WORLD WAR I THE ROAD TO WAR

The Road to War: Four M.A.I.N. Causes Militarism Massive build up of arms leads to an arms race New weapons and large standing armies to display their might Great Britain vs. Germany in a naval race Traditional British policy is to have their fleet, which is vital to guarding their shipping lanes, to be larger than the combined fleets of any two rival nations Wilhelm II initiates a large build up of Germany’s navy War as a unifying force

Alliances Divides Europe into rival camps Triple Alliance and Triple Entente Turns a conflict between two nations into a global war

Imperialism Rush for colonies leads to rivalries Clashes over territory and competition for resources and markets Germany comes late to the game and wants colonies, even going so far as trying to take Morocco from France Rest of Europe, particularly Britain, supports France and makes Germany back down

Nationalism Pride in one’s country – each nation thinks they are the best Best and largest armies, most colonies Want to prove they are the best through war Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary fails to appease separatist movements Serbia wants Bosnia to be independent and is angry with Austria-Hungary France is still angry over the Franco-Prussian War They want revenge and Alsace-Lorraine back

The immediate cause: the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is visiting Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia) with his pregnant wife Sophia June 28, 1914 – a bomb is thrown in the Archduke’s car, but the attempt fails The car speeds away and makes a wrong turn, which allows Gavrilo Princip to shoot and kill both the Archduke and his wife Princip was a member of the Black Hand, a secret Serb nationalist group Princip is arrested and identified as a Serb

War Begins Austria is furious and wants to attack Serbia, but fears Russia will interfere on Serbia’s behalf Turns to ally Germany, who issues a “blank check”, stating that Austria can rely on German support no matter what Austria issues an ultimatum to Serbia on July 25 Ultimatum = a list of demands Some of the demands are humiliating and outrageous, so Serbia rejects some of the demands Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on July 28

The same day Czar Nicholas II orders the mobilization of the Russian army against Austria-Hungary Mobilization = process of assembling troops and supplies and making them ready for war In 1914 mobilization is considered an act of war Some of the mobilization took place along the German border and Germany declares war on Russia on August 1st due to its war plan, Germany then declares war on France on August 3rd Plan calls for invading France by going through neutral Belgium Issues an ultimatum to Belgium demanding the right for German troops to pass through Belgian territory

On August 4th Germany invades Belgium and Great Britain declares war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality Now most European powers are involved Will be a war of attrition = wearing down of the enemy’s resources and morale World War I, or the Great War, has begun Germany and Austria-Hungary become known as the Central Powers France, Great Britain, Russia, Belgium, and Serbia become the Allied Powers

The Schlieffen Plan The Schlieffen Plan is the German war plan based on a two front war against France and Russia The Schlieffen Plan: Send 90% of army against France Send 10% of army against Russia Need a quick victory against France so they can turn entire army against slower mobilizing Russia Why Implemented: Thought Russia would take a long time to mobilize France had built fortresses along the French-German border – must go through Belgium Need a quick win – speed is essential

Why fails: Belgium resists and Great Britain enters the war Russia mobilizes faster than expected and invades eastern Germany Germany has to move troops from France to protect the German border against Russia French victory at the Battle of the Marne Plan 17 – the military plan of France Straight drive from Paris to Berlin

Early Battles At the start of the war, a series of clashes between German troops against French and British was known as the Battle of the Frontiers Resulted in German victories The Schlieffen Plan calls for German troops to sweep around Paris and surround most of the French army Almost succeed: are 30 miles from Paris by Sept. 1st First Battle of the Marne German army makes some mistakes, officer makes a wrong turn Ends in a German defeat and the Allies push Germany back

Leads to a stalemate and both sides dig trenches for protection and shelter

Order of Entry in World War I First nation in the war after its heir was assassinated: This nation was the second one in the war after members of a terrorist group assassinated the heir to the first nation: AS a result of the above, this third nation entered the war to protect the second nation: Because the third nation mobilized near its borders, this fourth nation entered the war: Due to its plan of attack consisting of a two front war, the fourth nation declared war on this fifth nation: This sixth nation was invaded to get to the fifth nation: The invasion of the sixth nation brought this seventh nation into the war: