Naval Race, Military Timetables and Other Events Causes of World War I

1889—Great Britain adopted the “two power” standard 1889—Great Britain adopted the “two power” standard 1897—Admiral von Tirpitz 1897—Admiral von Tirpitz appointed by William II to appointed by William II to be Secretary of State of the be Secretary of State of the Imperial Navy—developed Imperial Navy—developed “risk theory” “risk theory”

Comparisons of naval tonnage Place1890s Great Britain 2FranceUSAGermany 3RussiaFranceUSA 4ItalyJapanFrance 5GermanyJapan 6RussiaAustria 7ItalyRussia 8AustriaItaly

1914 Comparisons of Dreadnoughts Great Britain—29 Great Britain—29 Germany—17 Germany—17 France—4 France—4 Austria—4 Austria—4 Russia—4 Russia—4 Italy—4 Italy—4 Japan—2 (building 2 more) Japan—2 (building 2 more) free/pdf?res=9E0CE4D9123EE233A2575AC0A96E9C946997D6CF free/pdf?res=9E0CE4D9123EE233A2575AC0A96E9C946997D6CF free/pdf?res=9E0CE4D9123EE233A2575AC0A96E9C946997D6CF free/pdf?res=9E0CE4D9123EE233A2575AC0A96E9C946997D6CF

German Naval Laws 1898—challenged French & Russian navies 1898—challenged French & Russian navies 1900—challenged British navy—designed to double size of German navy 1900—challenged British navy—designed to double size of German navy 1908—build 2 dreadnoughts per year for next three years plus submarine construction 1908—build 2 dreadnoughts per year for next three years plus submarine construction 1912—proposed 33 German battleships & battlecruisers 1912—proposed 33 German battleships & battlecruisers

Wilhelm II: Speech to the North German Regatta Association, 1901 In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts, that our industry and agriculture may develop within the state and our sailing sports upon the water, for our future lies upon the water. In spite of the fact that we have no such fleet as we should have, we have conquered for ourselves a place in the sun. It will now be my task to see to it that this place in the sun shall remain our undisputed possession, in order that the sun's rays may fall fruitfully upon our activity and trade in foreign parts, that our industry and agriculture may develop within the state and our sailing sports upon the water, for our future lies upon the water.

Response to 1912 German Naval Law… Britain to protect north coast of France Britain to protect north coast of France France to focus on the Mediterranean to counter Austria & Italy France to focus on the Mediterranean to counter Austria & Italy Increased naval construction— Increased naval construction— Great Britain building more super- dreadnoughts Great Britain building more super- dreadnoughts Germany building fewer ships to concentrate on the army Germany building fewer ships to concentrate on the army

1906 British Dreadnought

1912 USS Texas

1911 French Paris 3 rd Dreadnought class ship

Austro-Hungarian Dreadnoughts 1915

First Moroccan Crisis CAUSE Kaiser wanted to test strength of new French/British alliance Kaiser wanted to test strength of new French/British alliance Wanted to block French imperialism Wanted to block French imperialismEVENTS France working to est. protectorate over Morocco France working to est. protectorate over Morocco Kaiser visited Tangiers Kaiser visited Tangiers Made a speech about Moroccan independence Made a speech about Moroccan independence

Algeciras Conference 1906 Both Germany & France made preparations for war by moving troops to the border or calling up reserves Both Germany & France made preparations for war by moving troops to the border or calling up reserves 13 nations attended; only Austria supported Germany 13 nations attended; only Austria supported Germany France continued political and economic control in Morocco France continued political and economic control in Morocco

Second Moroccan Crisis CAUSE Another attempt to break up French/British alliance Another attempt to break up French/British alliance Attempt to gain territory in Africa Attempt to gain territory in AfricaEVENTS Germany sent gunboat Panther Germany sent gunboat Panther To protect German citizens (they found ONE citizen to protect) To protect German citizens (they found ONE citizen to protect)

