Flashpoint: Sarajevo - The Start of World War I

1. Unit 1 Canada and World War I (1914-1918)

2. Chapter 3 War Breaks Out!

3. Canada at War! • On 4 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany • Canada (and other countries of the British Empire) were automatically at war too • Many Canadians were not expecting to go to war • But many Canadians viewed Germany as an enemy that had to be stopped

4. Canada at War! • Patriotic feelings ran high for both English Canadians (to defend Britain) and French Canadians (to defend France) • Many thought the war would be over by the end of the year • The British Empire was seen as a powerful world force • No one expected it would take more than four years and the involvement of over 600 000 Canadians before the war was over

5. Flashpoint: Sarajevo • The Balkans (region of southeastern Europe) had been a tense zone of conflict for years leading up to 1914 • On 28 June 1914, Archduke (and heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne) Franz Ferdinand and Archduchess Sophia were visiting Sarajevo • Upon arriving at the governor’s palace, Gavrilo Princip stepped up to the car, fired two shots from a pistol at point blank and killed both the Archduke and the Archduchess

6. Flashpoint: Sarajevo • The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, swallowed poison soon after but it failed to kill him • Princip and five others were caught by the police • They were all members of the Black Hand, a Serbian terrorist group • Their plan was to murder the archduke and then commit suicide

7. Flashpoint: Sarajevo • Few could have predicted the terrible effect this assassination would have on world history • But in less than two months, the events that followed plunged Europe (and Canada) directly into World War I

8. Causes of World War I • The assassination in Sarajevo may be seen as the proximal cause of World War I (the final spark that ignited the Great War) • BUT a major historical even as complex as a world war involves many different distal causes (ultimate factors that led to the war)… • Tensions had been increasing in Europe since the late 19th century • Several factors led to the outbreak of World War I…

9. Causes of World War I • Nationalism • Nationalism is a feeling of deep loyalty to one’s people and homeland • By the early 20th century, extreme nationalism was causing problems in Europe (some people were even prepared to go to war to advance the interests of the homeland) • Nationalistic feelings were especially intense in the small country of Serbia in the early 1900s…

10. Causes of World War I • Nationalism • Serbia bordered on the Austrian province of Bosnia • Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia in 1908 • Many Bosnian residents of Serbian descent resented being under Austrian control • Some Bosnian Serbs were determined to free Bosnia from Austrian domination and unite with Serbia into one powerful nation • As a result, the formed the terrorist organization (a group that supports violent action to gain its goals) known as the Black Hand

11. Causes of World War I • Nationalism • Austrians were also expressing strong feelings of nationalism • They strongly opposed the attempts of Bosnia to break away from their empire • Nationalistic feelings on both sides made the region a powder keg waiting to explode

12. Causes of World War I • Alliances • Alliances are formed when countries join together against a common threat, and pledge to support each other in times of war • In 1914, Europe was divided into two hostile camps • France and Germany had been involved in conflicts for centuries • Each side tried to find other countries to be allies in case of future wars

13. Causes of World War I • Alliances • France formed alliances with Russia and Britain in what was known as the Triple Entente or “Allies” • Germany joined forces with Austria-Hungary and Italy to form the Triple Alliance or Central Powers • BUT when the war started Italy left the Central Powers to join the Triple Entente

14. Causes of World War I • Alliances • The alliances were dangerous because they increased fear and suspicion among rival nations • Moreover, with these alliances, a war between two countries would inevitably involve many more

15. Causes of World War I • Imperialism • During the late 19th century and early 20th century, imperialism was gaining momentum • As European countries became more industrialized, they were increasingly more interested in gaining colonies and building empires • Competition for for raw materials, markets, glory, and power from colonies was intense

16. Causes of World War I • Imperialism • European empires were expanding, and included the following colonies around the world • France: northwest Africa and east Asia • Russia: northern Europe and Asia • Britain: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Burma, Malaya, South Africa (as well as other parts of Africa), the East and West Indies, and islands in the Pacific

17. Causes of World War I • Imperialism • By the time Germany began to build an empire, all that remained were some areas in Africa and the Pacific that were not considered very valuable • Competition for colonies led to frequent clashes among major European powers all over the globe

18. Causes of World War I • Militarism • Militarism is the belief in the power of strong armies and navies to decide issues • It was believed by many countries that the only way to guarantee peace was to prepare for war (i.e. if a nation is strong, no enemy will dare attack it) • Militarism was very closely related to nationalism (strong military = source of pride) and imperialism (strong military = easier expansion of the empire)

19. Causes of World War I • Militarism • Increasing militarism led to an arms race (competition between rival nations to build the largest and most deadly war machine) in Europe • Production of steel battleships, high-powered guns, and explosives escalated • The size of armies and navies was rapidly increasing

20. Causes of World War I • Militarism • European nations were becoming more and more suspicious and alarmed by each other’s military power • When Germany started building a huge navy, the British became nervous • As an island nation, the Britain depended on its giant navy to “rule the seas” and guarantee its safety • Therefore, by building a powerful navy, Germany challenged Britain’s supremacy at sea

