Causes of the First World War

Several factors led to the war :1. France and Germany butted heads over control of Alsace-

Lorraine, a piece of land located on the border of the two countries (1871).

2. Russia's efforts to control theBalkans, so they can gain accessto the Mediterranean Sea.By doing this he had come intoconflict with Turkey and Austria.

Causes of the First World War

Several factors led to the war :3. European powers feared the growing German power.4. The spark in the powder keg, just an excuse to start the war,

was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife Sophie by a Serbian student, Gavrilo Princip. (1914)

5.Serbia was heldresponsible for

the murder.

The first World War starts

WW I Alliances.

Allies Central PowersBritain (plus all colonies)

France

Italy

Japan

Belgium

USA

Greece

Austria - Hungary

Germany

Turkey

Bulgaria

The first World War starts

1. Austria declares war on Serbia (28 July 1914).2. Russia declares war on Austria (30 July 1914). 3. Germany declares war on Russia (1 Aug 1914). 4. France declares war on Germany (3 Aug 1914). 5. With Germany's declaration of war and invasion of Belgium,

England declares war on Germany (Germany uses Belgium as a gateway to Francs) (4 Aug 1914)

6. America declares war on Germany. (Persistent sinking of merchant ships) (April 1917)

7. Signing of an Armistice Treaty. (11 Nov 1918)

South Africa in the First World War

• As part of the British Commonwealth, South Africa did not have a choice but to take part in WW1.

• The South African army's first task under General. Louis Botha, was to invade German South West Africa (Namibia), he had 50 000 soldiers for the invasion of whom 269 died. There were two major targets in GSWA. The first was the German naval port of Walvis Bay and the second was the German Communication Station in Lüderitz. (1915)

• General. Jan Smuts with 24 000 soldiers went to assist the British and Indian soldiers in German East Africa (Tanzania). (1916)

• About 11 000 South African soldiers went to France to help fight and made a great contribution in the battle of Dellville forest. (1916)

South Africa in the First World War

General Louis Botha General Jan Smuts

How many died during WW I. (These are estimated numbers)

BritainFranceItalyRussiaUSA Germany Austria-Hungary TurkeySouth Africa

1 million1,4 millionhalf a million 1,7 million115 000 1,8 million1,2 million 32 00012 000

The Peace Treaty of Versailles

1. The Peace Treaty of Versailles was a meeting in which the Allied countries decided how to punish Germany.

2. 21 countries took part in the talks with a total of 70 delegates. This includes countries such as India, Japan Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Canada, etc.

3. The three main authors of the treaty was Woodrow Wilson (USA) [a] David Lloyd George (Britain) [b] George Clemenceau (France) [c]

The Peace Treaty of Versailles

4. Germany nor one of Germany'sallies were allowed to attend thetreaty talks.

5. The Peace Treaty consisted of440 terms.

6. Germany was unhappy with thetreaty but was forced to sign it.