UNIT 2: WORLD WAR IThe Battle Overseas & The Homefront

World War I The Great War, later known as World War I, was

fought between August 1914 and November 1918

It was fought mostly in Europe, but there were

also battles in the Atlantic & Pacific oceans and conflicts in Africa and the Middle East

It is estimated that over 10 million people lost their lives in this war

Who Was Involved? In the early 1900s, countries in Europe such as Britain,

Germany, Russia, France, Austria-Hungary and Italy constantly struggled for power and wealth Caused conflicts along their borders and in their colonies Caused tension and hostility Began strengthening their armed forces and seeking out alliances

with other European countries protect themselves!

Triple Alliance - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

Triple Entente - Britain, France and Russia

The countries in these alliances agreed that an attack on any ally would be treated as an attack on them all.

Causes of the Great War

Nationalism A century ago, Europeans felt great pride in

their own nations - called nationalism

Brought forth strong feelings of loyalty and devotion

For example: many Canadians were immigrants from Britain and, particularly during times of war, felt strong ties and loyalty to Britain.

Causes cont…

Imperialism Result of fierce competition between powerful

countries in Europe

They sent out explorers and soldiers to claim colonies throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific that made the "mother country" look more impressive

This policy of extending a country's rule over other countries or territories is called imperialism.

Causes cont…The Arms Race There was no organization to solve disputes between competing nations

back in the early 1900s (we have the U.N. now)

European nations kept armies ready in case they wanted to settle disputes by force

As tensions grew, so did the size of these nations' military power

Here are some numbers for armed forces in European countries in 1914 Germany: 2.2 million soldiers, 97 warships Austria-Hungary: 810,000 soldiers, 28 warships Italy: 750,000 soldiers, 36 warships France: 1.125 million soldiers, 62 warships Russia: 1.2 million soldiers, 30 warships Britain: 711,000 soldiers, 185 warships

*countries also built up "standing armies”*trained every healthy young man in case they were needed to boost numbers*Germany had the most reservists (approx. 8.5 mil), but Russia was growing fast (approx. 4.4 mil)

The Spark The spark that “set fire” to the war came during a

parade on June 28, 1914 celebrating the visit of the future king and queen of Austria-Hungary to the city of Sarajevo Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophia Chotek

This was an area of unrest in the southwest of Austria-Hungary because nearby Serbia felt that the region should not be part of Austria-Hungary Language and culture were more similar to that of Serbia Most Serbian people living in the region felt the same

way

The Black Hand Several groups began to fight for separation of this region from

Austria-Hungarian rule

One of these groups was called the Black Hand Terrorist Group,

and they planned an attack on the Archduke and his wife

During the parade, the Black Hand struck Threw a bomb into the car, which the Archduke threw back out blowing up

the car behind them and injuring spectators Car then sped away and made a wrong turn down an alley While the driver was trying to turn around, a young man - Gavrilo Princip, a

member of the Black Hand - came at them and killed the royals.

Austria-Hungary demanded that the terrorist be found and turned

over to them. When Serbia refused, Austria-Hungary declared war.

Images for Inspiration

Canada Enters The War! Canada was part of the British Empire in the early

1900sWhen Britain declared war, we were automatically involved

We immediately pledged 25,000 troopsWe only have 3000 regular soldiersSam Hughes (defense minster) sent out telegrams to

recruit as many single, healthy men as possible sent to camp in Valcartier, QC

By Sept. 2, 1914, there were 32,000 men waiting for training at Valcartier

Canada cont… Troops from Newfoundland and Canada

spent the winter preparing for battle

Landed in France & Belgium by Sept. 1915

Why did so many Canadians join?British loyaltyPosters gave sense of heroism & obligationWages and three meals a dayThought war would be over quickly

Recruitment Posters In order to get enough men to fulfill the promise of

sending 25,000 troops, Canada started a campaign with propaganda posters

Trench Warfare Trenches were dug so soldiers could protect

themselves against the new weapons technologies of WWI

They were dangerous and dirty places, full of rats, lice, disease and infectionMost common problem was trenchfoot

