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On 28 June 1914, a localized event will evolve into a European war, and, eventually, a GLOBAL WAR. How did this “Great War” happen?. The Ingredients for War :. Congress of Vienna and the Concert of Europe (1814) Lingering animosities due to competing imperial goals over centuries
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On 28 June 1914, a localized event will evolve into a European war, and, eventually, a GLOBAL WAR. How did this “Great War” happen?
The Ingredients for War: • Congress of Vienna and the Concert of Europe (1814) • Lingering animosities due to competing imperial goals over centuries • Conflicting interests of imperialist, autocratic European powers • most of which are ruled by MONARCHS • Pre-existing unrest in Europe • threats to the “establishment” AND tradition • Industrialization (mass production) • Arms Race (mass produced, modern, technologically advanced weaponry) • Militarism (armies had pre-existing strategies against enemies) • The Alliance system • Triple Alliance (Germany, AH and Italy) vs. Triple Entente (GB, Russia and France) • Ultra-Nationalism and propaganda • Overall INSTABILITY in Europe • When all ingredients are mixed, a “SPARK” will ignite a war.
The Major Powers of Europe: • United Kingdom (British Empire) • GermanRealm (Empire of Germany) • Empire of Russia (Eurasian empire) • Republic of France (Asian and African colonies) • Empire of Austria-Hungary (HabsburgEmpire) • Central European Empire • Ottoman Empire (Southeastern Europe and Middle East) • Kingdom of Serbia (Slavic nation threatened A-H) Relations betweenthesepowers all contributed to the conflict.
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany Czar Nicholas of Russia King George V of UK “King, Kaiser, Czar”They were cousins
Two were first cousins and grandchildren of Queen Victoria of England. • Queen Victoria's son Edward VII was King George V's father, making him Victoria’s grandson. • Queen Victoria's daughter Victoria, was Kaiser Wilhelm's mother, making him Victoria’s grandson. • Queen Victoria's daughter Alice was the mother of Alexandra, wife of Czar Nicolas II, making him “related” by marriage. • Nicholas II, himself, was not a descendant of Queen Victoria, however both of them (Nicholas II and Queen Victoria) were several generations descended from King George II of England, which made him a distant cousin of George and Wilhelm. • Kaiser Wilhelm & Czar Nicholas had common ancestor in Paul I of Russia. • Additionally, George V of England and Czar Nicholas II of Russia were first cousins through their mothers. George's mother, Alexandra of Denmark, and Nicholas' mother, Dagmar of Denmark, were sisters. • You will NOT be tested on any of this…. The King, the Kaiser and the Czar
Empire of Austria-Hungary/Hapbsburg Empire • A volatile, diverse European empire that included many different ethnic and religious groups: • Austrian, Slovak, Romanian, Croat, Italian, Hungarian, Polish, Albanian, Czech, Serb, Bosnian Serbs, Slovene, Greek • Roman Catholic, Muslim, Eastern Orthodox Christian, Jewish • Ruled by King Franz Josef • (no relation to the other guys) • His nephew, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. • He supported the “Triple Monarchy” idea; this would add Serbia to Austria-Hungary and would give Serbia some autonomy. • 7,800,000 men in army
Republic of France • President Raymond Poincare • one of Europe’slargestmilitaries • 8,400,000 men in army • Underfunded, lacked modern weapons. • Itsgreatestenemy: Germany • (Franco-PrussianWar of 1870; France lost the war and the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine which are on the German border) • Empire in decline by 1913 • Vulnerable, but alliedwithRussiasince 1894 and Britainsince 1904
Ottoman-Turk Empire • Ruler Sultan Mohammed V • Empire stretched from the Middle East/Arabian peninsula, through Turkey and into Southeastern Europe • Empire was in its decline due to ethnic revolt against the Turk leadership • Muslim influence spread into Southeastern Europe which added to the religious differences of the region • Empire was ethnically and religiously diverse. • 2.9 million men in army
