World War IWorld War I1914-19191914-1919

““The Great War”The Great War”

Europe in 1914 (Pre-WWI)Europe in 1914 (Pre-WWI)

ROYAL RULERS OF EUROPE

Emperor Franz Joseph- Austria-Hungary

George V- Great Britain

William II- Germany

Nicholas II- Russia (left) George V- Britain (right)

CausesCauses (MANIA) (MANIA)1.1. MilitarismMilitarism2.2. AlliancesAlliances3.3. NationalismNationalism4.4. ImperialismImperialism5.5. AssassinationAssassination

1. Militarism1. Militarism• Military power seen as symbol of Military power seen as symbol of

national prestigenational prestige• Glorification of war by all powersGlorification of war by all powers• Arms race among great powersArms race among great powers• Influential military leadersInfluential military leaders• Belief in Social DarwinismBelief in Social Darwinism

2. Alliances2. Alliances• Agreements among nations to aid Agreements among nations to aid

each other if attackedeach other if attacked• Triple Alliance (1880): GER, IT, Triple Alliance (1880): GER, IT,

A-HA-H– Becomes Central Powers during war: GER, A-H,

Ottoman Empire

• Triple Entente (1890): GB, FR, Triple Entente (1890): GB, FR, RUSRUS– Becomes Allied Powers during war: GB, FR,

RUS, IT, JAP, USA(1917)

The Allies:

Central Powers:

Neutral Nations

1915

Austria-Hungary Germany BulgariaRussia

Russia (USA) France England

World War I

AlliancesDreikaiserbund

Dual Alliance

Triple Entente

Franco-Russian Military Alliance

Entente Cordiale

England and Russia

Understanding

England

France

Italy

Triple Alliance

France

Russia

England France

Germany Russia

Central Powers

Germany

Austria-Hungary

France

Russia

RussiaEngland

Austria

Austria

Allied Powers

3. Nationalism3. Nationalism

• French revenge against Germany French revenge against Germany for humiliation during Franco-for humiliation during Franco-Prussian WarPrussian War

• French desire for return of Alsace French desire for return of Alsace and Lorraineand Lorraine

• German pride in military power German pride in military power and industrial growthand industrial growth

Nationalism Nationalism (continued)(continued)

• Pan-Slavism (desire for a united Pan-Slavism (desire for a united Slavic state) in Eastern EuropeSlavic state) in Eastern Europe

• Serbian desire to create south Serbian desire to create south Slavic stateSlavic state

Balkan Boundaries of 1914Balkan Boundaries of 1914

4. Imperialism4. Imperialism

• British concern over German British concern over German growth and competition for growth and competition for coloniescolonies

• Economic rivalries among Economic rivalries among Britain, Germany, and Britain, Germany, and France France

5. Assassination: The Spark5. Assassination: The Spark

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his wife Sophia, the next in line to the wife Sophia, the next in line to the throne of Austria-Hungary, are throne of Austria-Hungary, are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (a assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (a member of a Serbian Nationalist member of a Serbian Nationalist movement called the Black Hand) in movement called the Black Hand) in Sarajevo.Sarajevo.

• June 28, 1914June 28, 1914

Franz Ferdinand, Sophia and children

WWI Begins: 1914WWI Begins: 1914

• June 28: Assassination of Archduke Franz June 28: Assassination of Archduke Franz FerdinandFerdinand

• July 28: Aus-Hun declares war on SerbiaJuly 28: Aus-Hun declares war on Serbia• Aug 1: Germany declares war on RussiaAug 1: Germany declares war on Russia• Aug 3: Germany declares war on FranceAug 3: Germany declares war on France• Aug 4: Germany invades neutral BelgiumAug 4: Germany invades neutral Belgium• Aug 4: Britain declares war on GermanyAug 4: Britain declares war on Germany• Aug 4: USA declares NeutralityAug 4: USA declares Neutrality• Aug 23: Japan declares war on GermanyAug 23: Japan declares war on Germany

Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan• In 1905, German General Alfred von In 1905, German General Alfred von

Schlieffen drew up a war strategy to take Schlieffen drew up a war strategy to take over Europeover Europe– Plan was to capture France in 6 weeks

(Western Front), after that, go after a weakened Russia

– This was the plan Germany followed when war broke out in 1914.

– Germans underestimated the efforts of the Allies: were forced to fight a 2-front war

New War TacticsNew War Tactics• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (Sinking of the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare (Sinking of the

Lusitania)Lusitania)• Air Reconnaisance, “Dogfights”Air Reconnaisance, “Dogfights”• Chemical warfare: mustard gas, flame throwersChemical warfare: mustard gas, flame throwers• Modern Weapons: Tanks, Machine Guns, MinesModern Weapons: Tanks, Machine Guns, Mines• War of Attrition: wearing down each side by War of Attrition: wearing down each side by

constant attacksconstant attacks• Trench Warfare taken to a new level… barbed Trench Warfare taken to a new level… barbed

wire, dugouts, no-man’s-landwire, dugouts, no-man’s-land• Cavalry (mounted soldiers) now obsoleteCavalry (mounted soldiers) now obsolete

War on the Western FrontWar on the Western Front

Western Front, 1914Western Front, 1914• First Battle of the Marne, Sept. 6-12First Battle of the Marne, Sept. 6-12

– Significance: End of troop movement, beginning of trench warfare, Schlieffen plan hopes gone

– Outcome: French/British Victory.– Casualties: Heavy (approx. 270,000 FR/GB &

270,000 GER)– Re-Directed forces towards the North Sea

• Ypres, Ypres, pictured pictured below, was below, was where gas where gas was first was first used.used.

