World War I or The Great War

1. World War I or The Great War 1914-1918/19: History’s most destructive half-decade….for now

2. Prelude to War • Nationalism in major European powers builds up and tensions grow as countries compete for territories and natural resources. • Militarism- glorifying the idea of war, became patriotic among the global empires and countries spend $$$$ on the military to ensure their supremacy over their neighbors. • Industrialization now allows for the rapid production of weapons and military supplies. • Balkan nationalism- ethnicities compete for territory and support of larger nations or the elimination of influences from others. • “Powder Keg”

3. Balkan “Powder Keg”

4. Alliances • The creation of alliances will eventually force the nations of Europe to go to war. • The Triple Alliance of 1882 was an attempt by Germany to isolate France. Italy joined in 1882. However, Italy will change sides as war breaks out. • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, & the Ottoman Empire (joins later) will be known throughout the war as the Central Powers.

6. Alliances cont. • Not to be outdone, France signs a defensive alliance with Russia in 1892 & 1894. If war breaks out, Germany will have to fight a two-front war. • Great Britain, as response to aggressive German naval building, in 1907 joins France & Russia in an alliance known as the Triple Entente. • Britain also signed a defensive alliance with Belgium (1830’s), protecting its neutrality. • Britain & her colonial possessions, France & her colonial possessions, Russia (until 1917), Italy, Japan, Greece, Serbia, Portugal, Romania, and the United States (joins in 1917) will be known throughout the war as the Allies.

7. Britain spent an estimated $500 million on battleships alone between 1906-1914.

9. Mad Rush To War • Tensions & hostilities grow very quickly as opposing nations maneuver themselves into position that will lead to war. • Brinkmanship- use the threat of going to war to achieve a political/diplomatic goal. Normally used by larger countries against smaller countries, though not exclusively. • As part of militarism, nations institute conscriptions (draft or mandatory military service) in peacetime. This causes other nations to do the same to protect themselves if conflict arises. • Estimated size of armies (in millions) at the onset of WWI: Germany- 4.5; Austria-Hungary- 3; France- 4; Russia- 6; Britain- .975

10. Outbreak of War • Conflicts between Austria-Hungary & Serbia start the global conflagration that is World War I. • Since gaining independence, Serbia was technically under the political, economic, & social influence of A-H. • Connected ethnically, both Slavic, Russia supported the Serbians in their attempts at breaking A-H influence. • Fearful of Russian intervention further south, Germany pledges full support to A-H regardless of what happens.

11. “The shot felt around the world” • In an attempt to eliminate A-H influences, the radical Serbian nationalist organization “Society of the Black Hand” organizes and carries out the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie on June 28, 1914. • The couple were in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina on a public relations tour when they were shot a point blank range. • The assassin was 19 year old GavriloPrincip. • Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. • This event was the “spark” that ignited the “powder keg.”

12. Archduke Ferdinand, wife Sophie, & children Actual bloodstained uniform worn by Ferdinand

13. Princip Mug-shot of Princip after assassination Photograph of Princip being arrested immediately after assassination

14. The World Goes To War • On July 23, A-H delivers an ultimatum to Serbia demanding numerous terms be met or war would begin. The ultimatum basically demanded that Serbia surrender itself to A-H. • Serbia will cave in on all demandsexcept one. • On July 28, A-H declares war on Serbia. • Over the next several days a series of events catapults the world to war.

15. Rapid Chain of Events • In support of Serbia, Russia’s Tsar Nicholas II orders his army mobilized on July 28-29. • Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II declares war on Russia on August 1. • Germany wants to eliminate the biggest threat to them at that time and delivers an ultimatum to neutral Belgium allowing German forces to move through Belgium to attack France. • On August 3, Belgium rejects the ultimatum and Germany declares war on Belgium & France. • On August 4, Britain declares war on Germany for violating the neutrality of Belgium.

16. Schlieffen Plan • The German plan of attack against France was laid out in the Schlieffen Plan. • This attack called for the German army to use the flat terrain of Belgium and quickly attack into France, capture Paris, and defeat the French army before it could regroup. • The plan would avoid the French fortifications and natural boundaries that separated France & Germany; cut off the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from joining with the French. • With France out of the war, Germany could focus its attention on Russia, which it feared would be more difficult to beat.

18. False Hope & Bloody Stalemate • People on both sides believed that the war would be over by Christmas and soldiers marched off to war with high hopes of returning home quickly & victorious. • Reality sets in with the 1st Battle of the Marne as the Germany advance is stopped 20 miles outside of Paris. Both sides dig in and the war of attrition known as trench warfare begins on the Western Front. • On the Eastern Front, Austrian, German & Russian armies clashed starting at the end of August. While the Western Front gets most of the attention, the Eastern Front saw some of the worst fighting and highest casualties of the war.

19. French troops leaving for the front Aftermath of the 1st Marne

20. Trench warfare on the Western Front

23. New Weapons-Old Tactics • The industrial revolution allowed countries to create new weapons of war at much faster rates. • These new weapons were the most technologically advanced at the time but tactics/strategies were still from the Napoleonic Era to the American Civil War. • Most high commanders never changed their tactics to contend with the new weapons. • As a result, casualties (killed, wounded, POW) on both sides reached into the hundreds of thousands and even over one-million.

