The Great War Lightly adapted by Eric Beckman from Jeni Breidenbach, Minnetonka High School Additional insights from Martin Lorenz-Meyer

Identify and analyze the causes of World War I. (Was the war inevitable?) Discuss how World War I lead to revolutions and the fall of empires. Discuss the impact of World War I and its major results including how the war affected the common people. Identify how years of trauma and bloodshed helped form elements of today’s world.

World War One World War One a.k.a. The Great War M = Militarism A = Alliances N = Nationalism I = Imperialism A = Awful Gov’ts Europe unstable and ready to explode creates Long Term Causes

Militarism The German answer to all our talk about the limitation of armaments is: Germany shall increase to the utmost of her power...I have lived among Germans, but with the best will in the world I can see no solution to the present collision of ideals but war. A lecture given in 1913 by JA Cramb JA Cramb was an Englishman who went to university in Germany, and who loved Germany.

Naval Arms Race Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz Proposed building 3 battleships/year,

HMS Dreadnought

Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers [Ger., A-H, It., Fr., Br., Rus.] in millions of £s Increase in Defense Expenditures France10% Britain13% Russia39% Germany73%

Alliances Germany, AH, Italy formed Triple Alliance in 1882 Britain, France, Russia formed Triple Entente in 1907

What is different?

Nationalism Land of Hope and Glory, mother of the free... God who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet. The words of Land of Hope and Glory, written by the English composer Elgar and sung by British people at the Prom concerts every year. Germany, Germany above all, over everything in the world, When it steadfastly holds together, offensively and defensively. The words of the German national anthem, Deutschland uber Alles.

“Therein lies the greatness of war that the little man completely vanishes before the great thought of the State. The sacrifice of nationalities for one another is nowhere invested with such beauty as in war.” Heinrich von Treitschke, influential German historian, book called Politics, published after 1896

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... The more Germans go out upon the waters, whether it be in journeys across the ocean, or in the service of the battle flag, so much the better it will be for us. A speech by Kaiser William II to the North German Regatta Association, Imperialism

This British postcard shows what would happen if the Kaiser took the 'place in the sun' that he wanted.

“All the nations in the fullness of their strength have desired to set their mark upon barbarian lands and those who fail to participate in this great rivalry will play a pitiable role in time to come.” –Heinrich von Treitschke, German Historian “I contend that we Britons are the first race in the world, and the more of the world we inhabit, the better it is for the human race…It is our duty to seize every opportunity…more territory means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best, the most human, most honorable race the world possesses.” -Cecil Rhodes, 1877

Economic & Imperial Rivalries

A peaceable, industrious, sensible mass of 500 million [European people], was hounded by a few dozen incapable leaders, by falsified documents, lying stories of threats, and chauvinistic catchwords, into a war which in no way was destined or inevitable. Emil Ludwig, July 1914 (1929) Awful Governments

The “Blank Cheque” What is a blank check? Telegram from the Imperial Chancellor, von Bethmann-Hollweg, to the German Ambassador at Vienna. Tschirschky, July 6, 1914 Berlin, July 6, 1914 Confidential. For Your Excellency's personal information and guidance …Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty, of course, cannot interfere in the dispute now going on between Austria-Hungary and that country, as it is a matter not within his competence. The Emperor Francis Joseph may, however, rest assured that His Majesty will faithfully stand by Austria- Hungary, as is required by the obligations of his alliance and of his ancient friendship. BETHMANN-HOLLWEG

Steps to War June – August 1914 ARSE (sshhh, don’t tell your parents!) A = Austria Declares War R = Russia Mobilizes S = Schlieffen Plan E = England Declares War

'A Chain of Friendship' - appeared in the American newspaper in July The caption read: “If Austria attacks Serbia, Russia will fall upon Austria, Germany upon Russia, and France and England upon Germany.”

A cartoon in Punch, August 12, Notice how the cartoon portrays Belgium and the stereotyped figure of Germany

War! War! War! “The lights are going out all over Europe: we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime” British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey August, 1914

“The first days of the war were to me utterly amazing. My best friends, such as the Whiteheads, were savagely warlike. Men like J.L.Hammond, who had been writing for years against participation in a European war, were swept off their feet by Belgium….The prospect [of war] filled me with horror, but what filled me with even more horror was the fact that the anticipation of carnage was delightful to something like 90% of the population.” Bertrand Russell, mathematician and philosopher, fined and imprisoned for pacifistic activities, autobiography, 1951.