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World War I. Origins of the War. The competition to build empires during the late 1800’s led to a rise in nationalism and rivalry between European countries. Wealth from colonial trade was used by European nations to build and maintain large armies, and to develop new weapons.
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Origins of the War • The competition to build empires during the late 1800’s led to a rise in nationalism and rivalry between European countries. • Wealth from colonial trade was used by European nations to build and maintain large armies, and to develop new weapons. • Desire for better living and working conditions was causing unrest in many countries. • Some leaders thought that war might be a way to unite their people and avoid revolution.
The Triple Alliance • In 1882, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy formed the “Triple Alliance.” • This agreement stated that if any of the three nations were attacked, the other two would provide military support. • The Alliance was created by German Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck, who targeted the other two countries because they bordered Germany and he wanted to limit the possibility of a “two front war.”
The Triple Entente • In 1907, France, Great Britain, and Russia created an alliance called the “Triple Entente” • “Entente” means “good will” in French. • The three nations had been rivals throughout history, but came together out of a shared concern over Germany’s growing power and threat to their empires. • Unlike the Triple Alliance, this was not a formal military alliance that promised aid in the event of war.
Serbia • Austria-Hungary had a historical alliance with Serbia, located in the Balkan Peninsula of SE Europe. • As Serbia grew, it became very nationalistic and wanted to build an empire of its own. • Russia supported Serbia in its plan to build a nation. • Serbia began competing with Austria-Hungary over lands in its empire. • In 1914, this dispute led to an assassination that started World War I.
The First Shot Archduke Francis Ferdinand GavriloPrincip
Sarajevo, 1914. • In June 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, visited the city of Sarajevo in Bosnia, territory under his control but desired by the Serbians. • While in the city, he and his wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist named GavriloPrincip. • Princip wanted Austria-Hungary to allow Bosnia to become independent.
Reaction • To retaliate for the assassination, Austria-Hungary wanted to declare war on Serbia, but worried that Russia would support Serbia. • To prepare for war with Russia, Austria-Hungary asked for help from its ally Germany. • Germany promised Austria-Hungary its full support. • In July, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Russia responded by supporting the Serbians and mobilizing (activating) their army.
War Begins • Serbia was a small country. Austria-Hungary was an empire, but not a powerful one. Because of their conflict, Russia and Germany, two of the most powerful empires in the world, were about to go to war. • The Germans warned the Russians to stop mobilizing their army. The Russians did it anyway. • On August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russia.
German Strategy – The Schlieffen Plan • German General Alfred von Schlieffen shaped the early stages of the war with his plan to launch a surprise assault on France before invading Russia. • France was targeted because of its alliance with Russia. • The Schlieffen Plan required German troops to pass through Belgium on their way to France. Because Belgium was neutral and not aligned with any other country, this was perceived as an invasion of Belgium.
British Response • Great Britain, ally of France and Russia, decided that the invasion of Belgium was an act of war against France. • On August 4, Great Britain declared war on Germany. • World War I !!!! • The average European war fought in the previous century had been two weeks long. This war would become deadlocked, and last for four years.
Battle of the Marne • The German army hoped to secure a quick victory over France by invading the country from Belgium and sweeping around Paris. • At the First Battle of the Marne, the Germans were stopped outside of Paris. In trying to encircle the city, they left themselves open to attack from the sides. • The French used taxis to get enough soldiers to the battle to end the German advance.
Results of the Battle of the Marne • The German loss required an immediate retreat of about 40 miles, and the abandonment of the Schlieffen Plan. • The Germans had lost the element of surprise, and prepared to fight the British/French and Russians in a two-front war. • Both sides dug trenches for shelter, which eventually stretched across France. Neither side was able to move the other for nearly four years.
Journal • If you looked at two opposing armies right before a battle and had to guess which one would win, what strengths/weaknesses would you focus on to make your decision? • It may not be as obvious as you think……
War With Russia • On the Eastern Front, the Russian Army invaded Germany in August 1914. • The Russians outnumbered the Germans 4-1, and had nearly 400,000 soldiers. • The Russians had lots of soldiers but had supply problems and leadership issues. Many of their soldiers never even reached the battlefield. • They ran into trouble immediately at the Battle of Tannenberg.
