Quick Write

1. Quick Write Do you think Triple Alliance countries should have gone to war? Why? What do you think might happen if our “heir” to throne got assassinated by a foreign country? What would you do if you were the leader in this situation?

3. Inevitability of war • June 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria assassinated • July 5, 1914 Germany issues A-H “blank check” • pledging military assistance if A-H goes to war against Russia • July 23, 1914 Austria issues Serbia the July Ultimatum

4. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate • At the beginning of the war, many Europeans were excited about war 1. Believed it would be a short war 2. “Defend yourself against the aggressors”

5. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate • Belief that modernindustrial war could not be conducted for more than a few months • “Home by Christmas” What made this war modern?

6. Beginnings of the War • Italy and Britain still remained uncommitted to joining the war. • Britain had to decide whether to join or not, • Germans actions at the beginning of the war forced Britain into the war. (When they invaded Belgium)

7. War begins • What could be a potential problem for Germany? • Note their location?

8. The Central Powers’ Problem • Two Front War • Central Powers face enemies on both sides • French in the West • Russians in the East What does a Two Front War mean?

9. The Schlieffen Plan • Quickly attack France before the Russia troops can get mobilized. After they defeat France, focus their efforts in the East to fight the Russians. • Avoid fighting a 2 front war

10. The Schlieffen Plan • Schlieffen Plan: German plan that would get France out of the war early so they could focus on fighting Russia in the East • Encircling movement across Neutral Belgium into Northern France to enter Paris

11. The Schlieffen Plan Fails • Because they invaded neutral Belgium, it caused Britain to join the war. • Underestimated speed of the British mobilization • Quickly sent troops to France

12. The Battle of Marne • Sept. of 1914 • After 7 days of fighting a stalemate emerges • Germany defeated • forced to retreat in large part due to the British entry • Because Germany couldn’t defeat the French, it results in 4 years of trench warfare on the Western Front

13. Western Front Western Front • Western Front: Where much of the fighting between the allies of the West (GB, France, & USA) vs. the Germans was done in Western Europe. Western Front

14. Western Front • Stalemate: a deadlock where neither side gains much territory • Lasts 4 Years • Why? • 1.) Trench Warfare • 2.) Modern Technology • This leads to a War of Attrition where both sides try to wait the other side out.

15. The Trenches

18. Life in the Trenches • Horrible Conditions • Constant noise and fear • Trench rot-Trench Foot • No facilities • Rats routinely ate the dead • Swampy, disgusting conditions

19. Trench Foot

20. Trench Warfare • Most fighting was done from the trenches using new technology • machine guns • poison gas • flame-throwers • barbed wire fences • This caused 3 things: • WWI along the western front was mostly immobile. • Millions of soldiers died. • WWI became a stalemate for several years.

21. Quick Write • Pretend you were a young soldier fighting in WWI for the British Army. • Please describe some of the experiences that you are facing as a soldier. • Some things to possibly consider: • Who are you fighting against? • How/Why you are entering the War? • Where is most of the fighting being done? • What is life like for you in the trenches?

22. Otto Von Bismarck • 1st Chancellor of the German Empire • United Germanic states. • Created a “Balance of Power” throughout Europe that lasted until 1914

23. Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II • Took over as chancellor of Germany after Von Bismarck in 1890 • As leader, encouraged Austria-Hungary to declare war. • Was an ineffective military leader • Abdicated (let go of the throne) and moved to exile in the Netherlands in 1918

24. Trench warfare “If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.” 

27. Life in the Trenches • Trench warfare baffled military leaders • Attempt a breakthrough • Taking over your opponents trenches • Enemy fends off attack • Millions of young men sacrificed trying to breakthrough

28. Breaking through Trench Warfare • Each side would begin with heavy artillery & then send in thousands of troops. • The men who attacked were completely exposed to machine-gun fire. • Millions of young men died in these attacks & no breakthroughcame • This created a War of Attrition What does attrition mean?

29. The Western Front Battle of Verdun (1916) • 10 months long war • Significance: Goal by Germans to get France to surrender • But Germans fail to advance so French win…butnot really • 700,000 Deaths total on both sides Verdun became a symbol of French resistance

30. Battle of Verdun

32. Battle of SommeWestern French: 5 months long Somme River in France British/French try to push Germans back Push Germans only 6 miles so Germans win…but not really 1.5 million deaths total

33. Quick Write • Why do you think the Eastern Front was more of a mobile (movement) war than that of the Western Front? • Consider each fronts geography? • Consider the tactics used within the fronts • What were the weaknesses of the Russian Army? • What were the strengths of the Russian Army?

34. Quick Write • On a half sheet of paper, please predict the final score of this Sunday’s Super Bowl. • Give me the winning team and each side’s score. • Closest person to the score with the winning team will get 3 points Extra Credit on next Friday’s WWI Test. • Be sure to put your name on the paper • Go NINERS!

35. The Eastern Front • Much more mobile • because of the larger border • Not as much trench warfare • Russians and Serbs V. Germans and Austria Hungary

36. Russia struggles during the War Weaknesses 1.) Russia was not industrialized • Fewer resources (food, guns, ammo, clothes, boots, etc) 2. Allies couldn’t ship supplies to Russia because German’s controlled the Baltic Sea Strengths 1. Russia’s one advantage—it’s large population.

37. Battle of Tannenberg • Russian forces not ready (Little supplies, poor leadership) • Entire Russian 2nd army destroyed • Aug 23-31, 1914 • 125,000 Russians perish; only 13,000 Germans

38. Gallipoli (Feb 1915) • Allies attempt to capture Ottoman (who are fighting for the Central Powers) Dardanelles (water passage) • Hoped to send supplies to Russia and to defeat Ottoman Empire • Allies (British, Australian, French, and New Zealand) lost this battle

39. Russia leaves WWI • In March 1917, due to war-related shortages of food and fuel and the growing unhappiness toward how Czar Nicholas II (the leader of Russia)was handling the war, Russians forced Czar Nicholas II to step down. • The new g’vt pledged to continue fighting. • But the army, just like under Czar Nicholas II, was bad. • By 1917 nearly 5.5 million Russian soldiers were wounded, dead, or imprisoned. • Russia was very war weary and refused to fight. • As a result, Russia withdrew from the war. How do you think Russia’s withdrawal influenced the War? What might Germany do now that it doesn’t have to worry about the Eastern Front?

40. USA enters WWI in 1917 If the WW1 began in 1914, why did it take America 3 years to enter? • America wanted to remain isolationist and neutral • At the beginning of the war, America traded with both the Central Powers and the Triple Entente • Yet Germany’s actions force America to join the Triple Entente

41. Reasons USA joins the War • 1st Cause: In 1915 Lusitania (A British passenger ship) gets sunk by a German U-boat as part of Germany’s policy of “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare.” • Germans fire without warning • Ship has 128 Americans on it Lusitania: British passenger ship German U-Boat

42. The Lusitania

43. 2nd Reason • President Woodrow Wilson of America orders the Germans to stop their “unrestricted Submarine Warfare” • Germans at first comply but in 1917 they go back to unrestricted submarine warfare and shoot 3 more American ships. How do you think America’s isolationist and neutral feelings changed after this?

44. 3rd Reason: Zimmerman Telegram • Zimmerman Telegram: 1917 A telegram from Germany that said if Mexico were to go to war with the United States, then they would get the support (help from Germany) Ultimately, this is the final straw and causes the United States to join the war against the Germans and for the Triple Entente

45. Activity: Write a speech • Task: 1. Please pretend that you are a political leader from either Germany, USA, or Britain. 2. From their perspective, you will write a speech explaining why USA should go to war or not. • So you can take Germany’s side and explain why USA shouldn’t enter • Britain’s and ask for the USA for help. • Or some other side 3. In your speech you should include all three reasons for why America joined • 1.) Lusitania, • 2.) Unrestricted Sub Warfare • 3.) Zimmerman Telegram Remember it’s a speech, so it should be passionate and motivating. • ¾ to a page long

46. Questions for Homework—put on backside 1.) What 9 new nations were created by the Treaty of Versailles 2. Which countries and empires shown on the prewar map do not appear on the postwar map? 3. Which prewar countries gained territory from the treaty? 4. Out of what nations’ land was Yugoslovia created? 5. To what new and already existing countries did Russia lose land? 6. Detail what became of the empire of Austria-Hungary after WWI?. 7. What may have been the reason that Germany was divided into 2 separate parts along the Baltic Sea Coast after WWI?

47. War becomes a World War • Fighting occurs not just in Europe but in Asia and Africa as well. • Colonial powers of both the Triple Entente and the Central Powers seek to help in the war effort.

48. Outcome of Russia’s Withdrawal • With Russia gone from the Eastern Front, Germany moves nearly all it’s troops to the Western Front.

49. 2nd Battle of Marne 1918 • By 1918, the German Army had weakened. • The effort to reach the Marne had exhausted men and supplies alike. • The allies—with the aide of the fresh US army launched a counterattack. • With the arrival of 2 million American troops (TURNING POINT)—morale was on the Allies side. • Soon after the allies advanced into Germany.

50. Central Powers Crumble • 1st the Bulgarians surrendered • 2nd the Ottomans surrendered • Austria-Hungary was going through a Revolution • In Germany, soldiers mutinied (turned on leaders) • On November 9, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down from Germany. • Germany declared itself a Republic.