The Causes of World War I By Theodore O’Connor

Europe is divided into two conflicting alliances. n Germany n Austro-Hungary n Italy n England n France n Russia

Tangled Alliance System before World War I

Each Nation had their own set of objectives.

Russia n Russia wants access to the Mediterranean.

Germany n Wanted to expand eastward into Russia. Drang nach Osten. n It wanted to gain it place in the sun by expanding its empire overseas and by expanding the navy. n This placed it in competition with Great Britain.

Germany under Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz n Alfred von Tirpitz was the founder of the German navy and the man who challenged British naval supremacy. n His theory of fleet in being would force the British to gut their world wide fleet to protect the home island.

England under First Lord Winston Churchill n Britain built the first modern battleship - HMS Dreadnought - to counter the German naval threat. n The Dreadnought class will ultimately be powered by oil. n This began an arms race with Germany.

France wanted revenge for its defeat in the Franco-Prussian France wanted the return of its province of Alsace- Lorraine

Austria sought to keep nationalism at bay.

Austria is a dynastic state. n It had been ruled by the Habsburgs since the 16th century. n Franz-Joseph became Emperor in 1848.

Austria is a dynastic state. n It had been ruled by the Habsburgs since the 16th century. n Franz-Joseph became Emperor in n Over his life time the Emperor lost his brother, his son, and his wife. n He did not like the current heir Francis Ferdinand - he considered him too pro-Slavic.

Europe is divided into two conflicting alliances. n Germany n Austro-Hungary n Italy n England n France n Russia

July 1914 n Each year the heir to the throne of the Austro- Hungarian, Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife the Duchess Sophia visited the capital of Bosnia - Sarajevo.

July 1914 n The Archduke and his morganic wife were assassinated by a Serbian terrorist Gavrilo Princip. Princip belonged to the Black Hand. An organization supported by the Serbian Secret Police.

Austria saw its chance to destroy Serbian Nationalism n Austria issues an ultimatum to Serbia demanding that it surrender its sovereignty and allow Austrian police to enter its territory and investigate the plot to kill Francis Ferdinand. n It gives Serbia three weeks to give in.

Russia sees it opportunity n Russia saw the chance to support Slavic nationalism against the German Habsburg rulers of Austria. n Russia therefore urged Serbia to resist the Austrian ultimatum.

Germany urges Austria to hold firm. n Germany wants Austria to hold to its ultimatum to provoke war with Russia and thus give Germany an excuse to attack Russia.

Alfred von Schlieffen n Von Schlieffen was Chief of the German General Staff until 1902, he developed the von Schlieffen. n The major premise of the von Schlieffen was to attack France first then attack the slower Russia. n Kaiser Willem considered just attacking Russia and try to establish peace with France and England. n General von Moelke said the train schedule prevented a change in the plans.

When Russia mobilized - n Germany will mobilize and attack France. n Britain will declare war on Germany