1. World war I BEGINS
1914

2. The “Spark”
On June 28, 1914 Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrio Princip while visiting the city of Sarajevo
Princip was a member of the Black Hand, an extremist Serbian nationalist group
Austria blamed Serbia and issued a number of demands
Serbia refused, and Austria declared war
Russia mobilized its military in preparation for war with Austria;
In response, Germany declared war on Russia and mobilized its military

3. Mobilization, summer 1914
As the combatant countries mobilized for war, the mood in most places was jubilant
Many volunteers saw the war as a great adventure, and nearly everyone believed that it would be over quickly
Most people were also confident that their side would win

4. World war I alliances

5. War begins: late summer-fall, 1914
German Western Offensive
August-September 1914
Following the Schleiffen Plan, the German army charged through Belgium and into French territory
The Germans reached the outskirts of Paris; the soldiers could see the Eiffel Tower
First Battle of the Marne
September 5, 1914
Reinforced by the first arrival of British troops, the Allies stopped the German advance and pushed them back several miles
Battle of Tannenberg
August 30-31, 1914
The Russians mobilized more quickly than the Germans had expected, and invaded Eastern Germany
The Russian advance was turned back at this battle

6. The battle of the marne

7. The great stalemate begins, fall-winter, 1914
After the Battles of Tannenberg and the Marne, the war settled in to a brutal STALEMATE
What does this mean?
During the winter, both sides dug extensive networks of Defensive Trenches
On the Western Front, for the next three years neither side would win a decisive battle, nor advance more than a few miles into enemy-held territory

8. Diagram of a trench system