AP EURO Unit #6 – Early 20th Century (The World Wars) Lesson #601b Causes of WWI

Bismarck’s old Germany Remember Bismarck’s alliances Isolate France Keep Austria close – dominate her politics Keep Russia desperate for friends Keep Britain happy What was the purpose? What did William want? Greatness through intimidation

William’s New Germany William quickly unraveled alliances Keep Austria close – no change But, treat as an equal Cut Russia loose – who would want her?! Force Britain to respect Germany See Germany as an equal world power What will happen next?

New European paradigm Germany started creating fear and uneasiness Britain went from indifferent to enemy Russia found France Austria started intimidating Serbia How did France and Russia come to value each other? Both nations changed France became less rebellious, Russia more embraced industrialization Why will this matter?

British Colonies 1914 Why will this matter to Germany?

British Navy 1914 What does it seem the British are trying to prove?

William’s Risk Theory Example of his new German plan Build German navy so large it would inflict too much damage to British Navy for them to WANT to fight What is your impression of what will happen? Led to first arms race British doubled size of Navy (1 mil tons - two) Stole from the new “People’s Budget” Built the first battleship: the Dreadnaught (1906)

The naval arms race Britain had always, regarded herself as supreme in naval affairs In 1898 Germany began to develop her own navy they claimed that they needed a navy to protect her colonies. Germany began to spend large amounts of money and so did Britain, in response Eventually in 1906 Britain launched a new and far superior type of ship called a ‘Dreadnought'.

The naval arms race This made existing ships obsolete (out of date). Inside two years Germany was also producing its own ships of the ‘Dreadnought’ class. By 1914 Britain had 19 at sea and Germany had 13. The effect of naval rivalry was once again to increase the many problems facing European countries.

German Navy 1914 So, the Germans built a new naval force: the U Boat. How do the U-boats win a battle? Germans tried to out build the British naval forces, but could not beat the British

Militarization

Germany came to depend on… Fear France, Russia and Britain Had to fear the German war machine Only way to avoid a war But if it came… HOW COULD THEY LOSE?! A strong Austria Must not give in to minorities Must intimidate neighbors

All nations had own issues Russia - ? Czar Nicholas would look for a winnable war Germany - ? had to back Austria Britain - ? needed to maintain naval superiority Austrians? needed to control nationalism Serbians? wanted to unite Bosnian Serbs Austria secretly wanted a war against Serbia Why? How would the make this happen? Would likely pull a Bismarck and draw them in

Conflicts prior to war First Moroccan Crisis of 1905 Balkan (Bosnian) Crisis of 1908 Austrian Annexation of Bosnia – 1908 Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911 What erroneous lessons were learned about What war might look like? How Germany would behave? How loyal (not) Russia would be to Serbia The new purpose of massive armies? What will happen to British-French rivalry?

New alliances Britain and France find a common enemy Start planning for combining forces Entente Cordial France saw value in Russian cheap labor Russia saw value in French ingenuity Triple Entente Offset by the Triple Alliance

What does it look like Germany is trying to do?

Plan for war – posture for war Schlieffen Plan Avoid fighting a two front war

Balkan Wars of 1911 and 1913 First Balkan War (1911) What did Italy want? Why did other Balkan states join in? Second Balkan War (1913) Britain called for conference Serbians defied conference Austrians intimidated them out What erroneous lessons were learned about war? What did Austrians learn about how to deal with Serbia? Russia was humiliated What would you expect they’d do if Serbia was threatened, yet again?

Archduke Franz Ferdinand Who was he to the future? How did he feel about Serbia? What did he believe about Serbia? About war? Gavrillo Princip Serbia was one of most nationalistic regions World reaction to assassination? Austrian reaction to assassination? One month wait until ultimatum Then… just two days Serbian reaction to Austrian demands?

Everything unraveled Austria declared war on Serbia (Aug, 1914) Serbia called on Russian help… WILL THEY?... Why did Germany expect them to do nothing? Russia started to mobilize… (OH, CRAP!) Germany threatened them to stop… Why MUST Germany stop Russian mobilization? Russia continued… their goal: force Austria to stop Britain called for a conference – everyone ignored Germany panicked – invoked the Shclieffen Plan Why France? Why through Belgium? What nation will not HAVE to join fight because of that? (Agreement from back in 1939!)

Vids on the Start of War Full 6m explanation of the start of war https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj2v7-0tAC0&feature=related Indian Lydel – WWI Channel – 9m (segment #3) good for start of war – how a local conflict became global https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gHIykUyBb0&list=UUUcyEsEjhPEDf69RRVhRh4A&index=160 25 fast facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcKpWZOalo