World War I & the 1920s Topic 5

-Fredrick Passy - Otto Von Bismarck “The future belongs to peace.” “ I shall not live to see the Great War, but you will see it and it will start in the East.” - Otto Von Bismarck

Main Causes of the Great War M: Militarism A: Alliances I: Imperialism N: Nationalism

Great Britain & Germany Militarism Biggest rivalry: Great Britain & Germany Glorification of the military Increasing international tensions lead to great powers building up their armies & navies Arms race Romanticism of war Machine guns Mobile artillery Tanks Submarines Airplanes

They had the opposite effect The Great War Begins Germany Russia France Distrust in Europe Major nations signed peace treaties pledging to defend one another These alliances were intended to promote peace by creating powerful combinations that no one would dare attack Austria-Hungary Italy They had the opposite effect Britain

Alliances Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary Central Powers 1882, Otto von Bismarck started the Triple Alliance Germany, Italy, & Austria-Hungary (Italy never fought with it) 1893, Rival bloc took shape France & Russia formed an alliance 1904, France & Britain form entente Triple Entente Allies

Rivalries & Nationalism Increase Tension European powers jealously guard their status Old empires struggled to survive Austria-Hungary & Ottoman Germany Newest of great powers Growing into military & economic powerhouse Other powers not giving them enough respect Feared Russia’s industrializing

Nationalism Great pride in one’s nation Russia supported Alsace-Lorraine: territory France lost to Germany, 1871 Great pride in one’s nation Especially strong in Germany & France Hurt minorities Russia supported Strong nationalism called Pan-Slavism All Slavic peoples shared A common nationality Russia felt it had duty to Defend all Slavs By 1914, Russia ready to support Serbia, a proud young Slavic nation

Nationalism Nationalism worked against old multinational empires Austria-Hungary Worried about rebellions from many minority nations Ottoman Empire Threatened by new nations like Serbia 1912, several Balkan states attacked Turkey & took lots of land Then fought amongst selves for spoils of war Balkan Powder Keg

Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand The Powder Keg Ignites As Otto von Bismarck predicted… The Great War began in Eastern Europe June 28, 1914 Assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand

Sarajevo Archduke announced he would visit Sarajevo Sarajevo was capital of Bosnia, then under rule of Austria- Hungary But home to many Serbs & other Slavs Visit angered Serbian nationalists Sarajevo

Raise your “Black Hand” Serbian terrorist group (1) Oath sword by all members of the Black Hand group. I, in joining the organization "Union or Death", swear by the Sun that warms me, by the Earth that nourishes me, before God, by the blood of the ancestors, on my honor and on my life, that I will from this moment until my death be faithful to the laws of this organization; and that I will always be ready to make any sacrifice for it. I swear before God, on my honor and on my life, that I will take all the secrets of this organization into my grave with me.

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand Member of Black Hand terrorist group assassinated the archduke and his wife Gavrilo Princip

Powder Keg Ignites Francis Joseph reluctant to go to war but government saw it as an excuse to crush Serbia Germany, Kaiser William II horrified by death of ally’s heir Germany gives Austria a blank check Promise of unconditional support, no matter the cost Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum End all anti-Austrian propaganda Punish Serbian officials involved in assassination Let Austria join the investigation 48 hours

Austria declared war on Serbia Serbia agreed to most but not all July 28, 1914 Austria declared war on Serbia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpuOa6u6HX0

Alliances kick in War between Austria & Serbia might have been small if not for careful alliances Serbia turns to Russia The champion of Slavic nations

Wilhelm’s mom was George’s dad’s sister Wilhelm & Nicholas were third cousins (great-great grandsons of Paul I of Russia) .. Wilhelm’s mom was George’s dad’s sister George’s mom & Nicholas’ mom were sisters Wilhelm was 1st cousin of Nicholas’ wife All were fifth cousins, equal descendants of King George II of England

Britain remained uncommitted Italy chose to stay neutral The triple alliance was supposed to be defensive But the choice was soon made for Britain

By early August Italy & Britain still not committed Schlieffen Plan Developed years earlier for Germany to avoid two-front war Move against France first because Russia would be slow to mobilize Defeat France quickly to turn attention to Russia

War was set in motion Nations had to mobilize No time for leaders to negotiate