Agadir Conference Germany was alone, even Austria did not support her Germany was alone, even Austria did not support her Germany gained some territory from French Congo Germany gained some territory from French Congo France’s claim to control Morocco was recognized France’s claim to control Morocco was recognized 7s_Mansion_House_Speech 7s_Mansion_House_Speech 7s_Mansion_House_Speech 7s_Mansion_House_Speech

Arms Race Military plans were rigid and on a time table Military plans were rigid and on a time table Events needed to occur within a certain time frame Events needed to occur within a certain time frame Build-up of weapons due to mass production Build-up of weapons due to mass production Great Powers doubled spending on their armies Great Powers doubled spending on their armies Confidence in ability of one’s national army to succeed Confidence in ability of one’s national army to succeed

Mobilization Plans Countries depended on actions of their allies as part of planning Countries depended on actions of their allies as part of planning Once mobilization began, it was believed if one country mobilized, then other countries would be at a disadvantage in battle if they did not also mobilize Once mobilization began, it was believed if one country mobilized, then other countries would be at a disadvantage in battle if they did not also mobilize Mobilization was considered a declaration of war in 1914 Mobilization was considered a declaration of war in 1914

Schlieffen Plan Developed in 1905 by Count Schlieffen & modified by Moltke in 1909 Developed in 1905 by Count Schlieffen & modified by Moltke in 1909 Schlieffen counted on several things… weakness of Russian army which would take 6 or more weeks to mobilize Italy would help defend Alsace-Lorraine French would cross into Belgium to meet the Germans at the Belgian border, thereby being the ones to violate Belgian neutrality Defeating the French would convince Britain to stay out of the war Schlieffen counted on several things… weakness of Russian army which would take 6 or more weeks to mobilize Italy would help defend Alsace-Lorraine French would cross into Belgium to meet the Germans at the Belgian border, thereby being the ones to violate Belgian neutrality Defeating the French would convince Britain to stay out of the war

Schlieffen Plan Besides modifying Schlieffen’s plan, the German army had problems of supply and communications Besides modifying Schlieffen’s plan, the German army had problems of supply and communications Germany had 2.3 million troops Germany had 2.3 million troops

France—Plan XVII Offensive, adopted 1913, with the goal of regaining Alsace-Lorraine Offensive, adopted 1913, with the goal of regaining Alsace-Lorraine Success depended on the French “fighting spirit” Success depended on the French “fighting spirit” Four armies were to be sent to A-L, one to the French-Belgian border Four armies were to be sent to A-L, one to the French-Belgian border Believed British support of Belgium would keep the Germans from invading Belgium Believed British support of Belgium would keep the Germans from invading Belgium Had an accurate idea of the size of the German army, but did not take into account German reserves Had an accurate idea of the size of the German army, but did not take into account German reserves

France—Plan XVII Had 2 million troops Had 2 million troops

Austria-Hungary— Plan B and Plan R Austria assumed war would be only against Serbia Austria assumed war would be only against Serbia Plan B sent three armies to Serbia and three armies to the Austrian-Russian border Plan B sent three armies to Serbia and three armies to the Austrian-Russian border Plan R was a revision of Plan B… four armies were sent to the Russian border and two armies sent to Serbia Plan R was a revision of Plan B… four armies were sent to the Russian border and two armies sent to Serbia Plan R was used in 1914 Plan R was used in 1914

Austria-Hungary 1.25 million troops 1.25 million troops

Russia—Plan G and Plan 19 Plan G assumed a war with only Germany & Austria. It was believed Germany would attack Russia Plan G assumed a war with only Germany & Austria. It was believed Germany would attack Russia Russia would let Germany invade and eventually defeat Germany in the same way Napoleon was defeated in 1812 Russia would let Germany invade and eventually defeat Germany in the same way Napoleon was defeated in 1812 Plan 19 was created in 1910 Plan 19 was created in 1910 Plan 19 was based on Germany invading France so Russia would invade Prussia Plan 19 was based on Germany invading France so Russia would invade Prussia Additional armies would be sent against Austria Additional armies would be sent against Austria

