WORLD WAR I “The Great War”

1. WORLD WAR I “The Great War” 1914 - 1919

2. Section 1Marching Towards War

3. The Causes of WWI • Nationalism • Deep devotion to one’s country • Militarism • Glorification of military power • Keeping a standing army always ready for war • Imperialism • A strong nation seeks to dominate other countries

4. The Pursuit of Peace • By 1914 Europe had enjoyed a century of relative peace • The support of Pacifism – opposition to all war • 1899 the first Universal Peace Conference • Hague Tribunal – World Court to settle disputes between nations

5. Aggressive Nationalism • One of the forces pushing Europe to the Brink • Especially strong in France & Germany

6. Nationalism in France • Longed to regain its position as Europe’s leading power • Very bitter about their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War • Angry about German occupation of Lorraine and Alsace

7. Alsace and Lorraine

8. Economic Rivalries Britain is threatened by Germany’s rapid economic growth Imperialism Causes Rivalries France and Germany compete for colonies i.e. Morocco Rivalries Among European Powers

9. Militarism and the Arms Race

10. Militarism and the Arms Race • Militarism is the glorification of the military • The “Great Powers” expanded their armies and navies • Fierce competition in the “arms race” • Military leaders became important figures

11. The Triple Alliance (Central Powers) Germany Austria – Hungary Ottomans sign treaty with Germans The Triple Entente (Allied Powers) France Britain Russia Japan grows close to Britain A Tangle of AlliancesTwo huge alliances emerge as a result of treaties by 1914

13. Section 2Europe Plunges into War “The great European disaster is well on it’s way. If so many seeds have been sown, surely the weeds will sprout up soon and surely so much stock piled gunpowder will explode.” • Peace Bertha April 1913

14. Assassination at Sarajevo • Background Info: • Austria-Hungary annexes territory • Bosnia and Herzegovina (1908) • Bosnia was home to many Serbians • Serbians were furious at the takeover • In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (A-H) announced he would visit Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia • News of the visit angered many Serbians • Unity of Death/Black Hand (Serbian terrorists) vowed to take action

15. The Assassination of the Archduke

16. The Fatal Shots • The archduke and his wife rode through Sarajevo in a open car • First attempt – bomb hurled at car was unsuccessful • Ferdinand was killed by Gavrilo Princip after visiting a wounded soldier later that day

17. A Harsh Ultimatum • Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum - a final set of demands • End all anti-Austrian agitation • Punish any Serbian official involved in the assassination • Austria must join the investigation • Serbia only partly agreed – July 28th 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia

18. From Capital to Capital • Kaiser William II (Germany) promises support to Austria • Nicolas II (Russia) supports Serbia • France pledges allegiance to Russia b/c of Franco-Prussian War • Germany declares war of France

19. How the Dominoes Fell

21. Problem of the Two-Front War • German officials did not want to fight a two front war • Eastern Front vs. Russia • Western Front vs. France • What to do??

22. The Schlieffen Plan • Germany would have to defeat France quickly then fight Russia • Germany would have to march through Belgium – 8/3/1914 • This causes Britain to declare war on Germany • Germany’s defeat at the Battle of the Marne destroyed the Plan

24. Section 3 A Global Conflict Key Information • Newspapers began to call it “The Great War” • 8.5 million French troops • 9 million British troops • 12 million Russian troops • 11 million German troops

25. WWI Strategy – “Total War” • What is it? • The channeling of a nation’s entire resources into a war effort • How does a government achieve total war? • Institution of conscription – “the draft” • Governments raised taxes and borrowed money • Governments rationed food, gasoline, & other materials • Civilians and soldiers can be considered to be part of the war effort

26. WWI Strategy – Trench Warfare • Warring armies burrowed into a vast system of trenches • Rats, lice and heat became major problems • “Over the top” orders were given and soldiers would leave their trenches and rush toward enemy lines

27. In the Trenches

28. In the Trenches

32. Trench Foot Info.. • Many soldiers fighting in WWI suffered from trench foot • This was an infection of the feet caused by cold, wet and unsanitary conditions. • If untreated, trench foot could turn gangrenous and result in amputation. • 20,000+ men in the British Armywere treated for trench foot in one year!!

33. Trench Foot

34. Trench Foot Info.. • The only remedy for trench foot was for the soldiers to dry their feet and change their socks several times a day. • British soldiers were under orders to change their socks at least twice a day

35. Technology in Modern Warfare • World War I was very devastating due to new technology • Poison gas • The Airplane • Machine Gun • Submarines • Zeppelins • Tanks

36. Poison Gas THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUMAN RACEFrom ape to ape

37. Poison Gas "Our men were swallowed up by the mysterious cloud. At the same time, I felt its effect on my breathing. It burned in my throat. I felt a pain in my chest and could barely breathe any longer. I spit up blood and became dizzy. I thought I was lost."

38. The Airplane • Airplanes were primitive • Had only 1- 2 seats • With machine gun • Mostly used for reconnaissance • “Dog Fights” • Air combat between planes

39. Automatic Machine Gun • Usually 2-man teams • Provided a continuous stream of bullets • This weapon was the main reason for the war settling into a STALEMATE

40. Submarine • German “U-Boats” • To sink merchant ships • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare • Made the oceans unsafe for all • Allied response – convoys • Small groups of merchant ships protected by warships

41. Zeppelins • Gas filled balloons used by the Germans to bomb the English coast • They were able to carry a much heavier load than airplanes

42. The Tank • Developed to end Trench Warfare • Used a mounted machine gun • Ran by a 8 man crew

43. A Global ConflictA War Fought on Many Fronts • Oceans • Unrestricted submarine warfare • Europe • Eastern and Southern Europe • Australia • Australia and New Zealand • Asia • China, India, and Turkey • Colonies began to join the war • Africa • Colonies began to join the war

44. A Global War Map of the World showing the Participants in World War I  Green: Allies (some entered the war or dropped out later) Orange: Central Powers Grey: Neutral Countries

45. Major Conflicts of the War

46. Battle of Somme River • Britain vs. Germany • 5 month battle • 60,000 British casualties in one day • 1,000,000 dead by the end of the battle

47. Battle of Verdun • France vs. Germany • 11 month battle • 400,000+ casualties on both sides • Battlefield with the highest density of dead per square yard

48. The Gallipoli Campaign

49. Aim of the Gallipoli Campaign • Attack and defeat the Ottoman Empire via the Dardanelles • Establish a supply line to Russia.

50. The Gallipoli Campaign • Effort to take the region took place in 1915. • Allies including Australia, New Zealand (ANZAC), British, and French forces battled Turkish troops • Another bloody stalemate- 250,000 casualties on Allied side