The Great War Or “The War to End all Wars ” Or WW1

1. The Great WarOr “The War to End all Wars”OrWW1

2. Causes for WWI • Imperialism • Militarism • Nationalism • Alliances

3. Imperialism • Europe competes for territory • Why: Industrialization =need for more raw materials and markets. • By 1914 only a few territories remained. • Take lands that had already been taken • Competition for what was remaining.

4. Industrial Expenditures

5. Overseas Investment

6. Building Militaries (Militarism) • Because of the uncertain climate, European countries began building huge militaries. • Britain developed the dreadnaught which gave Britain naval superiority. • Germany made plans to build 33 of its own ships Comparative figures on army increase, 1870-1914: 1870 1914 Russia 700,000 1,300,000 France 380,000 846,000 Germany 403,000 812,000 Austria-Hungary 247,000 424,000 Britain 302,000 381,000 Italy 334,000 305,000 Japan 70,000 250,000 U.S.A. 37,000 98,000

7. British-German Warship Tonnage Ratio

8. Troop Level Changes

9. More Money for the Militaries

10. Plans of Attack in the Making • German has plans before the war (Schlieffen) • Step 1--Quickly occupy France through Belgium. • Step 2--move to the eastern front (Russia). • They assumed that Russia would take longer to mobilize.

11. Nationalism • Most of the European countries felt a sense of pride and superiority. • Other ethnic groups living in Russia, Austria- Hungary and Germany desired unification. • Russia supported the Slavic people, some of which were living in Austria-Hungary and others in Serbia. Important Example • 1908 Austria-Hungary takes Bosnia • Serbia believes Bosnia is rightfully theirs and those living in Bosnia agree • Russia backs Serbia

12. Alsace-Lorraine • Two provinces on the border of France and Germany. The Rhine river flows through. • France lost Alsace Lorraine to Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 to Germany • France saw the territory as theirs and wanted it back

13. Alliances • A complex system of alliances were established among European nations. • The alliances entangled European countries with one another.

14. Can you ID the figures

15. Summary of Alliances • The Dual Alliance--1879 • Austria-Hungary and Germany • A defensive treaty– Stated that if either country was attacked by another, they would support each other • The Triple Alliance—1882 • An extension of the Dual Alliance where Italy would assist if Germany was attacked and remain neutral if Austria-Hungary was attacked • All would attack if both Russia and France attack

16. Alliances Cont. • The Reinsurance Treaty---1887 • Russia and Germany were to remain friendly with one another and support each other if an attack took place • Conflicted with the Dual Alliance • Treaty lapsed when Bismarck was gone in 1890 • Franco-Russian Alliance– 1892 • Russia and France agreed to support one another in case of an attack by another country. • This created two teams of countries and led to suspicion and friction

17. Alliances Cont. Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902 • Japan feared Russian encroachment in Northern China • Britain feared German naval growth, French encroachment in Africa and Russian encroachment in the far east. Entente Cordiale 1904 • Agreement between France and Britain. • France would recognize Britain in Egypt and Britain would leave France alone in Morocco.

18. Alliances Cont. Anglo Russian Agreement 1907 • Agreement between Britain in Russia to settle territorial disputes This led to the creation of the Triple Entente which essentially isolated Germany and escalated tension. • Britain, France and Russia

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21. Assassination • Austria Hungary annexed Bosnia • Many Bosnians wanted to be part of Serbia due to ethnic ties • When Archduke Francis Ferdinand went to visit his soldiers in Bosnia on June 28th 1914, many Bosnians met his arrival with bitterness. • A terrorist threw a bomb at the Archdukes car, it bounced off and injured two guards • When going to visit the two injured guards, the archduke and his wife were shot by a Bosnian

22. Austria-Hungary Blames Serbia • The assassination of the Archduke was followed by a threat toward Serbia to cease the support of terrorism in Bosnia. • Unhappy with the reactions of Serbia, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28th, 1914

23. GavriloPrincip Assassinating the Archduke, Francis Ferdinand

24. The Immediate Response • July 28, 1914- Upset by the assassination on the archduke, A-H declares war on Serbia • July 29- Russia, feeling obligated to protect Serbia, begins mobilizing troops. • August 1st- Germany declares war on Russia • Germany occupies Luxumburg and sets the Schlieffen plan into action. • Germany asks Belgium permission to rolll through their country on the way to attack France • Belgium Refuses • Germany does not want Britain to enter the war and Kaiser Wilhelm II (German emperor) suggests that they not proceed. Moltke (the German Chief of General Staff) say that they must since the ball was rolling already

