Germany Erupts Europe into a War

The Great War Europe has been investing money into imperialism, military, etc. Nationalism caused rivalries Competition for materials and markets Territorial disputes Alliances form in Europe during imperialism

Cousins The King of Great Britain (George V), the Kaiser of Germany (Wilhelm II) and the Czar of Russia (Nicolas II) were all grandchildren of Queen Victoria. George V and Nicholas II George V and Wilhelm II

Triple Alliance Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Triple Entente Russia had become suspicious of Germany’s alliance Russia needs an alliance so they look to France Great Britain joins in and the Triple Entente is formed in a DIRECT response to the Triple Alliance

Alliances If Germany, Italy, A-H attack Russia, France will counter attack If Germany, Italy, A-H attack France, Russia will counter attack

Oh Germany… Navy battle with Great Britain Exporting price battle with Russia

Balkans Natural resources are insignificant Nobody wants the land, but don’t want anyone else to get it Serbians want independence

Balkans cont. Russia sympathizes with Serbia and sends in troops to help After 2 Balkan Wars, there is no outcome Serbs mad at Russia, Russia couldn’t fight because they are not really industrialized

Armenian Genocide By 1880, 2.5 million Christian Armenians in Ottoman Empire began to demand freedom In 1914, Turks deported nearly 2 million Armenians 600,000 died of starvation or were killed

Willy-Nicky Correspondence just read! Telegrams between Wilhelm II and Nicholas II during June 16, 1914 to Aug 2, 1914 The telegrams start with a plea from the Tsar to the Kaiser to try to stop the serious developments that led up to World War I. An excerpt: I foresee that very soon I shall be overwhelmed by the pressure forced upon me and be forced to take extreme measures which will lead to war. To try and avoid such a calamity as a European war I beg you in the name of our old friendship to do what you can to stop your allies from going too far. Nicky.

Ultimately, the correspondence changes tone and the two leaders warn each other of impending mobilization due to factors out of their control, while retaining the notion that mobilization does not mean war. An excerpt of the last telegram: Immediate affirmative clear and unmistakable answer from your government is the only way to avoid endless misery. Until I have received this answer alas, I am unable to discuss the subject of your telegram. As a matter of fact I must request you to immediately [sic] order your troops on no account to commit the slightest act of trespassing over our frontiers. Willy

Eve of War Austrian Archduke comes to visit Sarajevo June 28, 1914- he is assassinated by Gavrilo Princip (member of the Black Hand) All countries condemn the assassination Germany wants Austria to “get even”

War breaks out Dates are given only for a timeline, you will not be asked them. July 28- Austria declares war on Serbia July 29- Russia mobilizes (but they need 90 days) Russia lines up on their Western border (Germany) Nicky tells Willy they aren’t going to attack Willy doesn’t believe Nicky

July 31- Germany is completely mobilized August 1- French mobilize Germany declares war on Russia and France August 4- GB declares war on Germany

Causes of the Great War M A I N B S Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Balkans Serbia

WHY?? Germany- wants to start a war for nationalism and to show their power (and awesome new navy) Serbia- want independence France- see a way to get social and political status back into their country GB- mad about Germany's navy, having internal conflict and feel war will unite the people When war breaks out, everyone cheers! They are all elated because they all think they will win.

Allied Powers Central Powers: Neutral Nations Ireland Russia Germany Portugal Serbia Romania Greece Great Britain Italy France Japan U.S. (1917) Central Powers: Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottoman Empire Neutral Nations Spain Netherlands Switzerland Albania Denmark Sweden

Schlieffen Plan Germany had to fight a two front war Plan was to invade France, defeat them in 6 weeks Then move troops to Russia

Western Front

Battle of the Marne- Germans were defeated, ended the Schlieffen plan Russia was now fully mobilized Germany had to split its army and fight a two front war Stalemate- deadlock: no one winning or losing (on Western Front)

Trench warfare- soldiers fought from trenches Armies traded huge losses for small gains “No man’s land”- space between trenches just read below One soldier wrote, “The men slept in mud, washed in mud, ate mud, and dreamed mud.” Another wrote, “…the air was unbreathable. Our blinded, wounded, crawling, and shouting soldiers kept falling on top of us and died splashing us with blood. It was a living hell.”

just read! An aerial reconnaissance photograph of the opposing trenches and no-man's land between Loos and Hulluch in Artois, France, taken at 7.15 pm, 22 July 1917. German trenches are at the right and bottom, British trenches are at the top left. The vertical line to the left of centre indicates the course of a pre-war road or track.

