World war I BEGINS 1914

The “Spark” On June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrio Princip while visiting the city of Sarajevo Princip was a member of the Black Hand, an extremist Serbian nationalist group Austria blamed Serbia and issued a number of demands Serbia refused, and Austria declared war Russia mobilized its military in preparation for war with Austria; In response, Germany declared war on Russia and mobilized its military

Mobilization, summer 1914 As the combatant countries mobilized for war, the mood in most places was jubilant Many volunteers saw the war as a great adventure, and nearly everyone believed that it would be over quickly Most people were also confident that their side would win

World war I alliances

War begins: late summer-fall, 1914 German Western Offensive August-September 1914 Following the Schleiffen Plan, the German army charged through Belgium and into French territory The Germans reached the outskirts of Paris; the soldiers could see the Eiffel Tower First Battle of the Marne September 5, 1914 Reinforced by the first arrival of British troops, the Allies stopped the German advance and pushed them back several miles Battle of Tannenberg August 30-31, 1914 The Russians mobilized more quickly than the Germans had expected, and invaded Eastern Germany The Russian advance was turned back at this battle

The battle of the marne

The great stalemate begins, fall-winter, 1914 After the Battles of Tannenberg and the Marne, the war settled in to a brutal STALEMATE What does this mean? During the winter, both sides dug extensive networks of Defensive Trenches On the Western Front, for the next three years neither side would win a decisive battle, nor advance more than a few miles into enemy-held territory

Diagram of a trench system