The First World War IChapter 19 Part 2 World War I Begins

Four Causes of World War I

I. Nationalism

II. Imperialism

III. Militarism

IV. Formation of a system of alliances

A Tangle of AlliancesIn 1882, Germany formed the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire - the Central Powers in WWI

A Tangle of AlliancesIn 1904 France, Russia, and Britain formed the Triple Entente - the Allies in WWI

Assassination in Sarajevo

Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo

Assassination in Sarajevo

On June 28,1914, the “Black Hand” Serbian terrorist group assassinated the archduke and his wife

Gavrilo Princip assassinates Ferdinand and Sophia

The Conflict Widens

Because Serbia did not agree to all of the terms of an ultimatum, Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914

In the aftermath of the

assassination of Archduke

Ferdinand, Austria made ten

demands of Serbia. An

Austrian official would be

appointed to monitor the

fulfillment of these

demands. The Serbians

accepted all but this last

demand, and war was

declared.

The Conflict Widens

Kaiser William II promised Austrian emperor Francis Joseph Germany’s full support against Serbia

Kaiser William II wrote to Francis Joseph, advising him to take a

firm stand toward Serbia. The Kaiser assured the emperor of

Germany's full support. Thus, instead of urging restraint, William II

gave Austria a "blank check” of assistance

The Conflict WidensSerbia sought help from Russia, and Germany responded by declaring war on Russia

Germany/Austria-Hungary versus Russia

The Conflict Widens

When Russia appealed to its ally France, Germany declared war on France

Germany versus France

The Conflict WidensGeneral Schlieffen had developed a plan of attack against France requiring German armies to march through neutral Belgium

The Conflict WidensOutraged by the invasion of Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany

"The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime”

British politician Sir Edward Grey

The Western FrontThe Germans followed the Schlieffen Plan and swept through Belgium toward Paris

VII. The Western FrontBattle lines in France remained almost unchanged for four years during the “trench warfare”

VII. The Western FrontBetween the opposing trench lines lay "no man's land”

VII. The Western FrontSoldiers would go "over the top" and charge across no man's land toward the enemy lines

VII. The Western FrontThe enemy would counterattack and the fighting went back and forth, gaining little territory

VII. The Western FrontIn 1916, German forces attacked the French at Verdun – there were more than a half-million casualties

Massacre at Verdun

VIII. Technology of Modern WarfareModern weapons - machine guns, larger artillery, and poison gas - added to the destructiveness of the war

VIII. Technology of Modern WarfareIn 1916, Britain introduced the armored tank, but it did little to break the stalemate

VIII. Technology of Modern WarfareBoth sides used airplanes and Germany used zeppelins to bomb the English coast

VIII. Technology of Modern WarfareGerman U-boats sank Allied merchant ships carrying supplies to Britain

IX. A Global ConflictIn 1915, Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary and Germany

WWI Italian postcard

represents Serbia

fighting with Austria

and Germany, while

Bulgaria tries to kill

Serbia with a knife

and Greece watches

from the sideline.

IX. A Global ConflictJapan allied with Britain and seized German outposts in China and islands in the Pacific