Trench foot

Major Battles on the Western Front Battle of Verdun: 1916 Germany launched a massive attack against the French. 300,000 casualties on each side, Germany gained 4 miles (they later lost it) Battle of the Somme: 1916 British tried to relieve pressure on French 500,000 casualties on each side, British gained 5 miles

Eastern Front Battle of Tannenberg- Russia was heavily defeated by Germans; Russia never recovered

Christmas Truce just read! The truce began on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1914, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium, for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols, most notably Stille Nacht (Silent Night). The Scottish troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols.

just read! The two sides continued by shouting Christmas greetings to each other. Soon thereafter, there were calls for visits across the "No Man's Land" where small gifts were exchanged — whisky, jam, cigars, and chocolate. The soldiers exchanged gifts, sometimes addresses, and drank together. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently-fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respects.

just read! The truce spread to other areas of the lines, and there are many stories of football matches between the opposing forces. In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in some areas, it continued until New Year's Day. The truce occurred in spite of opposition at higher levels of the military. Earlier in the autumn, a call by Pope Benedict XV for an official truce between the warring governments had been ignored.

German and Russian soldiers on the Eastern Front on Christmas 1914

British soldiers bringing in Holly

German officer in a British trench during the Christmas truce

The Germans and British even played soccer. The Germans won 2-1.

Scottish and German soldiers

New Weapons

Petrol Driven Engines Trucks, motorcycles

Air Zeppelin, airplanes

Zeppelins

Airplanes Reconnaissance and photography Bombing Armed with machine guns Dog Fights The Red Barron

Machine gun

Trench Warfare Barbed wire, mortars

Artillery

Grenades

Gas Mustard gas and chlorine gas- introduced by Germans just read! Country Total Casualties Death Austria-Hungary 100,000 3,000 British Empire 188,706 8,109 France 190,000 8,000 Germany 200,000 9,000 Italy 60,000 4,627 Russia 419,340 56,000 USA 72,807 1,462 Others 10,000 1,000

Submarines German U-boats

Tanks Tank Production 1916-18 just read! Year UK France Germany Italy USA 1916 150 - 1917 1,277 800 1918 1,391 4,000 20 6 84

Flamethrowers

Gallipoli Campaign Feb 1915 Allied effort: to take the Dardanelles Topple the Ottoman Empire Control Constantinople and supply line into Russia Huge Allied loss Over 250,000

Russia Surrenders Russia went through a Revolution in 1917 New leader (Lenin) promised to end the war March 1918- Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and Germany Russia lost Riga, Lithuania, Livonia, Estonia and some of Russia. areas of economic importance , fertile farming Germany was allowed to exploit lands to support their military effort in the west.

US enters WWI By 1917, the Germans used submarine warfare throughout the Atlantic Germany put a naval blockade around GB Unrestricted submarine warfare- Submarines would sink any ship WITHOUT warning

February 1917- British intercepts the Zimmerman telegram May 7, 1915- German boats sunk the Lusitania- passenger ship from US to England February 1917- British intercepts the Zimmerman telegram Sent from Germany to Mexico Mexico become an ally with Germany and Germany would help Mexico regain land lost to US.

just read! This is what the Zimmerman telegram looked like prior to it’s decoding by the British.

President Wilson had been reluctant to join the war until his country was threatened. On April 2, 1917- America entered WWI on the side of the Allies.

Total War Devoting all resources to the war effort Rationing- people could only buy small amounts of those items needed for the war effort (from butter to shoe leather) Censorship and propaganda- intended to boost morale and support the war

Women’s roles Women replaced men in factories, built tanks, supplied troops with Women will gain the right to vote (suffrage) in the 1920’s

Allies win Russia withdrew from the war and had a communist revolution in 1917 Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed by Germany and Russia Russia surrendered Finland, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Second Battle of the Marne Germans lose and begin retreating July 1918: Bulgarians, Ottoman Turks surrender October 1918: Austria-Hungary surrenders November 9, 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm forced to abdicate German representative signed an armistice on November 11, 1918 (Veterans Day)

Paris Peace Conference Met at Versailles from January to June 1919. Goal was to establish a lasting peace in Europe.

The “Big Four” Woodrow Wilson—United States Georges Clemenceau—France David Lloyd George—Great Britain Vittorio Orlando—Italy

Wilson’s Plan for Peace Known as the “14 Points”. End to Secret Treaties Freedom of Seas Free Trade Reduced Size of Militaries 14. Establishment of a “General association of nations” to guarantee political independence and protection to all countries— The League of Nations.

Treaty of Versailles France wanted to punish Germany. Created the League of Nations Germany lost territory Set limits and restrictions to Germany’s military. “War Guilt”—Germany bore the sole responsibility for causing WWI.

Economic Results Heavy taxation High tariffs Russia began a socialist communist economic system. Led to 1929 depression.

Political Results U.S. emerges as leading world power. Austrian, Russian, and German dynasties fell. New nations in Eastern Europe created. League of Nations established. Countries with economic and political problems turn to dictatorships—Russia, Germany, Italy.

Social Results 8.5 million soldiers dead. 21.5 million soldiers wounded. Problems that caused WWI were not solved—hatred, intolerance, and extreme nationalism. Left a legacy of bitterness and hatred in the hearts of the German people.