WORLD WAR I The Great War “The War to End all Wars”

THE FOUR MAIN CAUSES Militarism: A belief that the military can solve problems and a romantic view of the military Militarism: A belief that the military can solve problems and a romantic view of the military Alliance System: Countries pledging to defend one another Alliance System: Countries pledging to defend one another Imperialism: Fights over colonies Imperialism: Fights over colonies Nationalism: Strong pride in one’s nation Nationalism: Strong pride in one’s nation

Alliances prior to the war Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary were called the Triple Alliance. They will be called the Central Powers in the war. Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary were called the Triple Alliance. They will be called the Central Powers in the war. Russia, France, and England were the Triple Entente. They will be called the Allied Powers. Russia, France, and England were the Triple Entente. They will be called the Allied Powers.

The Spark for the War Archduke Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Serbia. Archduke Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Serbia. Austria attacks Serbia. France and Russia defend Serbia because of alliances. The war is on. Austria attacks Serbia. France and Russia defend Serbia because of alliances. The war is on.

The Murderer (Gavrilo Princip) is Arrested.

The Schlieffen Plan Germany planned to attack France through Belgium. It was not what the French expected. Germany planned to attack France through Belgium. It was not what the French expected. They expected to move quickly. They expected to move quickly. The front lines soon turned into a stalemate. The front lines soon turned into a stalemate.

Everyone Expected a Quick War Wars before the Great War had been small and limited. Wars before the Great War had been small and limited. Armies lined up for battles and fought against the opposing army. Armies lined up for battles and fought against the opposing army. These German troops expected to fight a quick battle and return home. These German troops expected to fight a quick battle and return home.

German Troops Leave for Battle

French Troops Leave for Battle

Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare. Trench warfare was very slow and long battles were fought over small pieces of land. Trench warfare was very slow and long battles were fought over small pieces of land. Battlefields changed very little over several years. Battlefields changed very little over several years. Human losses were staggering. Human losses were staggering.

Cross-section of a front-line trench

French troops in a frontline dugout

Going Over the Top

No Man’s Land

Troops attacking during the Battle of the Somme

Australian soldiers walking on duck-boards at Passchendaele

Officers walking through a flooded communication trench.

A photograph of a man suffering from trench foot

Lice Hunting

The Results of Rat Hunting in the Trenches.

NEW WEAPONS DURING THE WAR

NEW WEAPONS OF WAR

World War I Artillery

German lancer wearing gas gear

The infamous Paris Gun. This monster had a range of 75 miles but little accuracy. The gun had an overall length of 112 feet (34 meters) and weighed 138 tons.

The legendary Krupp's Big Bertha, a German 42cm howitzer of the type used to crush the Belgian fortresses in 1914.

Schneider Obusiers de 520. This French 520mm howitzer was the biggest gun of the Great War. It could deliver a 3,100 lb shell (600 lbs of explosive) over 10 miles. The gun car was just under 100 feet long and weighed 290 tons.

American armored troops going forward in the Argonne, France, September 26, 1918

The Effects of a Poison Gas Attack

Waging Total War Countries used all of their resources to win the war. They also attacked all parts of their enemy’s economy. This is called total war. Countries used all of their resources to win the war. They also attacked all parts of their enemy’s economy. This is called total war. Governments controlled the economic lives of their citizens in order to win the war. Governments controlled the economic lives of their citizens in order to win the war.

Civilians Become Refugees In total war, civilians suffer tremendously. In total war, civilians suffer tremendously. In previous war, fighting was left to armies. In previous war, fighting was left to armies. In this picture, civilians are fleeing the oncoming German army. In this picture, civilians are fleeing the oncoming German army.

Conscription Conscription is another word for the draft. It means people are required to serve in the military. Conscription is another word for the draft. It means people are required to serve in the military. It was done first in England and Germany during the war. It was done first in England and Germany during the war. This poster was an English poster asking people to vote for a draft. This poster was an English poster asking people to vote for a draft.

