Chapter 13Section 2

One European nation after another was drawn into a large and industrialized war that resulted in many casualties.

Much of the technology of modern warfare, such as fighter planes and tanks, was introduced in World War I.

By 1914, Europe was divided into two rival camps.◦ The Triple Entente

Great Britain, France and Russia

◦ The Triple Alliance Germany, Austria-

Hungary and Italy Austria’s declaration of war

against Serbia set off a chain reaction within the alliance system.◦ Pledged to support each

other.

Russia began moving its army toward the Russian-Austrian border in response to Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia.

Russia expected Germany to join Austria, therefore, they also moved their troops to the German border.

Germany took this as a declaration of war.◦ Germany declared war on

Russia on 8/1/1914

Russia looked to France for help.

Before France could react, Germany declared war on them, too.

Great Britain declared war on Germany.

By mid-August 1914, the battle lines were clearly drawn.

Germany and A-H were on one side.◦Central Powers

Later joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire

Britain, France and Russia on the other side.◦ Allied Powers or Allies

Japan soon joined Italy joined later

Italy had been a member of the Triple Alliance with Germany and A-H.

However, Italians felt that Germany and A-H unjustly started a war and changed sides.

Many people felt that the war would be short.

By fall of 1914, the war turned into a long and bloody stalemate.

This deadlocked region in northern France became known as the Western Front.

Germany was facing a war on two fronts.

Developed a battle strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan.◦ Called for attacking and

defeating France in the west then rushing to fight Russia in the east.

Germans felt this plan would work because Russians lagged behind Europe in their railroad system.◦ This meant longer waits for

supplies on the front line.

German leaders needed a quick victory over France.

Things looked good for Germany at first. They entered the outskirts of Paris. Allies, however, regrouped and attacked the

Germans. After four days of fighting, Germans gave the order

to retreat.

The First Battle of Marne. Defeat of the Germans left

the Schlieffen Plan in ruins. Russian forces had already

invaded Germany in the east. Germany was forced to fight

a two front war.◦ Sent troops to the east.◦ Western Front remained in

stalemate.

By 1915, the armies on the Western Front had dug miles of parallel trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire.

This set the stage for trench warfare.

Soldiers fought each other from the trenches.

Armies traded huge losses of life for small land gains.

Life in trenches was pure misery.

Mud Rats Food – nonexistent

Sleep – nearly impossible

Space between the trenches = no man’s land.

When ordered to attack, soldiers would enter this area.◦Faced many rounds of gunfire

Stay in the trench?◦Gunfire went right into the

trenches, too. WWI - European Conflict.asx

Military strategists were at a loss.

The new tools of war had not delivered the fast moving war they expected.◦Machine guns◦Poison gas◦Armored tanks◦Larger artillery◦Big Bertha

Technology killed greater numbers of people more effectively.

War on the Western Front claimed thousands of lives.

Both sides were still sending millions more men to fight on the Eastern Front.◦ Stretch of battlefield along

the German and Russian border.

Russians and Serbs were battling Germans and Austro-Hungarians.

More mobile than in the west. Slaughter and stalemate

were still common.

Russian forces launched an attack into both Austria and Germany.

Germans counterattacked and crushed the Russian army, killing 30,000 Russians.

Russians drove deep into Austria after two wins.

Three months later (December 1914) Austrians defeated the Russians and pushed them out of their country.

By 1916, Russia’s war effort was near collapse.

Russia was not industrialized like other European countries.◦ Short on food, guns,

ammunition, clothes, boots and blankets.

Allied supply shipments were limited by German control of the Baltic Sea, extensive submarines in the North Sea and Ottoman control of the Black Sea.

Russian army’s one asset – it’s numbers.

The Russian army, due to it’s population, managed to hold up hundreds of thousands of German troops on the Eastern Front.

As a result, Germany could not fully attack the west.

Fighting soon spread to Africa, Southwest and Southeast Asia.