Triggering the Great War: Understanding World War One's Origins

1. Looking at World War One How did it Start ?

2. Looking at World War One How did it Start ? • A globalised world • A fevered atmosphere • Treaties ! • Terrorism in Sarajevo • The unstoppable timetable • Historical perspectives

3. Looking at World War One A Globalised World - 1914 • All countries fed by imported food – only 40% of UK food locally produced • French and British Empires had protected trade • UK the wealthiest nation in Europe, 2nd in the world, through trading • Russia developing industrially with French investment • German economic and technical development outstripping other countries • Ottoman Empire in decline

4. Looking at World War One Nationalism • Germany principalities unified in 1871 under Prussia • Italy unified in 1861 • Balkan states form in second half of 19th century from decline of Ottoman Empire • Austro Hungarian Empire under strain • Colonial competition • Trade competition

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6. Looking at World War One Who had the political power globally? • Although Germany economically powerful, less so politically • The war could have been Britain vs France – the Fashoda Incident • Germany pushes to be an international player – the Agadir incident • Russia weak after Russo- Japanese war in 1905 but still huge manpower • Austro-Hungary relatively underdeveloped

7. Looking at World War One A fevered atmosphere Social Darwinism “Survival of the fittest”

8. Looking at World War One A fevered atmosphere The Dreadnought Race

9. Looking at World War One A fevered atmosphere The Dreadnought Race HMS Dreadnought cost £1.8m in 1906 (£193.9m in current prices)

10. Looking at World War One A fevered atmosphere VS

11. Looking at World War One Treaties, Treaties, Treaties • Treaty of London 1839 – Neutrality of Belgium • Dual Alliance 1879 – Germany and Austria-Hungary pledge to defend each other if attacked by Russia • Triple Alliance 1882- Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary pledge support if attacked by another great power • Reinsurance (secret) 1887 – Germany-Russia if attacked by France or Austria-Hungary • Franco-Russian Alliance 1892 – Agreement to mobilise if a Triple Alliance country did • Anglo –Japanese 1902 – Spheres of influence in Pacific • Entente Cordiale 1904- Britain and France settling colonial spheres of influence • Triple Entente 1907 Britain was not obliged to go to war but used the guaranteed neutrality of Belgium as the legal reason to go to war

12. Looking at World War One State sponsored terrorism in Sarajevo On 28 June 1914, in Sarajevo in Bosnia Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austro-Hungary and his wife Sophie were shot The Arch Duke was the heir to the Emperor although, because Sophie was not of appropriate rank, their children could not inherit the throne

13. Looking at World War One State sponsored terrorism in Sarajevo • “Black Hand” organisation focused on liberating Bosnia • “Black Hand” advocated direct action and gained agreement from Head of Serbian Military intelligence Colonel Dragutin Dimitrijevic (“Apis”). Russian Ambassdor may have been aware. • Initial target was the Governor of Bosnia but the operation got disrupted. Franz Ferdinand was then fixed as the target • Franz Ferdinand was known to be visiting in 1914 because his father had sent him to observe military manoeuvres “Apis”

14. Looking at World War One State Sponsored Terrorism in the Balkans Grabez Princip Cabrinovic • Two Serbians and 3 radical Bosnian students were recruited to take part, and grenades and pistols procured • All were smuggled across the border to Sarajevo • On the 27 June the weapons were given out • 28 June they were positioned along the route Franx Ferdinand would take

15. Looking at World War One State sponsored terrorism in Sarajevo • The motorcade of 3 cars set off • The first two terrorists fail to act but the third Cabrinovic throws his bomb. It bounces off Franz Ferdinand’s car and explodes under the following car, injuring the occupants • Franz Ferdinand continues to the reception and there is discussion on what to do next • The Governor refuses to have the troops brought in and eventually it is agreed Franz Ferdinand and Sophie would visit the wounded. The motorcade sets off on a planned direct route

16. Looking at World War One State sponsored terrorism in Sarajevo • Unfortunately no one tells the Driver and he sets off on the original route • The Governor points out the mistake to the Driver who stops to turn round. It is directly opposite where Princip is standing outside a café. • Princip takes the opportunity to shoot, hitting Franz Ferdinand in the jugular vein and Sophie in the stomach. Both die.

17. Looking at World War One State sponsored terrorism in Sarajevo • All the terrorists are caught • Extensive anti Serbian/Bosnian rioting breaks out with some official support • The adult terrorists ( over 20) were given the death penalty and executed • Princip, Grabez and Cabrinovic were sentenced to 20 years • Grabex died in 1916, Princip and Cabrinovic in 1918, all of TB

18. Looking at World War One The Timetable • 28 June Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated at Sarajevo • 5 July Kaiser promises Austria-Hungary full support for action • 23 July Austria-Hungary sends ultimatum to Serbia • 24 July Germany tells Entente that they support ultimatum • 25 July Serbia mobilises • 26 July Partial mobilisation by Austria-Hungary • 27 July France and Italy agree to British proposal for a conference. German fleet to war bases • 28 July Austria- Hungary declares war on Serbia Germany rejects British proposal for a conference

19. Looking at World War One The Timetable • 29 July British fleet to war bases Russia fully mobilises Austria-Hungary attacks Serbia • 30 July Britain refuses German proposals for Neutrality • 31 July Belgium mobilisation German ultimatum to Russia Turkish mobilisation London Stock Exchange closes • 1 August British Naval mobilisation German mobilisation and declaration of war against Russia French mobilisation

20. Looking at World War One The Timetable • 2 August Germany demands passage through Belgium • 3 August Germany declares war on France Italy declares neutrality British mobilisation Britain guarantees support to Belgium • 4 August Britain declares war on Germany Germany declares war on Belgium and attacks Secret alliance signed between Germany and Turkey

21. Looking at World War One Historical Perspectives Differing views immediately after the war on the cause • Germany tended to see collective responsibility • France saw Germany as clearly responsible • Britain less vengeful on Germany Collective responsibility became a common view in the 30s

22. Looking at World War One Historical perspectives Views of historical causes depend on perspective as well as “evidence” • Marxist would see a clash of capitalists – Hobsbawm • Need to mobilise faster than a potential oponent led inflexibly to war – A J P Taylor • German aggressive war – Fischer • Firm and clear British stance would have stopped it – Ferguson

23. Looking at World War One Historical perspectives – Fischer • Revisionist German Historian - 1960s • Saw WW1 as war planned by German Elite to form German controlled Middle Europe • Used Documents from Imperial archives • Complete contrast to previous German view of a war coming from the pressure of surrounding countries

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25. Looking at World War One Historical Perspectives – Ferguson • Focuses on British role • Grey, Foreign secretary, pro France and converts Entente into de Facto defence pact • Argues a faction were focused on fear of a dominant Germany in Europe, like a new “Napoleonic threat” • Parliament kept ignorant of planning to support France

26. Looking at World War One