans: The “Powder Keg” of Europe

Assassination in Sarajevo

•June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, was assassinated

•Killed by Serbian nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) belonging to an organization known as The Black Hand

•Following the assassination Germany pledged its full support to Austria-Hungary, pressuring them to declare war on Serbia

•Convinced the Serbian government had conspired against them, Austria-Hungary issued Serbia an ultimatum, to which Serbia consented almost entirely.

Sarajevo

                                                                                  

Gavrilo Princip

Chain reaction to Ferdinand’s assassination:Chain reaction to Ferdinand’s assassination:

June 28, 1914:

Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip.

July 28: Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

August 1-3: Germany declares war on Russia, France.

August 4: Great Britain declares war on Germany.

Austria moves to punish Serbia, Russia comes to the aid of Serbia, and then all those alliances engage as everybody declares war on everyone else in

a tragic domino effect.

The official annunciation of the war in Berlin (August 2, 1914)

Neutral Countries: Netherlands, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland

Triple EntenteBritainFranceRussia

Triple AllianceItaly

GermanyAustria

VS.

Allied PowersBritainFranceRussiaItalyJapan

Central PowersItaly

GermanyAustriaBulgaria

Ottoman Empire

ItalyGermanyAustria

Cheerful German soldiers on the train to the front

Advance of French soldiers into the war surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan designed to prevent a two-front war for Germanydesigned to prevent a two-front war for Germany

goal - to knock France/Britain out of the war goal - to knock France/Britain out of the war before Russia could mobilizebefore Russia could mobilize

Called for [surprise] attack of French from the Called for [surprise] attack of French from the north by invading through Belgium rather than north by invading through Belgium rather than only crossing the Maginot Lineonly crossing the Maginot Line

enlarged scope of war by bringing in Belgium and enlarged scope of war by bringing in Belgium and BritainBritain

The Schlieffen Plan was unsuccessful, leading Germany and the Central Powers to fight a two front war.

Militarism