The Great War

Nationalism By 1900 The Ottoman Empire, which included the Baltics was in decline. –Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Roman, and Serbia established their own nations. –Serbs desire a unified independent Serbia. Russian support for Pan-Slavism and Serbia creates tension with Austria-Hungary. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, two areas with large Slavic populations.

Imperialism Race for additional territory creates tension between European nations. –Britain and Germany clash over territory in Africa and Middle East. –Moroccan Crisis of 1905 France and Germany clash over control of Morocco. –Balkan Wars Increases tension between Russia and Austria- Hungary.

Militarism Size of European militaries doubled between 1890 and –Russian army = 1,000,000 men –France and Germany = 900,000 men –An inevitable war

Alliances on the Eve of World War I What changes do you see in the original alliance structure?

The Guns of August Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on July 28, Germany declares war on Russia on August 1, Germany declares war on France on August 3, Great Britain declares war on Germany on August 4, 1914.

The Western Front Schlieffen Plan –Devised by Alfred von Schlieffen in 1905 –Germanys plan to avoid fighting a war on two fronts. –Called for rapid attack on France through Belgium, followed by an immediate attack on Russia. Rapid attack fails. –Result is a stalemate on Western front.

Points of Emphasis The Great War was a global war. High-tech War –New technology changes nature of warfare (and not for the better) Total War The Home Front End of the War Additional Implications

Global War Ottoman Empire joins Central Powers. –Attempt to regain territory in Balkan peninsula and control of Suez Canal. Japanese enter war on side of allies. –Seize German colonies in the Pacific. European countries –ANZACs Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. Australia – 53,993 deaths, 137,013 wounded. New Zealand – 18,166 deaths, 58,526 wounded.

Global War –ANZACs participated in Battle of Gallipoli. –The Dardanelles in the Ottoman Empire provided a supply line to Russia. –Turkish troops commanded by German officers defended the region against the Allies. –After 250,000 casualties the Allies gave up.

Machine Guns

Artillery

Tanks

Planes

Total War Definition of Total War –Conflict in which the participating countries devote all of their resources to the war effort. Aspects of Total War –Mandatory military conscription 40% of all French males served in the Great War –Nationalization of industry –The Home Front –Propaganda

Total War Definition of Total War –Conflict in which the participating countries devote all of their resources to the war effort. Aspects of Total War –Mandatory military conscription 40% of all French males served in the Great War –Nationalization of industry –The Home Front –Propaganda

U.S. Enters the Great War Germans sink the Lusitania in May 17, Unrestricted submarine warfare follows. Zimmerman note in February U. S. declares war on Germany on April 6, 1917.

War Time Propaganda

Considered by many to be the most powerful of all war recruiting posters, "Enlist" probably didn't appear until after April 1917, when America entered the war. But according to some sources, Massachusetts artist Fred Spears created the artwork in 1915, after reading a newspaper article about the Lusitania sinking. Whatever the origination date, the poster was published by the Boston Public Safety Committee and no doubt inspired many Americans to enlist when it was time to go "Over There."