THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR II BACKGROUND WORLD WAR I

The Great War Throughout New Zealand there is a bewildering variety of war memorials to one of the greatest events in world history. Throughout New Zealand there is a bewildering variety of war memorials to one of the greatest events in world history. Today we call it “World War I”: to the people who survived they called it “The Great War” Today we call it “World War I”: to the people who survived they called it “The Great War” (or, ironically, “the war to end all wars”). (or, ironically, “the war to end all wars”).

How could this happen? The assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on 28 June 1914, sparked an international crisis that led to European countries declaring war. The assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, on 28 June 1914, sparked an international crisis that led to European countries declaring war. To find out more, study Year 12 history in 2007! To find out more, study Year 12 history in 2007!

The outbreak of war To find out how the war was fought we can use the following animation. To find out how the war was fought we can use the following animation. launch_ani_western_front.shtml launch_ani_western_front.shtml launch_ani_western_front.shtml launch_ani_western_front.shtml

The nature of the war The level of destruction, the nature of trench warfare and loss of life was beyond people’s imagination at that time. The level of destruction, the nature of trench warfare and loss of life was beyond people’s imagination at that time. New Zealand sent over 100,000 men to fight (out of a population of just over 1 million). New Zealand sent over 100,000 men to fight (out of a population of just over 1 million). Over 18,000 of them were killed, with a further 40,000 wounded. Over 18,000 of them were killed, with a further 40,000 wounded.

Memorials to Allied soldiers in modern day Europe Above: Ovillers Cemetery on the Somme, where over 1,000 men are buried. Right : The Menin Gate in Ypres, which commemorates more the 57,000 men who went missing defending the town.

Memorials to New Zealand soldiers in modern day Europe Left: The memorial in Tyne Cot cemetery near Ypres to nearly 3,500 New Zealand soldiers killed and wounded in one week in October Centre: Edgar Hubbard’s grave at Lijssenthoek, near Ypres in Belgium. Right: An Anzac Day service in Les Quesnoy, at the spot where New Zealand solders climbed a 20 foot wall to liberate the town in November 1918.

Lest we forget Memorials in Christchurch : Harewood School, Christ’s College, Bridge of Remembrance, Papanui

Ending the War The Germans surrendered at 11.00am on 11 November The Germans surrendered at 11.00am on 11 November Once the fighting had stopped, the victorious Allies had to decide on peace terms with Germany and her allies. Once the fighting had stopped, the victorious Allies had to decide on peace terms with Germany and her allies. They met at Versailles outside Paris to design a peace treaty. Their decisions were to reshape Europe and change the course of 20 th century world history. They met at Versailles outside Paris to design a peace treaty. Their decisions were to reshape Europe and change the course of 20 th century world history.