WWI Begins

3 Reasons for Military Build Up Nationalism: deep feelings of pride in one’s country. formation of modern Germany Imperialism: led to more international incidents. Africa for example The Franco-Prussian War: fought in the 1870’s Modern Prussian army needed territory to expand. War scared France, proved Germany had gotten powerful

The Alliance System Alliances in Europe formed strictly by geographic location. one incident easily draws many countries into a war. The Triple Entente: initially France, England and Russia Eventually known as the Allies The side America eventually joined. Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Became known as the Central powers. Italy switched sides in 1915 Ottoman Empire (present day Turkey) replaced Italy.

Assassination Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) while visiting Bosnia. Bosnia protected by Russia, attack on Bosnia draws war Von Schlieffen Plan – German plan to quickly end the war capture Paris and knock France out first invade France by going through Belgium. Result = Plan failed, Germany blamed as the aggressors

WWI Battlefield Open field tactics using modern weapons = horrifying casualties early. Machine guns, long-range artillery, barbed wire, and rifles. Trench Warfare – miserable, complex trench systems as defense from deadly enemy fire. constantly sick, muddy, wet, lice, and trench foot No-man’s land: the deadly ground between trenches, nowhere to hide most attacks took place at night.

Good Trench Bad Trench

Chemical Warfare Mustard Gas: Named for its yellowish tint blind and disorient enemies before any attack. Hitler spent many months in a military hospital at the end of WWI because of mustard gas poisoning.

Summary For nearly 4 years neither side moved more than 10 miles at a time. Cost of WWI 65,000,000 – Soldiers Mobilized 8,020,000 – Soldiers Killed 21,229,000 – Soldiers Wounded 6,643,000 – Civilians Killed $282,000,000,000 – Overall Cost of the War (282 Billion)

Summary Cont. France: Germany: 11,000,000 – Mobilized 1,357,000 – Killed 4,266,000 – Wounded 40,000 – Civilians Killed Germany: 11,000,000 – Mobilized 1,808,546 – Killed 4,242,143 – Wounded 760,000 – Civilians Killed

Summary Cont. United States: 4,335,000 –Mobilized 50,000 – Killed 205,000 – Wounded 0 – Civilians killed Russia lost most from the Allies - 1,700,000 Many killed by Russians during Bolshevik Revolution