WORLD WAR I

IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF WWI

• June 28, 1914 - Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) and his wife Sophia were assassinated in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist who was a member of the terrorist group Black Hand

• July 28, 1914 - Austria -Hungary declares war on Serbia. WWI begins!

Causes that led to war

• Imperialism -Competition between Germany and Britain and France for colonies.

• Entangling Alliances - Germany signed an alliance treaty with Austria-Hungary. – The Ottoman Empire moves into an alliance with Germany to

protect against a Russian invasion of Constantinople. (Triple Alliance)

– England, France, and Russia fear a shift in the balance of power in Europe and all three ally with a treaty. (Triple Entente)

• Militarism - an uncontrolled arms race and build up of the military.

• Nationalism - rise in patriotic national feelings.

Entangling Alliances

• After the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, Austria-Hungary begins preparation for war against Serbia.– Serbia is supported by Russia– Austria-Hungary receives backing and support from

Germany should Russia intercede

• Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum to Serbia. They must comply with all of the demands or risk war.

• Serbia could not meet all of the demands and Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Result

• World War I (Great War) 1914-1918– Central Powers: Germany, Austria-

Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire– Allied Powers: Great Britain, France,

Russia, Balkans, Italy (1915), and the United States (1917) - 32 nations total

• Russia was determined to support Serbia.

• Czar Nicholas II ordered the full mobilization of Russia’s military.– Mobilization was considered an act of war in

those days

• Germany declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914

The War

• Germany introduces the Shlieffen Plan (Alfred von Shlieffen)

• A swift attack through Belgium and into France resulting in the capture of Paris. This would take out the “Western Front” and the Central Powers could concentrate on Russia. The failure of this plan resulted in TRENCH WARFARE and forced Germany to fight a two front war.

• Great Britain declares war on Germany for threatening neutral Belgium

FRONTS

• The German advance into France was stopped at the first Battle of the Marne.

• Two lines of trenches stretched from the English Channel to the border of Switzerland.

• This became known as the Western Front• The area between the two trenches was known

as No Man’s Land• In contrast the Eastern Front (Russia), was

mobile and very costly in lives and destruction.

Weapons

• machine gun – The most destructive weapon of WWI

• poison gas

• tank (Britain)

• submarine (U-Boat)– Germany used unrestricted submarine

warfare

• airplane

Revolution in Russia• Russia was led by Czar Nicholas II (Romanov

Dynasty)• the majority of Russians were peasant farmers and

denied democratic rights and civil liberties.• 1905 - revolution forced Nicholas II to accept an

elected legislative body called the Duma• 1914 Russia enters WWI. 2 million dead, 5 million

wounded, 2 million taken prisoner.• Riots break out and Nicholas II orders troops to

crush the rebellion• Troops side with the rioters and Nicholas II

abdicates his throne and a provisional government is set up.

• Grigori Rasputin was a self-proclaimed holy man who convinced the Czar’s wife, Alexandra, that he had special powers by healing her son Alexis of hemophilia.

• While the Czar was away at war, Alexandra made all of the decisions and was greatly influenced by Rasputin.

• He is assassinated in December, 1916

Revolution in Russia• A radical group in the rebellion known as the Bolsheviks

were dedicated to violent revolution• Bolsheviks were led by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin• November 7, 1917 the Bolsheviks overthrow the

provisional government and Lenin establishes communism in Russia

• 1918 Russia signs a treaty with Germany removing them from WWI. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

• The communists fought a civil war for control of Russia and gained it by 1921. Lenin is the head if the Communist government in Russia.

Entry of the United States• The U.S. had remained neutral throughout the

war, but secretly had aided Great Britain.• Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine

warfare and the sinking of the Lusitania antagonized the U.S. – Germany promised to stop.

• 1917 - Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare and the U.S. entered the war on the side of the Allied Powers which gave them a much needed boost in morale

• The American Expeditionary Force was led by General John J. Pershing

Conclusion of WWI

• With Russia no longer fighting, Germany concentrates on its Western Front. Germany begins to advance towards Paris.

• Germany’s advance is halted in July 1918 at the Second Battle of the Marne. Germany is pushed out of France in September at San Mihiel and the Argonne Forest.

• On November 11, 1918 Germany agrees to an armistice (cease fire)

The Fourteen Points • Woodrow Wilson’s

Fourteen Points was a plan to eliminate the causes of war– ban secret treaties– guarantee the freedom of the

seas– remove international tariff

barriers– reduce armaments– adjust colonial claims– suggested territorial claims

(self-determination)

PARIS PEACE CONFERNECE• Delegates of the of the victorious nations met in

Paris to finalize a peace settlement.• Problems:

– winners want territorial gains because of previous treaties. Self-determination?

– national interests wanted to punish Germany– security issues with France

• The most important decisions were made by the Big Three:– Woodrow Wilson – U.S.– David Lloyd George – Great Britain– Georges Clemenceau - France

Treaty of Versailles

• The final peace settlement consisted of five separate treaties with the defeated nations.

• Treaty of Versailles with Germany was signed on June 28,1919 at Versailles Palace near Paris.

Treaty of Versailles

• The Germans considered this a very harsh peace.• Terms:

– Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war. War Guilt Clause (Article 231)

– Germany lost all colonies– Germany lost much of its territory. The Rhineland is

considered a buffer zone between Germany and France and demilitarized.

– Reduced army and navy. Eliminated its air force– Must pay reparations (war damages) - $33 billion

RESULTS OF WWI• Territorial Changes

– Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia

– The Ottoman Empire was broken up and taken over by European nations. These acquisitions were called mandates

– Many of the new Eastern European countries had multiple minority populations

• Death of almost 10 million people and incredible destruction

Country Deaths Wounded

France 1,697,800 4,266,00

Great Britain 885,138 1,663,435

Russia 3,311,000 4,950,000

United States 116,000 205,690

Austria-Hungary

1,567,00 3,620,000

Germany 2,476,897 4,247,143

RESULTS OF WWI

• Introduction of Total War – complete mobilization of resources and people.

• Increased power of government over people.– Freedom of press and speech were limited

because of national security– Strong central authority during war time

• Increased socialist activity amidst the chaos of war torn Europe

RESULTS OF WWI

• The League of Nations was formed to promote international cooperation and to maintain peace by settling disputes peacefully and by reducing armaments.

• By 1935 - 62 nations are members