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World War I. The Two Fronts. Alliances that led to War. Austria-Hungary heir Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian nationalist revolutionaries 1914. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
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World War I The Two Fronts
Alliances that led to War • Austria-Hungary heir Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by Serbian nationalist revolutionaries 1914. • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. • Russia, who was allied with France, was also allied with Serbia. Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary. • Austria-Hungary allied with Germany. Russia essentially also declared war on Germany. • Germany had fear that it was declining in power after Bismarck and felt this was an opportunity to attack France, and then defend itself against Russia. This would establish itself as a strong powerful nation. • However, France was also allied with Great Britain.
Triple Entente/Allied Powers • Russia (and Serbia) • France • Belgium • Great Britain • Soldiers came from all of the colonies too, such as India, New Zealand, Australia, etc. • (later) Italy • (later) USA Central Powers • Germany • Austria- Hungary • (later) Turkey
Total War • Trench Warfare • No mobility • Daily massacre • Air Dogfights • Machine guns • Naval Blockades • Unable to get supplies • Snow • Mud • Rats • Disease • Chemical warfare
Battles of Verdun and Somme • Verdun: German attack at Verdun. • Somme: British and French attack at Somme No Gain for either side
Eastern Front • Russia attacks Germany • Germany unprepared because most forces focused against France for a “quick victory.” • 2 short and effective battles • Battle of Tennenberg • Battle of Masurian Lakes • Pushed Russia back. • Russia did not have effective means of mobilization or supplies. • Success for Germany and territory gains • Shortly following: Bolshevik Revolution in Russia
Effects on the Home Front • Lack of Men- Women went to work taking men’s jobs. • Increase in Women’s pay • Women suffrage more easily attained after war. • No food and rationing due to blockades • German submarines vs. Britain ships. (US involvement later due to blockade) • Cut off food and supplies from both Britain and Germany. • Turkey sided with Central Powers cut off resources to Russia • Decreased overall morale about war • Led to Governments using centralized planning to manage and move food, resources, and to maintain the economy. • Path to Socialism and increase of government
Surrender: Treaty of Versailles • Lack of movement on the Western Front • Complaints on the Home Front • Germany surrenders • Treaty of Versailles • France and Britain want revenge USA wants League of Nations • Russia in midst of Civil War • Germany loses all colonies and required to pay for all reparations and civilian damages from the war. • Arguably a cause of WWII • Other outcomes: • Austria-Hungary broken up into the smaller nation-states of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Also Poland was made a country. • National self-determination