25. Germany Invades • August 3rd Germany declares war on France • August 4th Germany invades France through Belgium putting the Schlieffen plan into action • Because of a treaty signed by Britain decades earlier promising Belgium’s neutrality, Britain declares war on Germany on August 4th

26. Theory Vs. Practice • Both sides believed they would be victorious and that the war would be short and limited. • Britain believed that it would be a primarily naval war which they felt they would dominate. • Germany believed that Britain would remain neutral and thought of the treaty that kept Belgium neutral as a scrap of paper.

27. Miscommunications • A-H believed Germany would help flank the north while they invaded Serbia • Germany figured that A-H would invade Russia while they took care of France. • A-H was forced to split their army and were not able to take Serbia swifttly. In fact, Serbia forced A-H back. • A-H therefore had limited troops to face Russia

28. The Western Front • Germany swept through Belgium and made their way to the outskirts of Paris where they were stopped by British and French forces • At the Marne River, both sides dug in and fortified their positions. • A stalemate ensued– Trench warfare becomes the tactic of choice Animated Battlefront

29. Daily Death in the Trenches • Death was a constant companion to those serving in the line, even when no raid or attack was launched or defended against.  In busy sectors the constant shellfire directed by the enemy brought random death, whether their victims were lounging in a trench or lying in a dugout (many men were buried as a consequence of such large shell-bursts). • Similarly, novices were cautioned against their natural inclination to peer over the parapet of the trench into No Man's Land. • Many men died on their first day in the trenches as a consequence of a precisely aimed sniper's bullet. • It has been estimated that up to one third of Allied casualties on the Western Front were actually sustained in the trenches.  Aside from enemy injuries, disease wrought a heavy toll.

30. Rat Infestation • Rats in their millions infested trenches.  There were two main types, the brown and the black rat.  Both were despised but the brown rat was especially feared.  Gorging themselves on human remains (grotesquely disfiguring them by eating their eyes and liver) they could grow to the size of a cat. • Men, exasperated and afraid of these rats (which would even scamper across their faces in the dark), would attempt to rid the trenches of them by various methods: gunfire, with the bayonet, and even by clubbing them to death. • It was futile however: a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a year, spreading infection and contaminating food.  The rat problem remained for the duration of the war (although many veteran soldiers swore that rats sensed impending heavy enemy shellfire and consequently disappeared from view).

31. Frogs, Lice and Worse • Rats were by no means the only source of infection and nuisance.  Lice were a never-ending problem, breeding in the seams of filthy clothing and causing men to itch unceasingly. • Even when clothing was periodically washed and deloused, lice eggs invariably remained hidden in the seams; within a few hours of the clothes being re-worn the body heat generated would cause the eggs to hatch. • Lice caused Trench Fever, a particularly painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain followed by high fever.  Recovery - away from the trenches - took up to twelve weeks.  Lice were not actually identified as the culprit of Trench Fever until 1918. • Frogs by the score were found in shell holes covered in water; they were also found in the base of trenches.  Slugs and horned beetles crowded the sides of the trench. • Many men chose to shave their heads entirely to avoid another prevalent scourge: nits. • Trench Foot was another medical condition peculiar to trench life.  It was a fungal infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions.  It could turn gangrenous and result in amputation.  Trench Foot was more of a problem at the start of trench warfare; as conditions improved in 1915 it rapidly faded, although a trickle of cases continued throughout the war.

32. America’s Move Toward War

33. Ethnic Ties to Europe • 30% of all Americans were 1st or 2nd generation immigrants • Ties to their homelands • German-Americans + Irish-Americans= Pro G • Most Americans felt closer to GB due to the commonalities that exist and the roots of America

34. German Aggression • Germany viewed as chief aggressor and therefore, brutes. • Invasion of Belgium described as “a force of nature like a tidal wave, an avalanche or a river flooding its banks,” and destroying libraries cathedrals, and, sometimes, entire town in Belgium and France. • Richard Davis, 1914 • British propaganda supported this assertion

35. Trade • From 1897 to 1914 Americans had seen oversees investment rise from 700 million to 3.5 billion dollars. • When the war broke out, the investments were threatened • Wilson’s policy of neutrality supported continued trade with both nations, though our investments in with the allies were much weightier than those of the central powers.

