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World War I

World War I. 1914-1918. Causes Of World War I: complex and varied, but it all comes down to the…. M A N I A C. ilitarism. lliances. ationalism. mperialism. ssassination. ompetition. Nationalism. 19th c. --> rise of nationalistic spirit across Europe

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World War I

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  1. World War I 1914-1918

  2. Causes Of World War I:complex and varied, but it all comes down to the… • M • A • N • I • A • C ilitarism lliances ationalism mperialism ssassination ompetition

  3. Nationalism • 19th c. --> rise of nationalistic spirit across Europe • Countries see own sovereignty and superiority as imptnt • Yet not all seeking independence had achieved sov. • Slavics in Balkans and in Austro-Hungary • Nationalism --> tendency to focus on own state’s interest, not interest of international community, which led to . . . • Imperialism as an important factor . . .

  4. Imperialism • How so? • As European powers added foreign lands to their holdings--> inevitable that these spots would become HOT! • Argue over the land--> 1905 and 1911 Fr and Ger. Almost go to war over Morocco. • Brutality of new imperialism led nations to denounce each other--> increase tensions

  5. Militarism • Great Britain--> premier navy in Europe • Germany-->most powerful army • Kinda like Athens and Sparta… and you remember how that turned out . . . . • GB and Ger rush to outdo each other militarily • Other Euro powers worry and increase military • Military leaders exert influence on political leaders • Left Europe ready for war • Arms race-->defensive and paranoid • Seek strength in numbers, so powers form . . .

  6. Alliances • Bismarck worked HARD to keep peace by encouraging alliances • Why is Bismarck a “peace-nik?” Bismarck worked hard to build Ger. Into a mighty nation and saw war as a potential “un-doer!” • On eve of Great War--Europe divided into two powerful Alliances Triple Entente: Britain, France and Russia from earlier Entente Cordiale: Brit and Fr and later agreement btw Brit and Russia Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria and Italy Mutual defense pacts--> aggression to one=aggression to all

  7. Assassination • Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia—Austrian province) on June 28, 1914 • Heir to the Austrian throne • Assassins part of Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand • Austria issue ultimatum to Serbia • Germany gives “Blank Check” to Austria • To act against Serbia • Russia backs Serbia • The spark!

  8. Competition • Overall competitive nature of Europe at this time—militarily, imperialistically, nationally.

  9. The Balkans • The Eastern Question • What happens after the Ottoman Empire falls apart? • Between 1878 and 1913, Ottoman Empire loses all of its territories in the Balkans • Austria takes Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1878 • Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro gain independence • Russia tries to gain influence in the Balkans in 1878 but stopped at the Congress of Berlin

  10. The Balkans • The Balkan Wars (1911, 1913) • Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, and Bulgaria attack the Ottoman Empire • To gain more territory • Serbia becomes a threat to Austria • Serbia wants to extend into Austrian territory • Serbia allied with Russia in secret alliance

  11. World War I • The Central Powers • Germany, Austria, the Ottoman Empire • Ottoman Empire enters alliance with Germany in October 1914 • The Triple Entente (Allies) • Britain, France, Russia • Italy joins Triple Entente in 1915 in secret alliance • World War I begins

  12. World War I • The Western Front • Germany invades Belgium on August 3, 1914 • Schlieffen Plan • Invade and defeat France quickly through Belgium • Then concentrate on war v. Russia • Belgium puts up more resistance than expected • Buys time for the British to move into France • British and French stop Germans outside Paris-Stalemate develops • Beginning of trench warfare • Lasts for 3 years

  13. The Top 5 German Excuses for Schlieffen Plan Failure: • 5. Hired a failed Austrian artist with a funny moustache to draw the maps. • 4. Those Belgians weren't waffles after all.  • 3. Legendary orders "Last man on the right should brush his sleeve in the English Channel" mistakenly heard as "...brush his TEETH...." • 2. Superior German planning, equipment and personnel no match for legendary, unsurpassed French panic. • And the number one reason why the Schlieffen Plan failed: • Hard to take seriously any plan that starts with the word "Schlieffen"!

  14. World War I • The Eastern Front • Germany invades Russia in 1914 • Russian army no match for Germany • Germany takes Poland, the Baltic coast, and western Russia • The war becomes unpopular in Russia • Low morale in the army and shortage of supplies in the cities

  15. World War I • War expands outside Europe • Africa • British take German colonies • Asia • Japan takes German colonies in the Pacific and German interests in China • Middle East • British try to invade Ottoman Empire in Gallipoli campaign in 1915 • British and French take Palestine, Syria, and Mesopotamia

  16. World War I • New weapons introduced • Tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns • But war fought with old tactics • Total war effort: a new form of warfare • Entire economy devoted to the war effort • More women work in factories to make up for men going to war • Mass media allows effective use of war propaganda • Burgfrieden (civil peace):

  17. Total War Effort

  18. TWE

  19. TWE: Propaganda

  20. TWE: Propaganda “Think of your children!”

  21. Burgfrieden • Reichstag-declared. • Duration of the war, all pre-war conflicts among Germans would be set aside. • Citizens would unite in the interest of defending the country. • Social Democrats/Women’s rights advocates/labor leaders • At first good, but then support waivered. • Food shortages, limited expression, anti-war sentiment.

