World War I

1. World War I The Beginnings of the Great War

2. World War I • Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by the Black Hand. Which was a Serbian terrorist organization. • After his death, Austria-Hungary blamed the country of Serbia for the actions of this terrorist group. • So Austria-Hungary declared WAR on Serbia.

3. World War I • The war began as a fight between two countries but because of “entangling alliances” many more countries would enter this war . • Russia was the first to mobilize its military. This means Russia quickly moved its troops and equipment to the front line in defense of Serbia.

4. World War I • In response of Russia’s mobilization, Germany quickly moved its army into position to help Austria-Hungary. • These two events activated two pre-war alliances. • The Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy • The Triple Entente – Britain, France and Russia

5. World War I • These alliances were seen as a Balance of Power. Both sides had an equal amount of power. Basically, it was a tie, no side was seen as more powerful. • However, these alliances created a great danger because if one nation was attacked then all of Europe was at war.

6. World War I • As the war was just getting started more nations made alliances and new sides were formed. • Central Powers - Germany, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. • Allied Powers – France, Great Britain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece and Russia.

7. World War I • The colonies of these countries were also getting ready to fight. • Africa, Asia and the Middle East saw fighting. Any place that these European countries controlled were open to attack.

8. World War I • The war began in 1914 with Austria-Hungary trying t Invade Serbia. • Serbia fought back and kept Austria-Hungary from invading. • The war then moved west and the Belgium was quickly invaded by Germany.

9. World War I • Most people believed this war would be quick and it would end in a matter of months. • That was until both sides began using trench warfare. • This is a style of fighting where trenches are dug by both sides. Soldiers live in these trenches and use quick attacks and counter attacks to try and overtake their enemies.

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12. World War I • They started using trench warfare because of the new weapons that were being invented: • Machine Guns • Flame Throwers • Artillery (Large cannons that can shoot from miles away)

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14. World War I • Life in the trench was hard. • The trenches were dirty and would quickly fill with water whenever it rained. Once filled with water soldiers would have to stand in water up to their knees for days and weeks at a time. • Leaving the trench was not an option as their opponents had machine guns aimed at them all the time.

17. World War I • All the time there was a constant “shelling” going on. • This meant that the opponents were shooting artillery at the trench. These shells could be : • Incendiary Shells (large explosion, also called a fire-bomb)

18. World War I • Kinds of Shells: • Fragment Shells (the metal shell would break apart showering the trench with thousands of metal fragments) • Gas Shells (Mustard gas which burnt the skin and the damaged the brain or Chlorine which cause suffocation)