Unit 12: The road to WW IUnit 12: The road to WW I

CausesCausesThe OutbreakThe Outbreak

The Eastern and Western The Eastern and Western FrontsFronts

CausesCauses

NationalismNationalism– Alsace and LorraineAlsace and Lorraine: The French were still very : The French were still very

bitter about losing this border region in the Franco-bitter about losing this border region in the Franco-Prussian WarPrussian War

Pan-SlavismPan-Slavism– Russians believed that they had to defend their Russians believed that they had to defend their

“little Slavic brothers” (EX: Serbia)“little Slavic brothers” (EX: Serbia)Imperial Rivalry (Defn.)Imperial Rivalry (Defn.)– Great Britain was threatened by German industrial Great Britain was threatened by German industrial

growth growth – Crisis in Africa: Britain and France drawn closer Crisis in Africa: Britain and France drawn closer

together by their common mission of keeping together by their common mission of keeping Germany out of Northern AfricaGermany out of Northern Africa

More CausesMore Causes

MilitarismMilitarism: Glorification of the : Glorification of the military, Warfare, and armed forces. military, Warfare, and armed forces. Preparedness for war. War as a Preparedness for war. War as a romantic undertakingromantic undertaking– Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism

War as a biological necessity War as a biological necessity – Arms RaceArms Race: The Kaiser (Wilhelm II) : The Kaiser (Wilhelm II)

built a navy to rival that of Great built a navy to rival that of Great BritainBritain

Entangling AlliancesEntangling AlliancesBismarck’s goal after 1871: To be in a Bismarck’s goal after 1871: To be in a “majority of three”“majority of three”1873: The Three Emperors League 1873: The Three Emperors League (Germany. A-H, and Russia) an alliance (Germany. A-H, and Russia) an alliance against radical movementsagainst radical movements

Bismarck angered Russian nationalists and is Bismarck angered Russian nationalists and is eventually forced into a defensive alliance with the eventually forced into a defensive alliance with the Austrians (the Dual alliance)Austrians (the Dual alliance)

ResultResult: : – The The Triple Entente Triple Entente (GB, Russia, ,France)(GB, Russia, ,France)– The The Triple Alliance Triple Alliance (Germ. Aus-Hung, Italy)(Germ. Aus-Hung, Italy)

Crisis in the BalkansCrisis in the Balkans

Beginning in Beginning in 18751875 rebellions against rebellions against the Ottoman Empire (the “the Ottoman Empire (the “sick mansick man” of ” of Europe) resulted in tensions among the Europe) resulted in tensions among the great powers and Russian interventiongreat powers and Russian intervention– 18781878: Serbia gained independence but the : Serbia gained independence but the

Austrians won the right to occupy Bosnia Austrians won the right to occupy Bosnia and Herzegovina (large Serbian populations)and Herzegovina (large Serbian populations)

1908 Austria formally annexed Bosnia and 1908 Austria formally annexed Bosnia and HerzegovinaHerzegovina

– 1912 Ottoman Empire in Europe destroyed1912 Ottoman Empire in Europe destroyed

Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II1890 1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm II becomes becomes emperor of Germanyemperor of Germany– BiographyBiography– Fired Bismarck for being overly friendly Fired Bismarck for being overly friendly

towards Russiatowards RussiaFrance began to court Russian friendshipFrance began to court Russian friendship1894 they reach a “friendly understanding 1894 they reach a “friendly understanding “(Entente)“(Entente)Britain is the only uncommitted major Britain is the only uncommitted major powerpower

Sarajevo June 28Sarajevo June 28thth 1914 1914Gavrillo PrincepGavrillo Princep a Serbian a Serbian nationalist (nationalist (Black HandBlack Hand) shot and ) shot and killed Archduke killed Archduke Franz FerdinandFranz Ferdinand and his wife Sophieand his wife SophieThe Austrians responded by asking The Austrians responded by asking Germany for their supportGermany for their support– Germany gives them a “Germany gives them a “blank checkblank check” ”

and Austria issues an and Austria issues an ultimatumultimatum to to Serbia (48 hrs)Serbia (48 hrs)

Serbia must end all anti-Austrian activity Serbia must end all anti-Austrian activity and allow Austria to run the investigation and allow Austria to run the investigation into the matterinto the matter

The 3The 3rdrd Balkan War? Balkan War?

Serbia responded evasively and Serbia responded evasively and Austria chose warAustria chose war– Although the Germans knew Russia Although the Germans knew Russia

would fight they thought the British would fight they thought the British would remain neutralwould remain neutral

– July 28July 28thth Austrian forces bombed Austrian forces bombed BelgradeBelgrade

– July 29July 29thth Russian forces mobilized Russian forces mobilized against Germany and Austriaagainst Germany and Austria

 

King George V (right) with his first cousin Tsar Nicholas II, Berlin, 1913

The German planThe German plan

For years the Germans had planned for For years the Germans had planned for a war on frontsa war on fronts– Von Schlieffen planVon Schlieffen plan: Called for Germany : Called for Germany

to knock out France quickly by invading to knock out France quickly by invading through neutral Belgiumthrough neutral Belgium

– August 2August 2ndnd Germany demands to be allowed Germany demands to be allowed to enter Belgium but they refuseto enter Belgium but they refuse

– Germany attacked anyway and on August Germany attacked anyway and on August 33rdrd Great Britain declared war on Germany Great Britain declared war on Germany (had pledged to protect Belgian neutrality)(had pledged to protect Belgian neutrality)

The teamsThe teamsThe Central PowersThe Central Powers– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottomans,

Bulgaria (Italy had left the triple alliance Bulgaria (Italy had left the triple alliance in 1914 to become neutral)in 1914 to become neutral)

The AlliesThe Allies– Britain, France, Russia (until 1917), Italy Britain, France, Russia (until 1917), Italy

in 1915, US in 1917in 1915, US in 1917

The First Battle of the MarneThe First Battle of the MarneAfter invading through Belgium the After invading through Belgium the German Army moves to within 30 miles of German Army moves to within 30 miles of ParisParisParis prepared for a siege and the Paris prepared for a siege and the government left the citygovernment left the city– September 6September 6thth: French commander : French commander Joseph Joseph

JoffreJoffre ordered a counter-attack into a gap in ordered a counter-attack into a gap in the German line near the the German line near the Marne RiverMarne River (aided (aided by 100,000 Brits)by 100,000 Brits)

– The French were saved by 6,000 reserve The French were saved by 6,000 reserve infantry troops ferried to the front in taxi cabsinfantry troops ferried to the front in taxi cabs

– The Germans began a retreat and Paris was The Germans began a retreat and Paris was savedsaved

Stalemate on the Western FrontStalemate on the Western FrontBy November 1914 an unbroken line of By November 1914 an unbroken line of trenchestrenches from Belgium to the Swiss from Belgium to the Swiss frontier (100 miles)frontier (100 miles)– 11stst 5 months 1 million dead 5 months 1 million deadBattle of VerdunBattle of Verdun: February-July 1916: February-July 1916– Germans besieged the city and its ring of fortsGermans besieged the city and its ring of forts– 550,000 allied casualties. 434,000 German 550,000 allied casualties. 434,000 German

casualtiescasualties– No advantage gainedNo advantage gainedThe Battle of the SommeThe Battle of the Somme: lasted from : lasted from July 1July 1stst to November 18 to November 18thth 1916 1916– 60,000 British troops killed or wounded in one 60,000 British troops killed or wounded in one

dayday

Deaths & Sentences Within Trenches

Offense Number of Sentences

Number of Executions

Desertion 2,004 272

Sleeping at post 449 2Cowardice 213 14Disobedience 120 4Mutiny 55 15Casting away arms 6 2

Deaths & Sentences Within Trenches

New WeaponsNew WeaponsTactics had fallen behind weapons Tactics had fallen behind weapons development (reason for high development (reason for high casualty rates)casualty rates)– Machine gunsMachine guns– Long range shells (Big Bertha)Long range shells (Big Bertha)– Poison gasPoison gas– TanksTanks– Air forceAir force– submarinessubmarines

Big Bertha

German observation balloon. Once aloft, an observer connected via a telephone wire to the ground could see 60 miles under good conditions and correct the aim of artillery.

The Eastern FrontThe Eastern FrontEarly Russian victories are offset by Early Russian victories are offset by The German victory at the The German victory at the Battle of Battle of TanenburgTanenburg– German General German General Paul Von HindenburgPaul Von Hindenburg

defeated the Russian General defeated the Russian General SamsanovSamsanov who had divided his two armieswho had divided his two armies

– By the Spring of 1915 the Russians are By the Spring of 1915 the Russians are retreatingretreating

– Summer of 1915 Summer of 1915 Tsar NicholasTsar Nicholas goes to goes to the front to assume control of the army the front to assume control of the army (mistake: left (mistake: left RasputinRasputin in the capital with in the capital with his wife)his wife)

The Russian RevolutionThe Russian RevolutionBy late 1916 the Russian war effort By late 1916 the Russian war effort was donewas doneSupplies were gone and 2 million Supplies were gone and 2 million soldiers had been killed or soldiers had been killed or wounded in 1915 alonewounded in 1915 alone– Food shortages and misery over the Food shortages and misery over the

war caused uprisings against the Tsarwar caused uprisings against the TsarMarch of 1917:March of 1917: soldiers ordered to soldiers ordered to fire on female textile workers shot fire on female textile workers shot their officers insteadtheir officers instead– 1 week later the 1 week later the Tsar abdicatedTsar abdicated

The Provisional GovernmentThe Provisional GovernmentIn March of In March of 1917 Alexander 1917 Alexander KerenskyKerensky and the Provisional and the Provisional government took overgovernment took over– MistakesMistakes

Stayed in the war and failed to provide Stayed in the war and failed to provide solutions for worsening problems (land solutions for worsening problems (land reform, self-determination, food reform, self-determination, food shortages, the end of the war)shortages, the end of the war)At this point At this point LeninLenin is reinserted into the is reinserted into the country by the Germanscountry by the Germans

The Bolshevik RevolutionThe Bolshevik RevolutionNovember 6, 1917 November 6, 1917 LeninLenin and and Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky seized seized government buildings in government buildings in PetrogradPetrogradDecember 1917 end December 1917 end hostilities with Germanyhostilities with Germany– March 1918: March 1918: Treaty of Treaty of

Brest-LitovskBrest-Litovsk (humiliating) (humiliating) lost Finland, Poland, Baltic lost Finland, Poland, Baltic States, UkraineStates, Ukraine

Other FrontsOther Fronts

Asia and the PacificAsia and the Pacific: Japan took over : Japan took over German possessions in Pacific and German possessions in Pacific and ChinaChinaOttoman Empire: The Turks defended Ottoman Empire: The Turks defended the Bosporus straitthe Bosporus strait– Battle of GalipoliBattle of Galipoli 1915: Allied attempt to 1915: Allied attempt to

take the Dardenells by land (failed)take the Dardenells by land (failed)– Arab nationalists revolt aided by Col. T.E. Arab nationalists revolt aided by Col. T.E.

LawrenceLawrenceLawrence of ArabiaLawrence of Arabia

The Role of the United StatesThe Role of the United StatesAmerican neutralityAmerican neutrality was hard to was hard to maintainmaintain– Why? (propaganda, neutral shipping, loans,Why? (propaganda, neutral shipping, loans,

May 1915 the May 1915 the Lusitania Lusitania (128 Americans)(128 Americans)– American entryAmerican entry: President : President Woodrow Woodrow

WilsonWilson asks Congress for a declaration of asks Congress for a declaration of war in April of 1917 after the war in April of 1917 after the Zimmerman Zimmerman TelegramTelegram was intercepted was intercepted

– American forces commanded by American forces commanded by General General John G. PershingJohn G. Pershing (2 million troops) (2 million troops)

The end of the warThe end of the war

In June of 1918 the Germans were In June of 1918 the Germans were stopped at stopped at Chateau ThierryChateau Thierry during the during the second Battle of the Marne River (41day second Battle of the Marne River (41day battle)battle)– Allied forces counter-attack and the Allied forces counter-attack and the

Germans begin to retreatGermans begin to retreat– German Generals urge the Kaiser for an German Generals urge the Kaiser for an

armisticearmistice– October Ottomans out, November Austrians October Ottomans out, November Austrians

outout– November 11November 11thth 1918 the Kaiser was ousted 1918 the Kaiser was ousted

and the armistice signedand the armistice signed

Austria-Hungary * 1,100,000 3,620,000

Bulgaria 87,500 152,390

Germany * 2,036,897 4,247,143

Ottoman Empire * 800,000 400,000

Central Powers : Military deaths / Military wounded

Belgium 38,172 44,686

France 1,397,800 4,266,000

Italy 651,010 953,886

Russia * 1,811,000 4,950,000

Serbia 275,000 133,148

England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales

885,138 1,663,435

European Allies: Military deaths / Military wounded

United States

116,708 205,690

The Paris Peace ConferenceThe Paris Peace Conference

January 1919January 1919– ““The Big Four”The Big Four”

Italy: Vittorio OrlandoItaly: Vittorio OrlandoGB: David Lloyd GeorgeGB: David Lloyd GeorgeFrance: Georges ClemenceauFrance: Georges ClemenceauUS: Woodrow WilsonUS: Woodrow Wilson

Wilson’s 14 pointsWilson’s 14 points– A basis for a “peace without victors” a A basis for a “peace without victors” a

moral crusade to fix the problems moral crusade to fix the problems that he felt caused WW Ithat he felt caused WW I

The 14 pointsThe 14 points

““Wilsonianism”Wilsonianism”– Free Seas, low tariffs, de-colonization Free Seas, low tariffs, de-colonization

of Empires, self-determination for of Empires, self-determination for ethnic groups in Europe, open ethnic groups in Europe, open diplomacy, The League of Nationsdiplomacy, The League of Nations

The League of NationsThe League of Nations– The only of the 14 points to survive The only of the 14 points to survive

into the treatyinto the treaty– U.S never joins (why?)U.S never joins (why?)

The Versailles TreatyThe Versailles TreatyGermany lost 13% of its territory Germany lost 13% of its territory (Alsace and Lorraine) 10% of population (Alsace and Lorraine) 10% of population and all of its coloniesand all of its colonies– They also had to accept all responsibility for They also had to accept all responsibility for

the war (war guilt clause)the war (war guilt clause)– 33 billion in reparations 33 billion in reparations – The RhinelandThe Rhineland was de-militarized and was de-militarized and

German armed forces were restrictedGerman armed forces were restricted– 100,000 man army, small navy, no subs 100,000 man army, small navy, no subs

tanks or artillerytanks or artillery

The New Map of EuropeThe New Map of Europe

New countriesNew countries– Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary,

Austria, Poland, Finland, Latvia, Austria, Poland, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, EstoniaLithuania, Estonia

– Did they create future problems by Did they create future problems by not following the principle of self-not following the principle of self-determination?determination?