  22. World War I • Russia gets out of the war • War going disastrously • Czar Nicholas II unable to provide leadership • Czar Nicholas II overthrown in February Revolution (March 1917) • Provisional government replaces monarchy • But continues fighting • Bolsheviks under Lenin gain control in October Revolution (November 1917) • Promise “Peace, Land, and Bread” • Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918 • R. yields Poland, Baltic States, Ukraine, Finland • War indemnity. $6 B marks

  23. World War I • The United States neutral for most of the war • Submarine warfare • German submarines target British shipping • Sometimes neutral ships sunk • Lusitania sunk in 1915. 120 Americans on board • US makes Germany promise to restrict submarine warfare. Germans agree, but then reneged.

  24. World War I • The US declares war on Germany in 1917 • Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 • President Woodrow Wilson wants US to “make the world safe for democracy” • US tips the balance on the side of the Allies • American troops, money, and supplies give advantage to the Allies

  25. World War I • Losses in the war lead to revolution in Germany • Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates on November 9, 1918 • Monarchy replaced by a republic • Germany calls for an armistice on November 11, 1918 • World War I comes to an end • Estimated 10,000,000 deaths from the war • Most destructive war in history • Destroys European assumptions of progress

  26. The Treaty of Versailles • Representatives from Allied nations and Germany meet in Paris • Wilson represents the United States and tries to make peace • The Fourteen Points • National self-determination • Open agreements • League of Nations • Arms reductions • Free Trade

  27. The Treaty of Versailles • Britain (George) and France (Clemenceau) don’t buy Wilson’s Fourteen Points • They want revenge on Germany • Britain and France make a harsh peace with Germany • Germany takes full responsibility for the war • Stripped all of its colonies • Occupy part of German territory. Fr gets A-L back. • Ger=No AF; restricted army and navy • Impose heavy reparations (132 B gold marks=$33B) • Germans feel angry and cheated

  28. The Treaty of Versailles • End of World War I redraws the map of Europe • Austria-Hungary dismembered into new states • Ottoman Empire dissolved • New republic in Turkey • Middle East divided between Britain and France • Poland reappears as a republic • Yugoslavia comes into existence • Empires gone: Ottoman, Austria-Hungary, Russia, German

  29. The League of Nations • Wilson compromises on Fourteen Points to get support for the League of Nations • Treaty of Versailles had to be ratified by the US • US Senate refuses to ratify the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 • US does not join the League of Nations • League of Nations has no credibility

  30. Summary • Between 1870 and 1914 European powers enter into alliances • Arms race makes Europe highly unstable • A series of decisions led Europe into World War I • Allies impose a harsh peace on Germany • World War I the most destructive war in history

  31. Impact of War • 10,000,000 dead. 20,000,000+ wounded • $330 Billion total cost • European economy in shambles • Euro govs in debt w/ no way to repay—esp to USA • Psychologically scarring. Doubts and fears reflected in art, writing and philosophy of early 20th c. • 20th century was to be a century of prosperity and progress shakes belief in humanity, order and reason • Not the “war to end all wars.”

  32. The Alliance System • After unifying Germany in 1871, Bismarck saw that Germany was vulnerable • Trapped between France and Russia in a two-front war • Formed alliances to prevent Germany from becoming isolated • Three Emperor’s League with Austria and Russia in 1873 • Dual Alliance with Austria in 1879 • Triple Alliance with Austria and Italy in 1882 • All major European powers enter into an arms race

  33. The Alliance System • To assure Britain, Bismarck did not build a large navy • In 1888 Kaiser Wilhelm I died, grandson Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser • Queen Victoria’s grandson • Wanted Germany to be a Great Power like Britain with large navy and colonial empire • Fired Bismarck in 1890

  34. The Alliance System • Germany refuses to renew alliance with Russia • Russia allies with France in 1894 • France invests in Russian industrialization • Kaiser Wilhelm II orders construction of large navy • British get worried • Germany industrializing at faster rate since 1871 • Britain and Germany in naval arms race • Each country builds more battleships • Germany meddles in British colonial affairs • Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902)

  35. The Alliance System • Britain spent late 19th century in “splendid isolation” • No alliances—no reason for them at the time • Rise of Germany changes attitudes • Britain and France sign Entente Cordiale in 1904 • Not quite an alliance but settles colonial disputes • Moroccan Crises (1905, 1911) • France tries to take over Morocco but Germany interferes • British intervention prevents war • Britain and Russia enter into same agreement in 1907 • Britain signs alliance with Japan in 1902

  36. World War I • Archduke Francis Ferdinand assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914 • Heir to the Austrian throne • Assassins part of Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand • Germany gives “Blank Check” to Austria • To act against Serbia

  37. World War I • The July Crisis • Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia on July 24, 1914 • A list of 15 demands for Serbia in dealing with assassins • Serbia agrees to all but one; Austria planned it that way • Russia threatens Austria not to attack Serbia • Germany threatens Russia not to attack Austria

  38. World War I • The July Crisis • Austria declares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914 • Russia and Austria mobilize • Germany threatens Russia not to mobilize • Germany declares war on Russia on August 1, 1914 • Germany declares war on France on August 3, 1914

  39. World War I • The July Crisis • Britain had been staying neutral • Britain tries to mediate between Austria and Russia throughout crisis • But no one is listening • Germany plans to go through Belgium to attack France • Part of Schlieffen Plan • Britain threatens Germany not to march through Belgium • Britain declares war on Germany on August 4, 1914

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