Soldiers had to learn how to eat, sleep, fight and survive against the adversities in the trenches

Trenches cont…

Placed in bottom of trench to help with moisture deal with trenchfoot

Wire tangles used to help stall enemies from getting to trenches

Trenches cont…

1. Communication Trench2. Machine Gun Nest3. Underground Bunker4. Traverse5. Wire Break6. Listening Post+ Trench Block

There would usually be 1 or 2 more support

trenches between the first support trench and

the artillery line

Life in the Trenches

Important Battles There was fighting happening both on the

Germany-Russia border as well as in France and BelgiumCanadian’s were involved mostly at the Western Front

in France and Belgium

There are four battles that Canada and Newfoundland were important contributorsYpres – April 1915 (pronounced “ee-pray”)

Somme – July 1916Vimy Ridge – April 1917Passchendaele – November 1917 (pronounced “passion-dale”)

The War at Sea Britain and Germany were in an arms race to build the biggest navy before the

war started in 1914. Germany invested ships called "unterseeboots" (U-boats) Britain invested in battleships called "Dreadnoughts" (fear nothing)

Germany felt Britain could be beaten if food and weapons could be stopped from reaching the island and declared unrestricted submarine warfare Any ship approaching Britain would be sunk without warning More than 1000 ships were sunk

To protect themselves, the allies used two main methods: Convoys - groups of ships under the protection of an escort destroyer or cruiser Q-ships - military decoy ships disguised as innocent supply ships

Britain also used its battleships to block trading ships from entering German ports This is called a naval blockade It was so effective that food shortages occurred in Germany, affecting both the army

and the civilians.

The Tide Changes In 1917, two events tilted the war in favour of the allies:

Russian Revolution○ after three years of war, the Russian people were hungry and tired

○ In 1917, they revolted, overthrowing Czar Nicholas and surrendered to Germany

The sinking of American merchant ships bringing supplies to Britain○ The United States angered and the entered war on the allies side

○ Germany immediately withdrew their troops from the Eastern Front and launched a major attack in the west, trying to defeat the allies before American troops could land

○ Through successful at first, the Germans were stopped just before Paris

The Last Hundred Days After the German attack was stopped, the Allies decided to counterattack

and take advantage of the weakened German army

Using an improved invention, the tank, the Allies (reinforced by newly arrived American soldiers) smashed through the German lines

Canadians played an important role, winning several battles and defeating 1/4 of the German army The cost was high - 48,000 casualties (9,000 dead)

By November, the Allies were almost at the borders of Germany Germany and Austria-Hungary looked for a negotiated peace On November 11, 1918 at 11:00am, the war ended with a signing of a ceasefire -

or armistice

Last Shot Fired - as Canadian troops were marching through a town in Belgium, a German sniper was waiting. At 10:55am on November 11, 1918, the last Canadian soldier was killed (Private James Price)

Cost of WarAlliance System + allies

Total # in War

Killed & Died

Wounded Prisoners & Missing

Total Casualties

Triple Entente

42,188,810 5,152,115 12,831,004 4,121,090 22,104,209

Triple Alliance

22,850,000 3,386,200 8,388,448 3,629,829 15,404,477

52% of allied forced sent to war were killed. 57% of our enemies died too!!

TE: $125,690,477,000TA: $ 60,643,160,000

Canadian StatisticsKilled Died of

WoundsDied at Sea

Missing Died of disease, etc

Wounded Gassed Injured

34, 925 11, 260 133 4,430 7,796 126,595 11,572 38,784

Treaty of Versailles Peace negotiations that

took place at the palace of Versailles in Paris, France in 1919

Three major powers of the world – Britain, United States & France – decided the fate of Germany after the war

Also formed during these talks was the League of Nations Help keep peace before

disputes end up in war

Treaty of Versailles

What Germany Lost:-10% of all its land

- All its colonies

-12% of its population

-16% of its coalfields

- Half its iron and steel industry

- Most of its army and navy

- All its airforce

Europe After WWI

The Homefront When Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, Prime

Minister Borden issued a bill called the War Measures Act Government had strong powers during war

