The Great War: Origins and Alliances

1. Chapter 29 The Great War

2. Rising Tensions • Nationalism, Imperialism, and Militarism caused European nations to become fiercely competitive with one another. • France had not gotten over losing Alsace & Lorraine to Germany from the Franco-Prussian War • Austria-Hungary and Russia both tried to dominate the Balkans

3. The Balkans This is where WW1 is going to begin.

4. Tangled Alliances • Germany’s Otto Von Bismarck saw the key to European peace being “Isolate France” He formed alliances with Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Italy. This was called the Triple Alliance • Kaiser Wilhelm II let the treaty with Russia lapse, so the Russians joined with England and France to form the Triple Entente.

5. The Balkan Powderkeg • Serbia and Austria-Hungary both had plans for the Bosnia-Herzegovina area. In 1908 Austria annexed the land, enraging Serbia. • On June 28th, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was visiting Sarajevo and was assassinated by a Bosnian rebel. Uh oh.

6. The Balkans This is where WW1 is going to begin.

7. The Descent Into War • Austria wanted to punish Serbia. They issued an ultimatum. Serbia agreed to most provisions, but wanted to settle some by international committee. • Austria refused and declared war on July 28th. • Russia (Serbia’s ally) mobilized it’s armies and posted them at the Austrian & German borders.

8. The Descent Into War (cont) • Germany declared war on Russia on August 1. • Russia called upon France to come to its aid, but the Germans didn’t wait. They declared war on France two days later. • Great Britain then declared war on Germany. All of Europe was now locked in conflict.

9. The Central Powers vs the Allies • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria & the Ottoman Empire made up the Central Powers • They were named that because they sat in the heart of Europe’s center. • France, England, Russia, Japan, & Italy made up the Allies. Italy had switched sides after accusing Germany of starting an unjust war. • The United States would not join the war until 1917.

10. Europe’s Pre-War Attitude • Many people thought it would be a relatively quick war. • Soldiers and civilians alike seemed almost “happy” to be going to war. Many thought it would be a great adventure after so many years of peace.

11. The Western Front • After a few months of fighting it was becoming obvious that the war was turning into a bloody stalemate. • Military technology had progressed faster than military strategy.

12. The Schlieffen Plan • Germany’s goal during WW1 was to quickly defeat France in the West, then rush east to fight slower-moving Russia. • General Alfred Schieffen devised a plan that brought the Germans to within 40 miles of Paris. However, they were defeated at the Battle of the Marne, and the Schlieffen Plan was ruined.

13. Trench Warfare • By 1915, miles of parallel trenches had been dug to protect armies from enemy fire. • Life in the trenches was agony. It was dirty, disease infested, loud, and only slightly less dangerous than the space between trenched, dubbed, “no-man’s land” • Armies traded huge losses of life for pitifully small land gains

14. New Weapons of War • Poison Gas – Some gasses caused blindness or blisters, some just caused choking. • Machine Guns – This could wipe out entire waves of attackers • Tanks – Armored combat vehicles introduced by the British in 1916 • Submarines – The German U-Boats were amazingly effective and employed torpedoes