The Lusitania England blockaded Germany and Austria to prevent them from getting food and supplies. England blockaded Germany and Austria to prevent them from getting food and supplies. The Germans created their own blockade against England. The Germans created their own blockade against England. They sunk the Lusitania passengers were killed, including 128 Americans. The Germans said the boat was carrying weapons. They sunk the Lusitania passengers were killed, including 128 Americans. The Germans said the boat was carrying weapons.

World War I Propaganda

Women Join the War Effort Women worked in many war industries Women worked in many war industries Women also worked as nurses. Women also worked as nurses. During the war, women in the US, Britain, and Germany finally win the right to vote. During the war, women in the US, Britain, and Germany finally win the right to vote.

The War Continues The war started in By 1917, war fatigue had set in. The war started in By 1917, war fatigue had set in. Russia has a revolution and gets out of the war. Russia has a revolution and gets out of the war. Both sides have been fighting a war of trench warfare and have made little progress but lost millions of lives. Both sides have been fighting a war of trench warfare and have made little progress but lost millions of lives. No one seemed to be winning. No one seemed to be winning.

America Enters the War Americans share a cultural heritage with England. Americans share a cultural heritage with England. Germany was sinking all ships delivering goods to England. Germany was sinking all ships delivering goods to England. The Zimmerman Note was a note from Germany to Mexico. It asked Mexico to help in a war against the US. This made Americans very angry. The Zimmerman Note was a note from Germany to Mexico. It asked Mexico to help in a war against the US. This made Americans very angry. US joins the war in US joins the war in 1917.

The War Comes to an End The American troops gave a great morale boost to the Allied powers. The Allies believe that they can win and the Central Powers believe they cannot. The American troops gave a great morale boost to the Allied powers. The Allies believe that they can win and the Central Powers believe they cannot. The Germans and Austria-Hungary sign an Armistice in November, The Germans and Austria-Hungary sign an Armistice in November, An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting.

The Influenza Outbreak of Million People Die in a Few Months

The Costs of War Almost all countries involved in the war owed lots of money. Almost all countries involved in the war owed lots of money. The winners wanted the losers to pay reparations. The winners wanted the losers to pay reparations. People everywhere felt bitter about the war and like they had not won the war. People everywhere felt bitter about the war and like they had not won the war.

Casualties of World War I The scale of the war was much larger than ever before. The scale of the war was much larger than ever before. World War I was a different kind of war because of modern weapons causing massive death and destruction. World War I was a different kind of war because of modern weapons causing massive death and destruction.

Shell Shock Many veterans returned from the war with serious psychological problems. Many veterans returned from the war with serious psychological problems. This was called shell- shock at the time but we would call it post- traumatic stress disorder. This was called shell- shock at the time but we would call it post- traumatic stress disorder.

The Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles Germany, Russia, and Austria were not allowed to participate. Germany, Russia, and Austria were not allowed to participate. President Wilson of the United States had a plan called the 14 Points President Wilson of the United States had a plan called the 14 Points President Wilson wanted a League of Nations to solve problems peacefully. President Wilson wanted a League of Nations to solve problems peacefully. The Treaty of Versailles made Germany accept the blame for the war. The Treaty of Versailles made Germany accept the blame for the war. Germany had to pay huge reparations. Germany had to pay huge reparations. The German military was greatly limited. The German military was greatly limited. Germany lost lots of land. Germany lost lots of land. The United States never joined the League of Nations, it is never effective. The United States never joined the League of Nations, it is never effective.

Europe Before World War I

Europe After World War I Austria-Hungary no longer exists. Austria-Hungary no longer exists. The Ottoman Empire is gone. The Ottoman Empire is gone. Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Finland and several other countries are created. Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Finland and several other countries are created. Germany is considerably smaller. Germany is considerably smaller.

Germany After the War Germany had to accept all blame for the war. Germany had to accept all blame for the war. Germany was forced to accept strict limits on its military. Germany was forced to accept strict limits on its military. Germany lost territory to France. Germany lost territory to France. Germany had to pay enormous reparations ($30,000,000,000!) Germany had to pay enormous reparations ($30,000,000,000!) That would be like $2,700,000000,000 today! That would be like $2,700,000000,000 today!