Russia 3 million poorly trained, poorly led and poorly armed troops 3 million poorly trained, poorly led and poorly armed troops Deployment difficult due to poor roads and railroad facilities Deployment difficult due to poor roads and railroad facilities

Bosnia Why was Bosnia important to Austria? Why was Bosnia important to Austria? After 1866, way to keep “Great Power” status After 1866, way to keep “Great Power” status Wanted to build railroad from Vienna to Salonika & the Aegean Sea Wanted to build railroad from Vienna to Salonika & the Aegean Sea Bosnia would give Serbia access to the sea. Bosnia would give Serbia access to the sea.

Black Hand 1908 Austria annexed Bosnia 1908 Austria annexed Bosnia Serbians, including officers & government leaders, formed Narodna Odbrana—National Defense Serbians, including officers & government leaders, formed Narodna Odbrana—National Defense The purpose of the group was to prepare for possible war against Austria The purpose of the group was to prepare for possible war against Austria The group published anti-Austrian propaganda and moved people in and out of Austria The group published anti-Austrian propaganda and moved people in and out of Austria The group in Bosnia was called Young Bosnia The group in Bosnia was called Young Bosnia

Black Hand 1909 Austria complained about their activities and Russia was not ready to support Serbia 1909 Austria complained about their activities and Russia was not ready to support Serbia A new group was formed—Union or Death, also known as Black Hand A new group was formed—Union or Death, also known as Black Hand Black Hand became a terrorist organization Black Hand became a terrorist organization Their goal was to unite all Serbs in a Greater Serbia Their goal was to unite all Serbs in a Greater Serbia Greater Serbia would include Macedonia, Bosnia & Croatia Greater Serbia would include Macedonia, Bosnia & Croatia

Black Hand Had influence in the Serbian military and Foreign Ministry Had influence in the Serbian military and Foreign Ministry Believed to have links with the Russian consulate Believed to have links with the Russian consulate Gavrilo Princip tried to enlist in the Serbian army at the start of the 1 st Balkan War, but was rejected “too small & too weak” Gavrilo Princip tried to enlist in the Serbian army at the start of the 1 st Balkan War, but was rejected “too small & too weak” Princip went to Belgrade, then Sarajevo Princip went to Belgrade, then Sarajevo Was a member of Young Bosnia Was a member of Young Bosnia

Black Hand After the assassination of the Archduke, Black Hand was dismantled in 1916 After the assassination of the Archduke, Black Hand was dismantled in 1916 Leading members were executed in 1917 Leading members were executed in 1917 Princip was sentenced to 20 years in prison; died of tuberculosis in 1918 Princip was sentenced to 20 years in prison; died of tuberculosis in 1918

Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia Austria waited three weeks before presenting the list of demand to Serbia Austria waited three weeks before presenting the list of demand to Serbia Austria assumed Serbian government involvement in the assassination Austria assumed Serbian government involvement in the assassination Germany issued its “blank check” support Germany issued its “blank check” support Serbia accepted all demands but one Serbia accepted all demands but one Serbia rejected Austrian demand for Austria to conduct an investigation into the murders; Serbia was conducting its own investigation. Serbia rejected Austrian demand for Austria to conduct an investigation into the murders; Serbia was conducting its own investigation.

Nicky-Willy Telegrams Serbia appealed to Russia for help Serbia appealed to Russia for help Russia decided to order four military districts to prepare for mobilization Russia decided to order four military districts to prepare for mobilization

Nicky-Willy Telegrams A series of telegrams between Nicholas II and William II as war was beginning to break out in Europe. A series of telegrams between Nicholas II and William II as war was beginning to break out in Europe.

Sources to-serbia to-serbia