Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Archduke Franz Ferdinand & Sophie about to take their last ride…

The Assassination

"No I am not sorry. I have cleared an evil out of the way. He is a German and an enemy of the South Slavs….The main motive which guided me in my deed was: the avenging of the Serbian people.... I am a nationalist. I aimed to free the [Yugoslavs].” The Assassin: GAVRILO PRINCIP

Austria-Hungary’s response: Issues an ultimatum to Serbia – Serbia must accommodate a list of Austrian demands by a deadline or else… Serbia misses the deadline…

EUROPE IS AT WAR Austria Declares War on Russia Britain Declares War on Germany invades Belgium Germany Declares War on France Germany Declares War on Russia get ready to help Serbia Austria Declares War on Serbia Sarajevo JUNE JULY AUGUST June 28 July 29 July 1 August 3 August 3 August 4 August 6 August

French soldiers went into action on horseback with ostrich feathers in their hats, swords in their hands and wearing scarlet pants

from THE VOLUNTEER Here lies a clerk who half his life had spent Toiling at ledgers in a grey city, Thinking that so his days would drift away With no lance broken in life's tournament. Yet ever 'twixt the books and his bright eyes The gleaming eagles of the legions came, And horsemen charging under phantom skies, Went thundering past beneath the oriflame. And now those waiting dreams are satisfied; From twilight to the halls of dawn he went; His lance is broken; but he lies content With that high hour, in which he lived and died…. --Herbert Asquith, England, 1914

As they left for the war in August, the Kaiser told his German troops they would be home by the time the leaves fell

He was wrong. …What happened?

Trench Warfare

French pioneer tear gas; Germans add chlorine/mustard gas

“The artillery shell doesn't know whether you are brave or cowardly when it hits you, so it doesn't matter anymore whether you're brave or cowardly. The whole concept of heroism disappears… Most of the time, the armies were separated by a mile or two. That's just industrial murder.” ---The Great War, PBS

SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life in empty joy Slept soundly through the lonesome dark And whistled early with the lark In winter trenches, cowed and glum With crumps and lice and lack of rum He put a bullet through his brain No one spoke of him again You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer when soldier lads march by Sneak home and pray you’ll never know The hell where youth and laughter go --Siegfried Sassoon, 1917

A new type of war at home, too: “TOTAL WAR”

Conscription (the draft)

Propaganda

Rationing

Expanding roles for women

Who’s on whose side during the war.  How is this different from the alliances before the war?

War lasts from Aug 1914 to Nov 1918 with very little change in army positions WHAT BREAKS THIS STALEMATE*? *-an endless condition where no one can win

War lasts from Aug 1914 to Nov 1918 with very little change in army positions WHAT BREAKS THIS STALEMATE? The Allied Powers add a new ally (Apr 1917)

Britain and Germany both try to stop supplies from reaching each other -Britain sets up naval blockade -Germany retaliates with: U-Boats

Britain and Germany both try to stop supplies from reaching each other -Britain sets up naval blockade -Germany retaliates with: U-Boats AMOUNT OF $$$ LOANED BY USA TO WWI PARTICIPANTS BY APRIL 1917: To the Allied Powers: $2,500,000,000 To the Central Powers: $27,000,000

War lasts from Aug 1914 to Nov 1918 with very little change in army positions WHAT BREAKS THIS STALEMATE? The Allied Powers add a new ally (Apr 1917) Nov. 11, 1918: an armistice* is declared (*agreement to stop fighting)

NO MORE GERMAN EMPIRE NO MORE AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE NO MORE OTTOMAN EMPIRE NO MORE RUISSIAN EMIRE

…but these empires remain: