On June 28 th 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were murdered as they drove through Sarajevo. Serbian Gavrilo Princip murdered the future emperor (king) of Austria-Hungary Because of the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

 Then Russia sent troops to defend Serbia, then Germany declared war on Russia.  Russia supported Serbia because of similar ethnic backgrounds and a alliance with Serbia  This was the beginning of World War I

 European leaders wanted other countries to think twice before declaring war. To help defend themselves several countries joined alliances.  World War I was the first modern war where tanks, airplanes, machine guns, poison gas, flame throwers, and artillery were used.

 When World War I was over nearly 22 million civilians and soldiers were killed on both sides.  The Allies had won the War, but Europe was devastated.  More people were killed during World War I than during all of the 19 th century wars combined

 The Allies blamed Germany for much of the killing and damage during the war.  In 1919 Germany and the allies signed the treaty of Versailles.  The treaty of Versailles demanded that Germany be punished for the damage done to the Allied countries along with Germany losing territories. (lead to World war II)

 After World War I Germany’s economy was in turmoil and they needed someone to lead their country back to prosperity.  In 1933 Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor and his National Socialist (NAZI) party lead Germany.  In the 1930’s Hitler unjustly blamed Jewish citizens for Germany’s problems.

 His Nazi followers seized Jewish property began sending them to concentration camps.  In 1934 Hitler took command of the armed forces and in 1939 attacked Poland and then World war II had begun.  By June 1940 Hitler had conquered the Netherlands, Luxemburg, France, Denmark, Norway, and then invaded the Soviet Union.

 Both in World War I and II the United States tried to stay out of the war but on December 7 th 1941, Japan bombed Pearl harbor and brought the United States into the war.  The US entry into the war can be argued that it turned the tide of the war in both World Wars.

 By the end of World War II the United States, France, and the United Kingdom occupied Western Europe and Russia had occupied Eastern Europe.  Once peace was established the allies helped set up free governments in Western Europe. Europe, United States, and Canada also set up a defense alliance called NATO which would help defend one another if they were attacked by the Soviet Union. NATO Symbol

World War IWorld War II