Sparking Chaos: The Prelude to WWI

1. “The War to End All Wars…”

2. Setting the Stage For War • The Congress of Vienna set the scene for a balance of power in Europe; not one dominant country • Germany was not figured into the balance at this time because it was not a united country • After the unification of Germany and the powerful economy and military it established under Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck, the balance was upset

3. Rivalries Play a Part • Rivalries over land began to surface during the Age of Imperialism • Competition over land and raw materials sparked tension between nations of Europe • Great Britain • Austria-Hungary • France • Germany • Russia • Italy

4. The “M.A.I.N.” Causes of WWI • M is for Militarism: glorifying war and your military powers • A is for Alliances: defense agreements among the nations involved in WWI • I is for Imperialism: nations gaining control of territory for their own benefit • N is for Nationalism: feelings of loyalty and patriotism towards a region

5. The Alliances of WWI • ALLIED POWERS (Triple Entente): • Russia • France • Great Britain • United States • Serbia • Italy

6. The Alliances of WWI • CENTRAL POWERS (Triple Alliance): • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Ottoman Empire • Italy

7. The Spark of War • Though countries were aligning, a peace remained in Europe • In the Balkan region, growing tensions among nationalities emerged • “the powder keg of Europe”

8. Assassination • Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visited Sarajevo in June 1914 • When he would become emperor, he would give the Slavs a voice in gov’t and not all liked that • He and his wife were assassinated by Princip, a member of the Black Hand • Serbians held responsible for death by Austrian gov’t • Germany promises to support Austria-Hungary in any action it takes against Serbia

9. Gavrilo Princip

10. Archduke Ferdinand and his wife

11. Prep for War • Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia: let us in to investigate the Archduke’s death or it’s WAR! • Serbian response of yes to an investigation but no to a trial made the Austrians mad • In July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

12. A Tangle of Alliances Leads to WWI • Russia supports Serbia immediately in a show of support for Slavic people • Russia now declares war on Germany and A-H • France and Great Britain follow suit and support Russia • In great shows of patriotism by citizens, WWI had begun

13. Schlieffen Plan • War strategy by the Germans • They invaded Belgium on Aug. 3, 1914 • Problem Germans faced: 2 front war • Schlieffen felt that the Russians would be slow to mobilize, so focus first on western front and take Paris • From the beginning, this plan was flawed

14. Battle of the Marne • Fought b/t French and German troops in NE France • The French pushed the Germans away from Paris, saving the city • This battle signified the end of Schlieffen Plan

15. Russian Involvement • Russia quickly mobilized and entered the war on the eastern front • This diverted the Germans attention from the western front • This worked until the Russians were severely beaten at Tannenberg

16. Stalemate • For the first part of the war neither side was an obvious victor • In order to fuel the war effort at home, propaganda was used to boost morale • New types of warfare needed to be developed

17. Trench Warfare • Dug on the western front so soldiers could have protection • They lived, fought in these trenches • They endured cold, rats, disease, uncomfortable living conditions • Charged “over the top” to attack enemy trenches • Once poison gas was introduced by the Germans, it changed trench warfare

24. Battles of Verdun and Somme • Verdun: Germans surprised Allies in France • French held firm and Germans abandon attack • ***One of the bloodiest battles of the war*** • Somme: British and French offensive against the Germans • Inconclusive and costly in lives • The tank was introduced here

25. The Eastern Front • Less entrenched • Constant changes in battlefields • Russia not as prepared as western European countries • They eventually stepped their efforts up and helped alleviate attention from the western front

26. Attack at Gallipoli • Churchill (head of British navy) wanted to take the Gallipoli peninsula to supply Russia and strengthen Serbia • Then they could take the Ottoman Empire out of the war • Turks drove Allies back

27. Warfare + Water • The Germans realized that the British dominated the Atlantic • The British began to blockade German coast (food and fertilizer) • In response, the Germans used their U-boats (submarines) to attack ships in the Atlantic • At first, warships but eventually commercial ones

28. Warfare + Water (cont’d) • In May 1915 the Germans sunk the Lusitania and America outraged • President Wilson said if they didn’t stop, US would enter the war

31. US Enters the War • US citizens were conflicted about entering (especially immigrants) • The Lusitania angered citizens, but not enough to go to war • Tensions exploded in 1917 • The Zimmerman Telegraph • Germany promises to help Mexico recover lost territory if they help Central Powers in war • Anti-German sentiment pushes US into war

32. A Shift in the War • The US was a breath of fresh air to the Allied forces • The US: • Boosted morale • Gave resources and manpower • Helped guard the Atlantic with the convoy system

33. Total War • Armies were running low on manpower, so mechanized warfare was used more • Everyone (soldiers, workers, women, etc) needed to contribute to the effort…thus, TOTAL WAR

34. A Global Effect… • Resources and manpower was needed from European colonies • In return, these natives (i.e. Arabs and Africans) hoped for independence or citizenship at war’s end • This often did not happen

35. End of War • With the help of Americans, the French pushed the Germans back into Germany • The demise of the other Central Powers soon followed • The Ottoman Empire and A-H surrendered • On November 11, 1918 at 11am the Germans surrendered to Allied forces (Armistice Day)

36. End of the War = Problems • Bloodiest war in history: 8.5 million dead and close to 16 million wounded • Political structures of western Europe was shattered • The Armenian Genocide took place at end of WWI • Mass killings of Armenians by Turks • Used Armenian support of Allies as an excuse • Put in labor camps, shot, starved, etc • Over 1 million killed

37. Wilson Pursues Peace • Before the war’s end US president formulated a plan for world peace and for dealing with Germany • The 14 Points: plan for world peace • First five: causes of the war; next 8: specific boundary changes • self-determination • League of Nations • Allies reject the 14 Points, France and Britain want their interests protected

38. Paris Peace Conference • So, the “Big Four” (US, Italy, GB, France) meet in Paris to work on a peace treaty • ***Russia and Central Powers not invited*** • Here, Wilson gave up some of his idealistic ideals so the League of Nations would be accepted

39. Treaty of Versailles • This cut down Germany and punished them • The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) • Provisions • 9 new nations • Demilitarize Germany • Reparations to Allies • War-Guilt Clause

41. Europe

42. Feelings Fade… • People not as fired up about war now, they are war-weary and exhausted • Family, land, resources, etc were lost

43. Treaty of Versailles Not Perfect • Weaknesses of treaty eventually help lead to WWII • treaty humiliates Germany • Russia felt ignored: excluded from peace conference; lost territory • Issue of colonies & colonized peoples • Vietnam

44. Legacy of WWI • Germans shocked at Treaty’s harshness • Worldwide economic depression • Search for scapegoats in Germany sets the scene for WWII