1. World War I Begins

2. Inevitability of war
June 28, 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria assassinated
July 5, 1914 Germany issues A-H “blank check”
pledging military assistance if A-H goes to war against Russia
July 23, 1914 Austria issues Serbia an ultimatum

3. The inevitability of war
July 28, 1914 A-H declares war on Serbia
July 29, 1914 Russia orders full mobilization of its troops
August 1,1914 Germany declares war on Russia
August 2, 1914 Germany demands Belgium declare access to German troops

4. “Belgium is a country, not a road”
King Albert I of Belgium denied permission
August 2, 1914 Germany declared war on France
Why???
The Schlieffen Plan!
August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality

6. Conduct of War German attack in the West
French counter-attack but are pushed back
Russian speed of mobilization surprised Germans so Germany was forced to move some troops to the Eastern front
Stagnation and trench warfare in the West

7. Alliances and Strategies
The goals of each of the alliance members
Britain – maintain continental balance and UK sea superiority
France – confine Germany
Russia – expand if possible
Germany – solidify German-speaking peoples and never fight on two fronts (West first and then East)
Austria – hold everything together
Italy – try to solidify your own territory
Ottoman Turks – survive

8. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate
Many Europeans were excited about war
“Defend yourself against the aggressors”
Domestic differences were put aside

9. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate
War would be over in a few weeks
Ignored the length and brutality of the American Civil War
(prototype to World War I)

10. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate
Belief that Modern industrial war could not be conducted for more than a few months
“Home by Christmas”

11. 1914 – 1915 Illusions and Stalemate
“Fatal attraction of war”
Exhilarating release from every day life
A glorious adventure
War would rid the nations of selfishness
Spark a national re-birth based on heroism

12. The Schlieffen Plan’s Destructive Nature

13. The Schlieffen Plan Invade western front 1st
Take France in 6 weeks, by surprise by going through Belgium
After defeating France concentrate on the Eastern front (Russia)
Avoid fighting a 2 front war

14. The Schlieffen Plan’s Destructive Nature
Germany made vast encircling movement through Belgium to enter Paris
Underestimated speed of the British mobilization
Quickly sent troops to France

15. The Schlieffen Plan’s Destructive Nature
Sept 6-10, 1914
Battle of Marne
Stopped the Germans but French troops were exhausted
Both sides dug trenches for shelter
STALEMATE

16. World War 1 Begins Schlieffen Plan – Why it Failed!
1. Belgium had a treaty with Britain, France and Germany guaranteeing its neutrality
2. German Generals altered the plan causing German troops to turn south towards Paris earlier than originally planned
Britain objected when Germany invaded Belgium This was their reason to go to war
German troops encountered both French troops moving out of Paris and British from the Channel ports

17. The Eastern Front
Russian army moved into Eastern Germany on August 30, 1914
Defeated
The Austrians kicked out of Serbia
Italians attacked Austria in 1915
G. came to Austrian aid and pushed Russians back 300 miles into own territory

18. The Eastern Front Much more mobile more than the West
But loss of life still very high
1915: 2.5 million Russians killed, captured, or wounded

19. The Eastern Front
Germany and Austria Hungary joined by Bulgaria in Sept. 1915
Attacked and eliminated Serbia from war

20. The Battle on the Eastern Front
Early Fighting
Eastern Front—site of main fighting along the German-Russian border.
Russians push into Austria and Germany, but soon forced to retreat.
Russia Struggles
Russia’s war effort was suffering by 1916; many casualties and few supplies.
The huge size of Russian army keeps it a formidable force and prevents Germany from sending more troops to the Western Front.

21. Russian Revolution Unhappiness with the war among the Russian people
Germany/Austria beating Russians
Changes in government
Lenin transported
Mensheviks (moderates) victorious
Bolshevik counter revolution
Russia withdraws from war (1917)
Germany ready to have a single front war