36. Britain began using naval blockades to prevent trade. Large corporations (which still had a great deal of influence on Government at the time) faced the possibility of loosing enormous amounts of money due to the decrease in trade The naval blockades posed a serious threat to corporate profits German Submarine Warfare Naval rules discouraged attacks without warning on merchant ships Germans began attacking allied ships carrying supplies and blockading German ports. These attacks posed a serious threat to neutral ships carrying supplies These attacks also made America distrustful of Germany due to their unconventional methods On and Under the Sea

37. Jutland • German’s sent fleet to the North Sea to attack the British blockade. • Ended in stalemate and German retreat

38. The Germans developed the U1 and U2 submarines which they used to destroy ANY ships that were in the waters surrounding Britain. The policy of unrestricted submarine warfare led to the sinking of British passenger ships as well as ships transporting American goods to Europe Unrestricted Submarine Warfare

39. The Lusitania, the Sussex and More • A British passenger ship carrying Americans is torpedoed and sunk in the by a Germany sub. • America warns Germany and Germany responds with promises • French ship, the Sussex, is sunk less than one year later. • Sussex pledge– another German promise to not sink passenger ships • 10 months later– Germany ended this and resumed unrestricted submarine warfare.

40. The Zimmerman Telegram • Telegram proposing that Mexico attack U.S. if U.S. enters the war against the Central Powers. • In return, Germany promised to help Mexico regain its territories • intercepted by Americans • That’s the last straw--WAR!!!

41. Other Theories • Some historians believe that Britain and France had ulterior motives and attracted as many neutral ships into the area as possible. Why? • Some historians also believe that the Lusitania was not the cause of America’s entry into the war but rather an excuse. • American corporations were making tremendous profits from the war and the sinking of ships filled with war supplies was resulting in profit losses.

42. America on the Home Front Vying for Support

43. Financing the War • Liberty bonds– A special war bond sold to help raise money for the war efforts. • Provided about 25% of the funding for the war. Over $20 billion was raised by the treasury • To help sell these bonds • Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts set up booths on street corners • “four minute men” (usually famous people) gave short (four minute) speeches to help promote the sale of war bonds

44. War Industries Board andWar Trade Board • Two new agencies that regulated production and trade. • The former told producers what, how much, and even how much to charge • The latter regulated international trade. • Punished those trading with enemy

45. In 1915 Ford opposed the war stating that he would burn his factories to the ground before manufacturing war goods In 1917 Ford accepted orders for 16000 tanks, 20000 tractors and anti-submarine ships. Federal aid was provided to entice this change Government Persuades Businesses to Change Gears of Production

46. Governments Regulation of Food and Fuel Consumption • Lever Food and Fuel Control Act • Enabled president to regulate distribution of food and fuel according to the needs of the military • “Food will win the war!”—Worked to increase farm output and reduce waste. • Herbert Hoover led the Food Administration and was given the power to manage how much food people bought, impose price controls, and begin rationing food.

47. Women promoted the war effort by preaching the “Gospel of the Clean Plate.” Stop, before throwing any food away, and ask, ‘Can it be used?’…Stop catering to the different appetites. No second helpings. Stop all eating between meals…One meatless day a week. One wheatless meals a day… No butter in cooking: use substitutes. Women’s Role on the Home Front

48. Shifting an hour of sunlight increased the daylight hours therefore Promoting longer workdays and therefore production increases Reduced the need for artificial light therefore saving resources Daylight Savings Time

49. Loyalty: Promoting or Coercing? • Banned: • Anything pro-German • German Music, writing, language, books, names, etc. • German Sheppard, Frankfurter, Hamburger, German Measles, etc. • Anything Anti-Britain (American Rev. Film) • Government hired former muckrakers to begin rallying for support through journalism • Restrictions on immigration to prevent espionage. • General hostility toward Germans “Hate the Huns” • Robert Prager (despite attempt to enlist) lynched.