WWI Chapter 26

Who’s Fighting? Triple Alliance Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary Germany and Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers Germany also later signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire Triple Entente (Non-binding agreement to follow common policies) France, Russia, Britain Became known as the Allies

Starting the War Assassination in Sarajevo Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist in Bosnia Bosnia was a part of Austria-Hungary, but home to many Serbs and other Slavs Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph was shocked, but not quite ready for war Government saw this as an opportunity to crush Serbia Sent an ultimatum that Serbia must cease all anti-Austrian agitation or else Austria would declare war July 28, 1914 war is declared

Entangled Alliances Russia backs Serbia and begins to mobilize troops Germany then declares war on Russia Russia looks to France for assistance, France offered backing to Russia Germany declares war on France

The Schlieffen Plan Developed by Alfred von Schlieffen to avoid a two front war Counted on defeating France quickly and then turning efforts to Russia Require German armies to march through Belgium and attack behind French lines European powers had signed a treaty guaranteeing Belgium’s neutrality Britain was outraged and declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914

Schlieffen Plan Failure Belgium put up more of a fight than the Germans expected French & British were able to hold back the German troops at the Marne River in Sept. 1914 Both side dug trenches and Fought in a long, deadly, stalemate Battle lines remained unchanged for nearly 4 years

Modern Weapons Modern weapons were used with old fighting strategies that led to disastrous results Machine gun Could be used to kill enemy very quickly Artillery Used in Napoleonic Wars as well Allowed combatants to kill others from as far as 10 miles away Poison Gas First used by Germans Caused burning and blisters

Modern Weapons Britain used the first armored tank in 1916 Designed to move across no mans land Unreliable Planes were originally used to observe enemy troops Zeppelins Huge, gas filled balloons used by Germans to bomb the English Coast Submarines German U-Boats did tremendous damage to the Allies