WORLD WAR I
Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism causes
All great powers had large standing military • Generals had detailed plans for mobilization • Ex) Germany’s Schlieffen Plan Militarism • General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen
Schlieffen Plan • Quickly defeat France then sweep to the east to defeat Russia (difficulty mobilizing) • Go through neutral Belgium
Triple EntenteTriple Alliance Great Britain Germany France Austria-Hungary Russia Italy alliances
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of A-H (June 28, 1914) Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina Gavrilo Princip – assassin Germany gave unconditional support – “blank check” TRIGGER FOR WWI
A-H’s harsh ultimatum to Serbia (July 23, 1914) Serbia agreed to many, wanted to settle by international conference A-H rejected (July 28, 1914 declared war) TRIGGER FOR WWI
Chain reaction (1914) • Austria war on Serbia • Russia moving army to A-H & German borders • Aug. 1 – German gov’t war on Russia • Aug. 3 – Germany war on France • Aug. 4 – Great Britain war on Germany WORLD WAR I
Brings Great Britain into the war “Quickly defeat French then sweep to east to defeat Russia…” Had to move through neutral Belgium – brought England into war Aug. 4, 1914 Remember Schlieffen plan?
By mid Aug. 1914 lines were drawn • Central Powers – • Germany & A-H • Bulgaria & Ottoman Empire (wanted land) • Allies – • Great Britain, France & Russia • Japan & Italy switched sides NATIONS TAKE SIDES
3 Theaters • Western Front – France – trench warfare • Eastern Front – Russia – 19th cent. warfare • Southern Front – Balkans - theaters
Schlieffen Plan worked early but ultimately failed (French intelligence) • Sept. 6-10, Allies attacked NE of Paris (First Battle of Marne) • Sept. 13 – Germans were driven back 60 mi • 1 of most imp. Events of the war – defeat of Germans meant the Schlieffen Plan failed Western front
By 1915 both sides dug miles of trenches • Space b/w sides “no man’s land” • New weapons did not mean faster war – only more efficient way to kill more ppl • Tanks, poison gas, larger artillery Trench warfare
1916 – Germans attack on French – lost 300,000+ ea. July 1916, English attacked Germans NW of Verdun - lost 500,000+ ea. Total land gained: 4 mi(Germans) & 5 mi (British) Trench warfare
Russians defeated Austrians twice in Sept. 1914 • Dec. tide turned: Austrians w/ Germans drove Russians Eastward Eastern front • Along German & Russian border • During 1914, Germans crushed Russians (Battle • of Tannenberg)
Russia not industrialized – lacked supplies & ports blocked • Asset for Russians: People • 1915: 2mill+ died, wounded, captured • STILL ABLE TO REBUILD • Able to force Germany into 2-Front war Eastern front
Unrestricted submarine warfare • Germany attempted counter blockade • Sink any ships in water near Britain • Lusitania – British passenger ship sunk w/ 128 Americans • Zimmerman Note • Germany would help Mexico “re-conquer” lands • Keep U.S. distracted U.S. ENTERS 1917, Russia leaves
KEEP THE WAR EFFORT GOING!!! • Centralization of power • Ex) Censorship • Economic regimentation • Ex) Rationing, production • Manipulation of public opinion (aka Propaganda) Governments wage total war
2nd Battle of the Marne • 30/40 mi outside Paris • 140,000 U.S. soldiers • Nov. 9, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates • Nov. 11, 1918: armistice German’s final offensive
Woodrow Wilson • United States • Georges Clemenceau • France • David Lloyd George • Great Britain • Vittorio Orlando • Italy Treaty of Versailles
14 Points: outlines plans for achieving just & long-lasting peace • 14th point: “general association of nations” • G.B & France limited agreement • Concern for national security • Wanted to punish Germany Wilson’s plan for peace
Germany punished • “War Guilt” Clause – Germany sole “guilt” & pay reparations • Restriction on German military • Lost territory • League of Nations – Germany & Russia excluded • New countries formed • Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary & Yugoslavia (Serbs, Croats & Slovenes) Treaty of VersaillesJune 28, 1919
Boundaries pre-treaty
Boundaries post-treaty
COST • 8.5 million soldiers dead • 21 million wounded • $338 billion • Destroyed acres of farmland/cities • Lost Generation • Despair can be seen in artwork Legacy of wwi
Ushered in 1929 depression • New nation-states created • European nations turned to dictatorships • Russia, Italy & Germany • Impact on Women • Replaced men in factories, changed dress, suffrage Legacy OF WWI
“A Peace Built on Quicksand” • U.S. ultimately rejected it • Bitterness & hatred left in Germany • Ppl in colonies upset not independent • Italy/Japan upset – didn’t gain territory • Sets the stage for WWII IMPACT OF TREATY OF VERSAILLES