Western Front, 1916Western Front, 1916

• Battle of Verdun Feb.21- Dec.18Battle of Verdun Feb.21- Dec.18– No tactical or strategic advantage gained at all– Biggest success: wounded both armies– Casualties:550,000 FR / 434,000 GER

• Battle of the Somme Jul.1-Nov.18Battle of the Somme Jul.1-Nov.18– Casualties: 420,000 GB; 200,000 FR; 500,000+ GER

– Introduced the tank; it was not skillfully used

Before and after-Verdon

Before and After: Verdun

After Verdun…After Verdun…

Crater at beginning of Somme caused by 27 tons of explosive

German troops near Bapaume , Battle of Somme

Watching theBattle of the Somme

Dead on the Somme

BritishDead

GallipoliGallipoli

• Allied forces led by Winston Allied forces led by Winston ChurchillChurchill

• Wanted to control opening to Wanted to control opening to Black SeaBlack Sea

• Allies lost to TurksAllies lost to Turks

Zimmerman TelegramZimmerman Telegram

• Message from Germany to Message from Germany to MexicoMexico

• Promised land to Mexico for Promised land to Mexico for siding with Germany during siding with Germany during WWIWWI

The Trenches, the Bogs, The Trenches, the Bogs, the Bombardmentthe Bombardment

The trenchesThe trenches

Caring for the wounded in the mud.

Trench FootTrench Foot

The cure: amputationThe cure: amputation

Trench FootTrench Foot

The cure: amputationThe cure: amputation

The BogsThe Bogs

The Bombardment: German gunners firing at Allied The Bombardment: German gunners firing at Allied

positionspositions

German artillery designed to decimate the trenches and disrupt supply German artillery designed to decimate the trenches and disrupt supply lineslines

Use of PropagandaUse of Propaganda

• The “stretching” of the truth, The “stretching” of the truth, exaggerating, spreading exaggerating, spreading rumorsrumors

• Used in different ways:Used in different ways:– 1 – to raise morale on the war front and at home– 2 – gives false information to the enemy

US ContributionsUS Contributions

• Military – army and navyMilitary – army and navy

• MoneyMoney

• New troopsNew troops

• TechnologyTechnology

End of FightingEnd of Fighting

• November 11, 1918November 11, 1918

• Armistice DayArmistice Day

• Official end – 11 o’clock, 11Official end – 11 o’clock, 11thth day of 11day of 11thth month month

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points

• Neutral RightsNeutral Rights

• Self-determinationSelf-determination

• Open CovenantsOpen Covenants

• League of NationsLeague of Nations

Treaty Of VersaillesTreaty Of Versailles

• Germany’s colonies and The Germany’s colonies and The Ottoman Empire were divided Ottoman Empire were divided among the allied nations.among the allied nations.

• The peace treaty established new The peace treaty established new nations of Czechoslovakia and nations of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.Yugoslavia.

• France re-claimed Alsace-France re-claimed Alsace-Lorraine and won control of the Lorraine and won control of the Saar, an industrial region rich in Saar, an industrial region rich in coal and iron, for 15 years.coal and iron, for 15 years.

• Germany was disarmed, forces Germany was disarmed, forces to admit full responsibility for to admit full responsibility for the war, and charged billions of the war, and charged billions of dollars in reparations.dollars in reparations.

Treaty AgreementTreaty Agreement• The agreement included the The agreement included the

creating of the League of Nationscreating of the League of Nations• Required nations to try and resolve

disputes peacefully• Economic pressure would be applied to

any nation who failed to follow the procedures.

• The executive council could recommend the use of force against the offending nation.

In 1919, the Big 4 met in Paris to negotiate the Treaty(Left to right) Lloyd George of Britain, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson of the U.S.

The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919

Financial Cost of WWIFinancial Cost of WWI• The financial cost of the war is said to have The financial cost of the war is said to have

amounted to almost $38 billion for Germany amounted to almost $38 billion for Germany alonealone

• Britain spent $35 billionBritain spent $35 billion• France $24 billionFrance $24 billion• Russia $22 billionRussia $22 billion• USA $22 billion USA $22 billion • Austria-Hungary $20 billion  Austria-Hungary $20 billion  • In total the war cost the Allies around $125 In total the war cost the Allies around $125

billion; the Central Powers $60 billion.billion; the Central Powers $60 billion.

CasualtiesCasualties(IN MILLIONS)(IN MILLIONS)

Country Dead Wounded Missing Totalor POW

Austria 1.2 3.6 2.2 7,000,000Brit. Emp 1 2.1 0.2 3,300,000France 1.4 4.2 0.5 6,100,000Germany 17.7 4.2 1.1 23,000,000Italy 0.7 1 0.6 2,300,000Russia 1.7 5 2.5 9,200,000Turkey 0.3 0.4 0.25 950,000US 0.1 0.3 0.05 450,000TOTAL 24.1 20.8 7.4 52,300,000

Statistics relating to the First World war are very useful when analyzing the impact that the war had upon society. Some of the figures are, however, a little question- able: I have collated these based on a number of reputable sources.