World War I The Great War

Causes of WWI in Europe Competition from imperialism. Arms (weapons) race “militarism” Defensive alliance system in Europe. Nationalism

The “Powder Keg” of Europe

Europe in 1914

Traditional Alliance System Triple Alliance Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary. Triple Entente France, Great Britain, Russia.

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarejevo, Bosnia. Heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, Duke Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo in Bosnia. He and his wife are shot and killed by a Serbian nationalist. Sets off the “powder keg” that begins the Great War.

Declaration of War Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia July 28, Tsar Nicholas II orders full mobilization of the Russian army against Austria-Hungary July 29. Germany declares war on Russia August 1 after Russia ignores Germany’s warnings to stand down. Germany gives ultimatum to Belgium to let its army cross into France August 2. Germany declares war on France August 3. Great Britain declares war on Germany August 4 for violating Belgian neutrality.

Cousin Kings The King of Great Britain George V, the Tzar of Russia Nicholas II, and the Kaiser of Germany Wilhelm II are cousins.

German Strategy “The Schlieffen Plan.” The military plan to invade France. Named after General Alfred von Schlieffen. Germany crosses quickly through Belgium into northern France, then sweeps around the French capital Paris and encircles the French Army. WAR OVER!

The Western Front The German plan fails. The German advance is stopped 20 miles outside of Paris. Known as the Battle of Marne, September 6-10, 1914.

Trench Warfare Stalemate on the Western Front. The German and the French armies could not move each other. The soldiers began to dig trenches originally for shelter. This became “trench warfare.” Fighting from ditches protected by barbed wire with a “no man’s land” between the enemy trenches. Trenches stretched from the English Channel to Switzerland. This lasted throughout the majority of the war.

Christmas Truce 1914

Eastern Front Russian army moves into Prussia (East Germany). Two major early defeats of the Russian army by Germans, Battle of Tannenberg August 30, 1914, and Battle of Masurian Lakes September 15. Russia pushes Austria-Hungary out of Serbia and Galicia.

New Alliances in 1915 Italy betrays the Triple Alliance and joins the French and British. Italy attacks Austria in May France, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia are called the Allied Powers. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire are called the Central Powers.

Alliance System in Europe 1914

Russian Retreat In 1915 Germany came to the defense of Austria-Hungary and together pushed the Russian army out of Galicia and 300 miles into Russian territory. In September 1915 Germany, Bulgaria, and Austria-Hungary defeated and eliminated unprotected Serbia from the war. Russian casualties are 2.5 million killed, captured, or wounded.

Eastern Front Map

Western Front From trench warfare is still unsuccessful and incredibly bloody. Millions of soldiers are killed in the attempt to breakthrough the line to capture the next trench. Mustard gas used as a weapon and the modern rapid-fire machine gun. “War of attrition.” A war based on wearing the other side down by constant attacks and heavy losses.

Mustard Gas

Vehicles used for war uses in WWI German Zeppelins (blimps) Airplanes Submarines

German zeppelin and airplane bombing of Russian army position

More losses for the Allies April 1915, Battle of Gallipoli. Allies attempted to invade the Ottoman Empire near Istanbul to control sea lanes into the Black Sea. Allies suffered major losses and retreated. Italian forces ineffective in the fight against the Central Powers. The other Allied armies had to come rescue them.

Between 1914 and 1916, 2 million soldiers had been killed and another 4-6 million had been wounded or captured. In 1917 the Russian Revolution takes place ousting the Tsar. Russia surrenders and is out of the war.

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare British navy set blockade against German ships. Germany did the same using submarines (U- Boats). U-Boats not restricted to sinking military ships, also sunk passenger ships. May 7, 1915, passenger ship HMS Lusitania sunk by submarines.1,100 civilians were killed, a 100 of those civilians were Americans.

America starts getting upset! American protests over the Lusitania sinking. Caused U.S. to rethink policy of “isolationism,” not wanting to commit to fighting in foreign conflicts. Germany suspended its unrestricted submarine warfare in September In January 1917, Germany made the error in starting this warfare again after American intelligence intercepted a telegraph message from Germany to Mexico asking Mexico to join the Central Powers. Known as the “Zimmerman telegraph” America enters the war April 6, 1917.