Kingdom of Serbia– King Peter 1 • Serbsculturallylinked to Russia – both are Slavic • The Pan-SlavMovement: • A politicalmovementthatwasdesigned to unite the Slavic people of the regioninto one greaterSlavic nation. • Their vision: A Slavic Empire-no ‘Triple Monarchy’ • South Slavia or Yugoslavia • Bosnia (ethnicSlavs): FullyabsorbedintoAustria-Hungary in 1913 • Croats, Slovenes, and Serbs live in Bosnia • all are Slavic • Bosniasought assimilation intoSerbia • Its obstacle: Austria-Hungary • The Black Hand - Nationalist group thatsoughtto encourageAustria-Hungary to liberateethnicSlavs living in A-H • WidespreadSlavicunrest in the regionattributed to Serbia ’s quest for a Slavic empire
Serbian/Pan-Slav Movement Dream:A greater “South Slavia”…or Yugoslavia
Democracy/Marxism vs. Monarchy/Capitalism • New order vs. Old, traditional order • Imperialism = increased wealth & prestige = MILITARY growth to defend interests • Ultra-Nationalism within each European nation due to national prestige and pride • Created animosities between nations • Propaganda intensified these animosities • Ethnic minorities within empires = potential CIVIL WARS • HABSBURGS vs. ETHNIC MINORITIES (mostly Slavic) • ethnic and religious diversity made A-H very unstable. • Ethnic minorities supported by nations other than the nation they lived in. • Ethnic Slavs within Austria-Hungary sought support from Russia • Ancient alliances – Ancient enemies • Alliances, combined with “the cousins”, created uncertainty and instability • Alsace-Lorraine: 2 French provinces lost to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. • unresolved conflict between the two European powers. • Poland: Ethnic Polish people without a nation; live in parts of 3 different nations; desire autonomy. • Lack of perspective; nations overestimated themselves, underestimated their opponents Pre-existing unrest in Europe
Modern, rapid industrialization in Europe allowed nations to mass produce any product imaginable. • Nations “modernized” their militaries as a result. Industrialism and The Arms Race
Militarism • Franco-Prussian War of 1870 • Alsace-Lorraine • Before 1900, Germany & France had created strategies to invade each other: • Germany: Schlieffen Plan (1905) – red arrow above • France: Plan 17 (1898 to 1913) – blue arrow above • Armies were huge, well trained and supplied with modern weaponry. • Except for France, of course… “courage and the bayonet” • UK and Germany in competition to have the largest, most powerful navy • Nations that are prepared for war and usually go to war..
THE ALLIANCE SYSTEM:An rivalry for naval and military superiority, colonies and spheres of influence outside of Europe drove the leading powers into 2 antagonistic alliances. A third alliance developed for reasons of security from the other two: • The Triple Alliance-1882 • Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary • Known as “The Central Powers” • Italy leaves in 1914 • Ottoman Empire joins in 1914 • The Triple Entente-1904 • France, Russia and Britain • Known as “The Allies” • Italy joins in 1915 • The Balkan League-1911 • Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and Montenegro. • Goals: (1) protection from Ottoman and A-H Empires and (2) create a larger nation of South Slavia (Yugoslavia) • This is an alliance of mostly SLAVIC peoples (Russians are also Slavic)
The Bottom Line • Serbians/Slavs hated Austria-Hungary • And vice-verse… • Pan-Slav Movement vs. Triple Monarchy… • Russians supported the Pan-Slav movement, • French and Germans hated each other, • Germans and Austrians were ethnically and culturally similar AND were allies, • Russia, UK and France were allies and Germany, A-H and Italy in competing alliance: • Czar, Kaiser and King George were cousins who may be asked to resolve conflict before a disaster occurs. • Kaiser/Germany NOT allied with UK and Russia
A healthy dose of pre-existing competition, animosity, alliances and treaties between European imperialists… • A dash of threats to empires and MONARCHIES… • A generous pinch of all-natural, organic, fortified NATIONALISM combined with MILITARISM… • Several parts PROGAGANDA (for self-promotion and to degrade your enemies)… • …now the dish is totally de-stabilized… • Find a way to “spark” the fire…and… • The “WAR” will be ready soon! Combining the ingredients Add together….
June 28, 1914: • Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary… • by GavriloPrincip, a Serbmember of the Black Hand • In Sarajevo, part of Austria-Hungary and former capital of Bosnia • EventhoughSerbiawas not directlyresponsible for the assassinaiton of the Arch-Duke… • Princip & the Black Hand not blamed…Serbiais. The ‘spark’ thatstarts the fire:
On 28 June 1914, a localized event will evolve into a European war, and, eventually, a GLOBAL WAR. How did this “Great War” happen?