24. German machine gun: During the course of the war Germany manufactured over 100,000 of these guns. The tank was developed & first used by the British to cross No Man’s Land. Its size and speed limited its use in certain terrains but proved invaluable when used on the battlefield. Poison Gas attack

25. Zeppelin airship German submarines called U-Boats ravaged allied shipping. The passenger ship Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk by a U-Boat killing over 1000 people, including Americans. Aircraft, originally used for observation, now take on combatant roles and control of the skies becomes a top priority.

26. Major Battles/Campaigns • 1st Battle of the Marne- Sept. 6-10, 1914: German advance halted 20 miles outside of Paris. • Battle of Verdun- February 21-Dec. 6, 1916: The longest single battle the war; estimated number of total casualties exceeded 700,000. • Battle of the Somme- July 1-Nov. 19, 1916: Attempt by the allies to relieve the French “trapped” at Verdun. Horrendous loss of life on both sides, with the British suffering over 420,000 casualties; 60,000 troops on the first day alone. The first use of tanks occurred during this battle. • Battle of Jutland- May 31-June 1, 1916: Only major sea battle of the war. Fought between Britain & Germany, this was to be the epic battle between two titans of the sea. Britain suffered more losses in terms of ships and men, but Germany never used its surface fleet again. • 2nd Battle of the Marne- July 15-Aug. 4, 1918: Final German offensive of the war. Failed attempt at breaking the stalemate. 1st use of American troops in battle.

27. Russian Troops surrender at Tannenberg British wounded at the Somme German counter attack at Verdun German warship on fire after Jutland Flamethrower

28. Turning Points in the War • Russia is knocked out of the war after the Russian Revolution of 1917 toppled the Tsar’s government. In 1918, Russia & Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Russia is out of the war and has to give up large amounts of land to Germany. This allows Germany to shift troops to the Western Front. • T.E. Lawrence “of Arabia,” was a British officer charged with getting the support of Arabs to mount civil conflict within the Ottoman Empire. With British military & economic support and promises of independence for the different Arab nationalities, Lawrence waged a successful guerilla war against the Ottoman Turks causing them to waste valuable resources, keeping troops off the front lines, and leading to their eventual defeat.

29. Turning Point cont. • The entry of the United States in World War I came after a series of events that pushed the isolationist nation into the conflict. • Anti-German sentiment & propaganda began to spread around the country as many Americans saw Germany as the aggressor. • Unrestricted submarine warfare & the Lusitania sinking on May 7, 1915 killed hundreds of Americans. • The Zimmermann Telegram was the final straw. The telegram stated that Germany would help Mexico retake the land lost in the Mexican-American War if Mexico sided with Germany if war were to break out with the US. • The United States declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Mexico, however, stays out.

30. Propaganda after the Lusitania sinks

31. Zimmermann Telegram decoded Zimmermann Telegram coded

32. End of the Fighting • After the failure of the 2nd Marne campaign, German citizens & soldiers were tired of the war. • Citizens began to aggressively protest against the government and on November 3, 1918, soldiers & sailors refused to fight under the current government. • Wilhelm II attempts to reform the government but ultimately abdicates the throne on November 9. The new government immediately seeks to end the fighting and signs an armistice (cease fire) on November 11, 1918. • The fighting of World War I ends though Germany has not been technically defeated.

33. Peace????? • With the armistice signed, the allies, 32 countries in all, went to work on creating an official treaty with Germany with the leaders of the “Big Four” leading the way. • The countries & leaders that made up the Big Four are: • Woodrow Wilson of the United States • David Lloyd George of Great Britain • Georges Clemenceau of France • Vittorio Orlando of Italy • In what becomes the Treaty of Versailles, singed on June 28, 1919, the allies deal harshly with the Germans, who they believe are responsible for the war. Provisions of the treaty include: • Germany cannot have a strong military; • give up vast amounts of land in Europe & colonial possessions; • sign the War Guilt Clause accepting responsibility for the war; • make monetary reparations to the allies

34. Peace???? cont. • The allies will make separate treaties with the other Central Powers nations with many terms being the same as far as giving up land & making reparations. • The United States signed the treaty but it was never ratified by the senate. Technically, the US remained at war with Germany and her allies until 1921. • The Treaty of Versailles turned out to be a punishment for Germany and not an attempt at bringing peace & stability to Europe. • The 14 Points of Woodrow Wilson were an attempt of bringing stability to Europe, but many of the provisions were ignored. • As a result, the nations never really solved their problems. In fact, they only got worse and would lay the foundation for the worst conflict in human history: World War II.

35. Major Effects of World War I: • Political Effects: • Some countries gained territory (size) • Romania got lands from Russia, Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary • Italy gained lands from Austria-Hungary • Japan gained colonies in the Pacific • Ottoman Empire’s lands in the Middle East (that were promised independence by Britain and France) were colonized by them instead • Britain – Palestine and Iraq • France – Syria and Lebanon

36. Major Effects of World War I: • Social Effects: • Minority groups in new countries (a source of conflict for later on) • Some Arabic peoples betrayed by Britain (and France) • Germany and Russia weakened • Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918  another 30+ million deaths worldwide! • Refugees and mass migrations (many to USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and France) • Damage to countries in which the fighting occurred

37. Casualties • World War I was the costliest (human & economic) war up to that time and was a total war. • Since records were not accurate, it is estimated that over 8.5 million soldiers died over the course of the war with at least 3-4 times that wounded. Some records say that the number could reach 10 million dead. • Civilian casualties from the war reached almost 7 million. • Disease, starvation, exposure to the elements, and combat related incidents contributed to the high mortality figures among civilians.

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