Battle of Tannenberg • August 23-30, 1914 • Although outnumbered, the Germans were defending their territory and were able to surround the Russians. • When the Russians attempted to retreat, they were forced into a narrow column and were slaughtered. • The Russians suffered 170,000 casualties (killed or wounded), while the Germans suffered 12,000 casualties. • The Russian commander committed suicide in disgrace.
Battle of Masurian Lakes • One week later, the Germans and Russians fought again at Masurian Lakes. • The Russians suffered another 170,000 casualties, compared to 40,000 German casualties. • Of the 416,000 Russian soldiers who invaded Germany, only 10,000 made it out safely. • After losing nearly all of their soldiers in only a few weeks, the Russians retreated out of Germany, allowing the Germans to focus entirely on the Western Front.
Trench Warfare • The trenches dug by both sides on the Western Front made it difficult to fight. • Soldiers lived in holes in the ground surrounded by barbed wire, machine guns, and heavy artillery (BIG GUNS). • Military leaders were used to mobile battles, and didn’t know how to fight from trenches. As a result, they ordered troops to attack the enemy trenches and try to over-run them. • It didn’t work – millions of troops were killed by machine gun fire during the raids, including 700,000 at the ten-month long Battle of Verdun in 1916.
The Americans Join the War • The United States wanted to stay out of the war. • In 1915, a German submarine sank the British ship Lusitania, killing 1,100 civilians, including Americans. • The Germans practiced “Unrestricted Submarine Warfare” where military and civilian ships were both targeted. • When the Americans protested, the Germans promised to stop attacking civilian ships. • Germany did not think that the USA would send troops to Europe. In 1917, the Germans decided to target civilian ships again. This caused the USA to declare war on Germany.
American Impact • American troops were not immediately ready for combat, but the United States helped the British and French (now called The Allies) with money and supplies to keep fighting. • More than 2 million American troops arrived on the Western Front in 1918. • This allowed The Allies to begin advancing toward Germany.
Morale • As trench warfare continued for years with no end in sight and the death count rising to a historic level, it became harder to get people to support the war. • Governments controlled the news and arrested protesters. • Propaganda was used by governments to keep their people motivated and to encourage men to keep enlisting in the military despite the risk.
The Second Battle of the Marne • Before the Americans reached Europe, the Germans tried to win the war with a large offensive attack in France. • The German army moved further than it had since 1914, and it came within 50 miles of Paris in the Spring of 1918. • The Allies used a new invention, the Tank, and American troops to stop the Germans at the Second Battle of the Marne. • Tanks were dangerous and unreliable, more than half were destroyed, but they allowed The Allies to move through no-man’s land.
Momentum Swing • After the battle, the Germans lost their momentum and were forced to retreat. • With reinforcements from America, The Allies advanced and chased the German army all the way back to Germany. • By the end of September 1918, The Allies had reached Germany. The leaders of the German army realized that the war was lost.
German Surrender • The Allies would only negotiate for peace if Kaiser Wilhelm gave up power. The Kaiser had ruled Germany for thirty years. • The German people were angry and exhausted by the war, and they started to revolt against the Kaiser’s government. • Kaiser Wilhelm left Germany on November 9. • On November 11, 1918, the new German government agreed to end the war.
Treaty of Versailles • In January 1919, the leaders of The Allies met in Paris to make a final settlement of the war. • The Americans wanted to create a League of Nations that would work together to avoid future wars. • The British and French wanted the Germans to pay for the war. • The Treaty of Versailles was created as the peace settlement.
Versailles, cont. • The treaty required Germany to accept blame for starting the war. • Germany was forced to greatly reduce the size of its army. • Germany was forced to pay reparations for all damages suffered by The Allies during the war. This payment was set at $33 Billion ($300 Billion in 2012 dollars). • The reparations destroyed the German economy and kept it from providing basic services to its people.
Versailles, cont. • Germany accepted the terms of the treaty because it had no choice – the only alternative was to go back to war. • The German people felt that the treaty was unfair. It was designed to avoid future wars, but it backfired. • The effect it had on Germany was a major reason for the rise of the Nazis and the conditions that created World War II.