Limited freedoms of individuals

Government didn’t have to go through regular procedures to make laws

They were allowed to arrest people with charging them

People from enemy countries (“enemy aliens”) could be deported (sent back) to their home countries

Homefront cont… War Measures Act was also used to meet the cost demands of

the war: (cost $1 million PER DAY!) Issued war savings stamps and victory bonds with good interest rates

to be paid back after the war

Canada Food Board was formed to control production and consumption○ People had to ration, hoarding was forbidden

Government censored newspapers to print government propaganda and advertising

Formed Imperial Munitions Board to give contracts to manufacturers for weapons and war equipment productions

Created “temporary” tax of 3% to people with certain income in 1917

Women and the War Women whose husbands were at war received a monthly separation

allowance from the government of $20 regardless of the number of children Was later raised to $25 Barely covered the cost of essentials (food, coal, clothing)

Community based charities were formed to help families: Canadian Patriotic Fund Women’s Patriotic Fund (NFLD)

○ Lead by educated, middle-class women○ They raised millions, but also visited homes to make sure money was being spent properly on

essentials (called them “Nosy Parkers”)

Many still had to rely on relatives or find other ways to raise money even with the support

Average Living Costs per Family Compared to Military Benefits, 1915

Region of Canada Monthly Cost of Living

Gov’t Separation Allowance

Canadian Patriotic Fund

Difference

Atlantic $37.59 $20.00 $13.34 $4.25

Quebec $37.00 $20.00 $16.30 $0.70

Ontario $37.92 $20.00 $17.22 $0.70

Prairies $47.09 $20.00 $22.29 $4.80

British Columbia $53.45 $20.00 $19.79 $13.66

Women and the WarVolunteering Women did a lot of volunteering in other ways to help support families and the

troops Red Cross (making bedding and bandages) Selling baking/crafts to buy tobacco and treats for the soldiers Visiting families supported by the Fund Knitting socks for troops on spare time “Farmerettes” took over many farming duties

Industry over 600 factories were producing munitions by 1917

$2 million controlled product daily when PM Borden took over

women began working in these factories to replace men gone to war lower salary than male counterparts would step aside when soldiers returned from war

Didn’t matter what “class” you came from, everyone did their part to support the war

Women and the WarCanadian Women and the Great War

-1000 worked for the Royal Air Force in Canada

-2000 served as nurses in the Canadian Expeditionary Force

-5000 handled administrative jobs in Canada’s civil service

-30,000 worked in the munitions industry in Canada

-500,000 were employed, mainly in jobs left open by soldiers

Votes for Women Nellie McClung campaigned for women’s votes during

the time of the Great WarPart of the Suffragist Movement“Suffrage” means the right to vote

Because of her work, women were granted the vote in Manitoba in 1916 and by May 1918 they were able to vote in federal elections1916

Man.

Sask.

Alta.

1917

Ont.

B.C.

1918

N.S.

Federal Elections

1919

N.B.

1922

P.E.I.

1925

NFLD

1940

Q.C.

1949

NFLD Aboriginal

men & women

1960

Other Aboriginal

men & women

http://www.historica-dominion.ca/content/heritage-minutes/nellie-mcclung?media_type=41&

Conscription Crisis In 1917, P.M. Borden heard news that the war might last another 3 years

We would need more troops! Already sent 500,000 troops Only 8 million people lived in Canada tough decision Borden would have to use conscription – military service required by law.

Military Service Act passed in summer of 1917; military service compulsory for men between ages of 20 and 45

Newfoundland passed its own Military Service Act in May 1918

There was also an election coming up in 1918, and Borden called upon Canadians to support the decision by re-electing his government

The election was a strong divider of the nation, unlike any other election in Canadian history Some thought voting against conscription was disloyal, even to the point of treason.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N5SK1ysBvg