21. The Final Steps to War • With tensions running high in Europe, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand quickly set of a chain reaction of events: • The Austro-Hungarian government blamed Serbia for the assassination • Austria-Hungary saw an opportunity to crush Serbian nationalism • With the support of its ally, Germany, Austria-Hungary sent Serbia an ultimatum (a demand by one government that another government accept its terms or face war

22. The Final Steps to War • …chain reaction of events: • Austria-Hungary insisted that Serbia: • Suppress all nationalist hatred against Austria-Hungary • Punish all those involved in the assassination plot • Allow Austro-Hungarian officials into Serbia to help crush the Black Hand • Serbia was given 48 hours to reply • Serbia agree to all the conditions except the third • Austria-Hungary took this as a refusal of its ultimatum and declared war on Serbia on 26 July 1914

23. The Final Steps to War • …chain reaction of events: • Russia, considering itself an ally of Serbia, started to mobilize its armies • France, as Russia’s ally, also mobilized its forces • Germany felt threatened by the actions of its neighbours, France and Russia • Germany ordered them to stop mobilizing • When they refused, Germany declared war on Russia on 1 August 1914 and on France on 2 August 1914

24. The Final Steps to War • …chain reaction of events: • Since the French border was heavily fortified, Germany planned to attack France through Belgium • Britain (not yet involved in the war) had signed a treaty guaranteeing to protect the neutrality (a country that does not help or support any side in a war or dispute) of Belgium • Hence, when Belgium was invaded Britain declared war on Germany • By midnight on 4 August 1914, all the countries of the two alliances (except Italy) were at war • World War I had begun!

25. Canada Goes to War • When WWI broke out, Canada entered the war as part of the British Empire • Britain still determined Canada’s relations with foreign nations • There was no debate in the Canadian parliament over whether or not Canada should join the war • Since Canada was not a fully independent nation, it could not declare war or make peace on its own • When Britain was at war, Canada was also automatically at war

26. Canada Goes to War • Support for Canada’s involvement in the war was widespread • English and French Canadians were united against a common enemy • Although Canada could not declare war on its own, it could determine the nature and extent of its involvement • Prime Minister Robert Borden and his cabinet decided to support Britain whole-heartedly • On 6 August, two days after war was declared, Canada (a country of just over 7 million) offered Britain a force of 25 000 men trained, equipped, and paid by the Canadian government

27. Canada Goes to War • How prepared was Canada for such a full-scale, modern war? • Canada had only 3000 regular army soldiers • Canada’s navy consisted of only two old cruisers (the Niobe and the Rainbow) • But Canada had over 60 000 militia (part-time citizen soldiers trained for emergencies) • Colonel Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia, had been increasing military spending, expanding the militia, and upgrading their training for years • It was the militia and other volunteers who would make up the majority of Canadian forces overseas

28. Canada Goes to War • To meet Canada’s commitment, Hughes organized a massive recruiting campaign across the country • When the call went out there was no shortage of volunteers • Recruiting offices were flooded with men and boys willing to fight for a private’s pay of $1 a day • Many joined from a sense of patriotism; others were swept up by the feelings of excitement and sense of adventure

29. Canada Goes to War • Conditions in Canada in 1914 also fed the tide of men eager to enlist • From 1900 to 1912, Canada had enjoyed an economic boom and period of prosperity • But by 1913, the country was facing an economic depression: • British investors who had poured money into Canadian railways and factories stopped investing • Factories slowed production and workers were laid off • Immigrants were still coming to Canada, but there was little or no work for them • On the Prairies a drought caused a very poor wheat crop in 1913

30. Canada Goes to War • For poor farmers and unemployed workers, the army offered a steady job with pay, free room and board, and a sense of purpose • Within a week, 10 000 Canadians had volunteered • Not all joined as foot soldiers • Some joined as engineers, medics, construction workers, or members of cavalry units • Hundreds of women volunteered as nurses and ambulance drivers • At home, wealthy and patriotic citizens donated money for machine guns and trucks • The war effort was in full swing

31. Mobilizing the Troops • To train and prepare Canadian troops, Hughes had a huge camp set up at Valcartier, Quebec • Over 30 000 men were trained at Valcartier, but were often poorly equipped • Hughes insisted the troops be issued the Ross rifle (a good sharpshooting gun manufactured in Canada, but proved useless in trench warfare) • In the dirt of the trenches the Ross rifle frequently jammed and defenceless Canadian soldiers were often forced to take Enfield rifles from dead British soldiers • After an official investigation, Canadian troops were issued new guns in 1916 • Sam Hughes was later fired by Prime Minister Borden

32. Canada Goes to War • By October 1914, the first Canadian contingent was on its way across the Atlantic • In Britain the received more formal training on the muddy plains of Salisbury • The troops were placed under the command of British officers • Hughes resisted British attempts to divide and distribute the Canadians among other divisions of British soldiers, insisting that they remain as a united Canadian fighting force • Other troops waited anxiously at home for their turn to join the forces overseas fearing that the war would be over before they got there • Soldiers had little idea of what lay ahead and little understanding of modern warfare • Many were eager to fight in a war in which 1 in 10 would never return