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World war i: The Beginnings

World war i: The Beginnings. Immediate Causes. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip

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World war i: The Beginnings

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  1. World war i:The Beginnings

  2. Immediate Causes • Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by GavriloPrincip • Princip was a member of the Serbian nationalist group Black Hand

  3. Why Assassination? • Ferdinand planned to give the Slavs of Bosnia-Herzegovina an equal voice in the Austro-Hungarian government • This threatenedthe movement for a separate Slavic state

  4. What Next? • Austria-Hungary held the Serbian government responsible for the assassination of Ferdinand • Austria-Hungary sought backup from Germany in the event of war

  5. What Next? • Germany issued a Blank Check to Austria-Hungary • Blank Check: • William II agreed to support any actions that Austria-Hungary might take against Serbia

  6. Tensions Build!! • The Ultimatum: • Austria-Hungary demanded entrance into Serbia • Why? • Suppress subversive organizations • Conduct an investigation

  7. Tensions Build!! • Austria-Hungary gave Serbia 48 hoursto agree to the ultimatum • Serbia REFUSED to agree • July 28, 1914: • Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia!

  8. Others Get Involved • Russia, an ally of Serbia, mobilized troops along the borders of Germany & Austria-Hungary • Germany warned Russia to stop • Russia refused!

  9. Others Get Involved • Germany issued an ultimatum to France • Gave France 18 hours to decide whether or not it would support Russia • France gave an inconclusive answer!

  10. Declarations of War • 08/01/1914: • Germany declared war on Russia • 08/03/1914: • Germany declared war on France

  11. Declarations of War • Great Britain hoped to remain neutral • DID NOT want to become involved in a war • HOWEVER…

  12. The Belgium Issue • Germany demanded passage across Belgium in order to fight France • Part of Germany’s Schlieffen Plan

  13. The Belgium Issue • In 1839 Britain, Russia, France & Germany signed a treaty that guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality • Due to the fact that Belgium was a neutral nation, Great Britain protested Germany’s demand

  14. The Belgium Issue • Despite Belgium’s neutrality, Germany invaded on August 14, 1914 • Great Britain demanded that Germany immediately withdraw from Belgium

  15. The Belgium Issue • Germany responded by referring to the treaty as nothing more than a “scrap of paper” • As a result Great Britain declared war on Germany

  16. The Schlieffen Plan • The Schlieffen Plan • Germany’s plan to deal with a TWO-FRONT war • The German army DID NOT want to fight the war on BOTH fronts at the SAME time

  17. The Schlieffen Plan • Germany believed that the Russian army was slow • Believed they could defeat FR on the Western Front in 5 to 6 weeks

  18. The Schlieffen Plan • Planned to invade Belgium & encircle Paris • They would then be able to fight Russia on the Eastern Front

  19. EXPECTATIONS • Both sides thought that the war would be a quick ordeal…

  20. World War I:Opposing Sides

  21. Opposing Sides • The Triple Entente became the Allied Powers • The Triple Alliance became the Central Powers

  22. Allied powers

  23. Allied powers • Major Players: • France, Great Britain, Russia • Italy (1915) • Japan (1915) • United States (1917) • 28 other countries

  24. Allied powers • Strengths: • More soldiers • More money • Greater industrial potential • Great Britain – best navy • France – excellent army

  25. Allied powers • Weaknesses: • Russia was WEAK & POOR • No unified command • Each country acted independently until the end of the war • Fighting on their OWN territory

  26. Central powers

  27. Central powers • Major Players: • Germany, Austria-Hungary • Bulgaria • Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

  28. Central powers • Strengths: • Germany – best army • Germany – excellent navy • Superior weapons • Fighting in enemy territory

  29. Central powers • Excellent lines of communication • Unified command • Everyone under German control • Control of the Dardanelles

  30. Central powers • Weaknesses: • Fighting a two-front war

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