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THE ‘SPARK’ THAT STARTED WORLD WAR I . THE ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. Austria-Hungary was the largest power in the region of southeastern Europe. It had added territory by absorbing smaller nations to its’ south.(ex: Bosnia, Herzegovina)
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THE ‘SPARK’ THAT STARTED WORLD WAR I THE ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
Austria-Hungary was the largest power in the region of southeastern Europe. • It had added territory by absorbing smaller nations to its’ south.(ex: Bosnia, Herzegovina) • Serbia saw itself as A-Hs’ next target and was determined to not let that happen.(Pan-Slavism) TENSION IN THE BALKANS
A-Hs’ heir to the throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, decided to make a tour of southern A-H to quell some of the tension. • Slavic Nationalists in the region saw this as an insult and a sign of things to come. • The Slavic Nationalist group the ‘BlackHand’ (Unity or Death), based in Serbia, decided to make a point of the Archduke’s visit by assassinating him.(act of terrorism) FATAL DECISION
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were shot by a Serbian Nationalist, GavriloPrincip in the city of Sarajevo, in the A-H province of Bosnia. THE ‘SPARK’
Austria-Hungary believed that the nation of Serbia was behind the assassination of the Archduke. • If this were true, it would give A-H a reason to be offended, and expand their territory by invading, conquering and absorbing Serbia. • In the weeks following the attack, A-H sent an ultimatum(a final statement of demands) to Serbia. A-H’S PLAN
Serbia partially rejected the ultimatum.(Russia had promised to support them if A-H took any aggressive action) • A-H prepared to invade Serbia.(Germany had reassured A-H that if Russia got involved, Germany would protect A-H) • Nations throughout Europe began to mobilize.(prepare for war) NATIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS
TRIPLE ENTENTE TRIPLE ALLIANCE • GREAT BRITAIN • FRANCE • RUSSIA • WOULD BECOME THE ALLIED POWERS. • AUSTRIA-HUNGARY • GERMANY • ITALY • WOULD BECOME THE CENTRAL POWERS. THE ALLIANCES
July 28, 1914-A-H declared war on Serbia. • Russia began to mobilize for war. • August 1, 1914-Germany declared war on Russia. • Russia asked for France’s help. • Germany demanded France stay out of it. • France refused. • Germany declared war on France. • Italy remained neutral. THE RUSH TO FIGHT
The German plan to invade France was called the Schlieffen Plan. • It involved the invasion of France by going through Belgium and controlling the English Channel coast. • German armies would then swing around the French capital, Paris, surrounding and destroying the French military. SCHLIEFFEN PLAN
Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality. • The Belgians resisted the German army. • British forces arrived quickly. • German officers altered the plan, sacrificing land for time. • Instead of going around the defenses of Paris, the Germans collide with them. THE PLAN FALLS SHORT
As the French stopped the German advance (1st Battle of the Marne) and began to repel it, the Germans dug in, creating trenches. • Afraid of the strong defensive position of German trenches, the French dug in, creating their own trenches. • Trench warfare became the unexpected strategy for both sides. On the western front, the war had become a stalemate.(no advantage for either side) TRENCH WARFARE
