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Pre-War Events in Europe

Pre-War Events in Europe. 1895 - 1914. Government Policy in Russia: 1894 - 1905. Pan-Slavism Russia saw itself as the “protector and savior” of all Slavic people This had implications in Poland, Ukraine, Austria, the Balkans, and Eastern Germany

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Pre-War Events in Europe

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  1. Pre-War Events in Europe 1895 - 1914

  2. Government Policy in Russia: 1894 - 1905 • Pan-Slavism • Russia saw itself as the “protector and savior” of all Slavic people • This had implications in Poland, Ukraine, Austria, the Balkans, and Eastern Germany • Russia knew that in order to remain a viable country, they would have to industrialize

  3. 1905 - Russia • In response to viciously cold weather and a food/fuel shortage in St. Petersburg, Fr. Gapon led peasants to the Winter Palace to get relief • They were greeted by armed Czarist forces who shot them down

  4. Sergey Witte • As finance minister and Prime Minister of Russia, Witte sought to combine strong authoritarian rule with rapid industrialization • To pay for this economic growth, he raised taxes on the peasants and introduced the gold standard

  5. Witte’s Legacy • His work vastly improved the steel, coal, oil, and rail industries • His ideas, however, did little to help the average Russian • With taxes up and the loss in the Russo-Japanese War, a push was made for greater popular control of the government

  6. After the War, and Bloody Sunday • The Czar had to grant the people a parliament or Duma • The Czar began by working with the Duma, but as soon as the pressure was gone, he ignored it • In some cases – it is better to tell the truth than fake it

  7. The New Prime Minister • Was Count Sergey Witte • His autocratic methods, while helping to industrialize Russia, were also VERY unpopular, and resulted in getting him killed • With Witte out of the way, the Tsar, and his odd helper, Rasputin, ran the country without the aid of the Duma

  8. As a result of the strategic situation in Europe • In 1905 Count von Schlieffen revised Germany’s old plan to deal with a war with both France and Russia • This plan was Germany’s master battle plan for any war Alfred von Schlieffen

  9. The Schlieffen Plan • The German High Command sought to defeat both France and Russia – knowing that Germany had far fewer soldiers that the two combined • How were they going to do it?

  10. Schlieffen’s Assumptions • That Russia would take much longer than France to get its army into place • That France was the more dangerous enemy • That the German Army (Wehrmacht) would remain the largest in Europe and would have sufficient strength to carry out the Plan

  11. Battle Map of “The Plan”

  12. Other Events In Europe • 1904: The Entente Cordiale is announced • A friendship agreement between France and Britain • Any attack on one of them mightbring a response from the other • 1907 – Anglo-Russian Entente • 1908 – Austria-Hungary formally annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina

  13. Bosnia • Formerly a possession of the Ottoman Empire, it had broken free • It was primarily Islamic in religion • The Serbs (then as now) believed that this territory was rightfully theirs • The Serbs were ethnically Slavic – therefore looked to Russia for support

  14. More Events in Europe • 1912 – 1913: The Balkan Wars • The many nationalities of the Balkan region wanted independence from the Ottoman Empire • These wars were bloody, vicious, and spelled trouble for any “balance of power” in Europe • Since many of these people were Slavic, Russia wanted some say in their disposition • Enter the Kaiser – who else?

  15. Berlin to Baghdad Railway

  16. The Kaiser’s New Pet Project • Seeking fast, cheap, and secure transportation for oil to Germany the Kaiser proposed to build a new railroad to the heart of oil country – in Iraq • Who else was looking for cheap, secure oil supplies??

  17. Since the Route . . . • Went through the Balkans, the Kaiser wanted stable and friendly governments in the region • This placed him in direct conflict with Russia – who wanted governments that were friendly to it • How many countries can one man succeed in angering – and at himself no less???

  18. The Trip to Sarajevo • It was announced in April 1914 that the Archduke (Crown Prince) of Austria would visit Sarajevo on June 28 • This was to be a celebration of Bosnia’s successful integration into the Austro-Hungarian Empire • The Serbs obviously had an issue here – they wanted the province for themselves

  19. Enter a little brilliant timing . . . • June 28 was a holiday to the southern Slavs: St. Vitus Day • It marked the anniversary of a defeat of the Serbs by the Turks in 1389 • The day was traditionally seen as a day of mourning and feasting to eventual independence • The Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group, took this as a personal attack

  20. The Plot • Was to kill the Archduke • There were several assassins along the route to make attempts • The group succeeded on the third attempt by shooting the pregnant Archduchess and the Archduke at point blank range

  21. Retaliation • Since the Black Hand had direct ties to the Serbian government – Austria demanded cooperation from the Serbs • First, however, they had to make sure that Germany would support them

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