1914-1918:

World War I

1914-1918:

World War I

The War that was SUPPOSED to end all

Wars!

The War that was SUPPOSED to end all

Wars!

Differing ViewpointsDiffering Viewpoints

“Family Feud”

“Fall of the Eagles”

“The War to End All Wars”

“The War to ‘Make the World Safe for Democracy’”

“The Explosive

Material for WWI”:

The Long-Term

Causes

“The Explosive

Material for WWI”:

The Long-Term

Causes

Loss of Alsace-Lorraine:Loss of Alsace-Lorraine:

Alsace-LorraineAlsace-Lorraine

Militarism & Arms Race Militarism & Arms RaceCOUNTRY SOLDIERS (#) MONEY

SPENT(in American $)

Britain 750,000 $ 50,000,000

France 1,500,000 $40,000,000

Germany 8,500,000 $60,000,000

Austria-Hungary 750,000 $22,500,000

Russia 1,250,000 $15,500,000

Italy 750,000 $10,000,000

1910-1914 Increase in Defense

Expenditures

France 10%

Britain 13%

Russia 39%

Germany

73%

German-British Naval Rivalry:German-British Naval Rivalry:

Type of Ship Great Britain Germany

Dreadnoughts 29 17

Pre-Dreadnoughts 40 20

Battle -cruisers 34 9

Cruisers 74 41

Destroyers 167 130

Torpedo boats 49 0

Submarines 75 21

German Imperial Ambitions:

German Imperial Ambitions:

Country Population Population of Colonies

Area in km2 of Empire

Great Britain 40.8 million 390 million 27 million

France 39.6 million 63 million 11 million

Germany 63 million 15 million 2.5 million

Austria-Hungary 50 million None None

Russia 139 million None None

Aggressive NationalismAggressive Nationalism

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan

The Balkans, “The Powder Keg of Europe”The Balkans, “The Powder Keg of Europe” Territory formerly

controlled by Ottoman Empire

Balkan nationalities like the Serbia gained independence after Russo-Turkish War (1877-78)

Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia & Herzegovina(1908) wanted to expand into Serbia

Serbia wanted to take Bosnia from Austria-Hungary

Russia wanted direct access to Mediterranean Sea; saw itself as protector of Slavs & Orthodox Serbs

Territory formerly controlled by Ottoman Empire

Balkan nationalities like the Serbia gained independence after Russo-Turkish War (1877-78)

Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia & Herzegovina(1908) wanted to expand into Serbia

Serbia wanted to take Bosnia from Austria-Hungary

Russia wanted direct access to Mediterranean Sea; saw itself as protector of Slavs & Orthodox Serbs

The Balkans, “The Powder Keg of Europe”The Balkans, “The Powder Keg of Europe” First Balkan War

(1912)o Montenegro declares

war on Turkeyo Serbia, Montenegro &

Greece pounce on Albania

o Albania regains independence @ peace conference

o Bulgaria loses spoils to Serbia, Montenegro & Greece

Second Balkan War (1913)o Bulgaria resists

treaty’s demandso Bulgaria defeated by

Serbia, Montenegro & Greece

o Treaty of Bucharest redrew lines that violated informal ethnic & nat. boundaries

First Balkan War (1912)o Montenegro declares

war on Turkeyo Serbia, Montenegro &

Greece pounce on Albania

o Albania regains independence @ peace conference

o Bulgaria loses spoils to Serbia, Montenegro & Greece

Second Balkan War (1913)o Bulgaria resists

treaty’s demandso Bulgaria defeated by

Serbia, Montenegro & Greece

o Treaty of Bucharest redrew lines that violated informal ethnic & nat. boundaries

THE BISMARCKIAN SYSTEM: THE BISMARCKIAN SYSTEM:

Bismarck played Peacemaker in Europe for 20 Years. Why?

Isolate France (keep it w/o allies) Maintain a balance b/t Russia & A-H

(Balkans) The Answer An exhausting system

of shifting alliances Three Emperors’ League (1873)

Germany, A-H & Russia Dual Alliance (1879) Germany & A-H;

formed @ Congress of Berlin ending Russo-Turkish War

Triple Alliance (1882) Italy joins Dual Alliance b/c of tensions w/ France

Reinsurance Treaty (1887) Germany & Russia promise neutrality in case the other was attacked

Bismarck played Peacemaker in Europe for 20 Years. Why?

Isolate France (keep it w/o allies) Maintain a balance b/t Russia & A-H

(Balkans) The Answer An exhausting system

of shifting alliances Three Emperors’ League (1873)

Germany, A-H & Russia Dual Alliance (1879) Germany & A-H;

formed @ Congress of Berlin ending Russo-Turkish War

Triple Alliance (1882) Italy joins Dual Alliance b/c of tensions w/ France

Reinsurance Treaty (1887) Germany & Russia promise neutrality in case the other was attacked

Wilhelm II fires BismarckWilhelm II fires Bismarck

The Alliance SystemThe Alliance System

Triple Entente:Triple Entente: Triple Alliance:Triple Alliance:

The

“Spark”

The

“Spark”

Archduke Franz Ferdinand & His Family

Archduke Franz Ferdinand & His Family

The Assassination: Sarajevo

The Assassination: Sarajevo

The Assassin: The Assassin:

GavriloPrincipGavriloPrincip

“The Explosion”: Outbreak of World War I

“The Explosion”: Outbreak of World War I

THE SUMMER OF 1914:

THE IMMEDIATE ROAD TO WWI

THE SUMMER OF 1914:

THE IMMEDIATE ROAD TO WWI

June 28 Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

July 23 Austria-Hungary (A-H) issued ultimatum to Serbia; emboldened by Wilhelm’s “blank check”

July 28 A-H declared war on Serbia

July 29 Nicholas II ordered full mobilization of Russian troops

Aug. 1 Germans declare war on Russia

June 28 Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

July 23 Austria-Hungary (A-H) issued ultimatum to Serbia; emboldened by Wilhelm’s “blank check”

July 28 A-H declared war on Serbia

July 29 Nicholas II ordered full mobilization of Russian troops

Aug. 1 Germans declare war on Russia

THE SUMMER OF 1914:

THE IMMEDIATE ROAD TO WWI (cont.)

THE SUMMER OF 1914:

THE IMMEDIATE ROAD TO WWI (cont.)

Aug. 3 Germany declares war on France

Aug. 4 German troops invade Belgium; Great Britain declares war on Germany

Aug. 3 Germany declares war on France

Aug. 4 German troops invade Belgium; Great Britain declares war on Germany

WWI BEGINS !!!WWI BEGINS !!!

Blackadder Explains the Causes of WWI:

Blackadder Explains the Causes of WWI:

Who’s To Blame?Who’s To Blame?