1. Journal Entry 2/3/17
1. Write down what you know about the start of WWI
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Schlieffen Plan?
Other stuff?
2. What is Brinksmanship?

2. Schlieffen plan in the German Military plan that Count Alfred von Schlieffen put forth. This plan was to combat the Franco-Russian alliance that was rising during the later portion of the 19th century
Schlieffen Plan

3. Schlieffen Plan
Germany would station troops near Belgium in the North West and sweep right to left and to the south through Belgium, Germans hypothesized they could beat France in a matter of 6 weeks

4. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Very politically, religiously, and culturally diverse
Used to be ruled by Ottoman Empire, which is crumbling
Now split between Ottomans and Austro-Hungary Empires  series of wars between the two in 1800s (creates lots of tension over the Balkans)
Not as rich as rest of the empire and other parts of Europe + feelings of being conquered = lots of nationalism

5. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
During Ottoman rule, people moved around freely, so largest ethnic group, Serbia, scattered in all these new lands
Serbia
1.) believes it is their right to united lands into one larger Serbia that can be major player in Europe
2.) don’t trust A-H
Plays on young nationalism starting extremist, terrorist groups known as the Black Hand
Plan is to do something violent in A-H to get Serbians there to revolt and join Serbia
Multiple attempts occur, however, one is pretty famous…

6. Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Players
Black Hand
Gavrillo Princip
Archduke Franz Ferdinand – Austria
His Wife Sophia
Everyone else

8. Ferdinand is heir to A-H emperor Franz Josef
The Great War starts
After failing to assassinate other royals, Black Hand settle on Franz Ferdinand
Series of errors lead to Archduke Franz Ferdinand & wife Sofie killed June 28, 1914
Ferdinand is heir to A-H emperor Franz Josef
Gavrilo Princip, 19, (member of Black Hand) assassinates him

9. Austria makes ridiculous ultimatum to Serbia
The Great War starts
Austria makes ridiculous ultimatum to Serbia
Goal was to force a military conflict, and the had the backing of Germany
Terms included
Austro-Hungary investigation of the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Austro-Hungary demanded Serbia remove all anti Austrian propaganda, and remove all anti Austrian terrorist organizations
Only had 48 hours to comply

10. Serbia rejects them; Russia promises to protect Slavic brothers Serbia
The Great War starts
Serbia rejects them; Russia promises to protect Slavic brothers Serbia
Germany tells them both to chill
Austria asks Germany for “blank check”  Kaiser is on vacation, Germany says “yes” (without thinking)
Idea that regardless of what happens Germany has Austria’s back
Austria attacks, Russia backs Serbia, France backs Russia (Triple Entente), Germany backs Austria

11. The Great War starts
Ottomans jump in to get even with Russia
This is when the Schlieffen Plan (France then Russia) comes into play
Britain is cautious but promises to protect Belgium (royal families friends)
Germany invades France around Maginot Line via Belgium
Britain declares war on Germany (because they attack France through Belgium)

12. East-West vs. Central
Ottoman’s join Triple Alliance to get even with Russia from Russo-Turk War
Two teams:
Britain (Belgium), France, Russia (Serbia) = Triple Entente
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire = Triple Alliance (Also known as the Central Powers)

14. WWI – Early Rumblings in France
Schlieffen Plan is enacted
Germany sent 500 trains a day to the Belgian border starting on Aug. 4th 1914
By Aug. 18 the Germans had arced across northern France with the French forces moving east to Alsace-Lorraine & the Rhine
Early on the Germans had not issue running through French forces
Were nearly to Paris when the French/British mounted a counter attack from Sept known as the 1st battle of Marne

15. Germans pushed French forces to the east where they were met at the German border by ranks of German strong holds.

16. WWI – Brits Get Involved
British signed Treaty of Neutrality with the Belgium in 1839
Essentially states GB will defend Belgium if they are attacked and cannot remain neutral
On Aug. 2th when Germany enters Belgium in order to enact the Schlieffen Plan the British public is outraged
GB give Germany an ultimatum, get out
This expires on Aug. 4th and GB declares war on Germany

17. Mini Battle Assignment
Your job next Thursday will be to present a battle of WWI.
This should be a short presentation, 4-6 minutes long. This is preparation for your major WWII Battle project
To do this you will need to research and familiarize yourself the battle so you can put together the presentation for Friday
Your WWI battle project should contain key information and be a somewhat scaled down version of what I am about to teach 1st Marne and Tannenberg
Closer to Tannenberg than Marne
The battles in chronological order are: Gallipoli, Ypres, Isonzo, Jutland, Verdun, Somme, 2nd Marne
I need to know which battle your group is going to do your presentation on by Monday
I have the right to change your battle
This will be a 35-point culminating grade

18. 1st Battle of Marne September 6th-10th Major players are
General Joseph Joffre: French Commanding Officer
Known for eating and sleeping a lot
Helmuth von Moltke: German Chief of Staff
General Alexander von Kluck: German 5th Army
Occurs near the Marne River just E of Paris
Culmination of 1st half of Schlieffen Plan  supposed to end w/ German capture of Paris
Idea was that France would attack Alsace-Lorraine, and while holding them at bay there, Germans would flank them

19. Moltke
Kluck
Joffre

20. 1st Battle of Marne – What Happened?
German overconfidence headed for Paris and move too fast leaving behind some heavy artillery
Kluck makes two tactical errors
Kluck wheeled east of Paris exposing his flank (this was at the order of the German commander Moltke)
When he turned to face Paris (and to fight the French, I’ll get to this) he created an even larger gap between him and the rest of the German armies

21. German Advancement Aug. 26th

22. German Location September 5th

23. 1st Battle of Marne – What Happened?
At this point Joffre decides to attack rather than allow a siege on Paris
On Sept. 6th Joffre sees that the Germans are marching toward Paris and sends French General Karl Von Bulow to attack the Germans
Force of 150K men
This is what gets the Germans to turn and expose their flank
Joffre then commands 6,000 reserve troops stationed in Paris to attack Kluck’s flank
They were ferried to the front line in 600 Taxi cabs
This lasts from the 6th-8th

24. Battle on September 9th

25. 1st Battle of Marne – What Happened?
At this point the 1st British soldiers arrived and completely cut the Germans in half
By the 9th the Germans began retreating to the north and eventually settle in just north of the River Aisne where the 1st and 2nd German armies dug in
They would remain there in trenches for the next several years
Losses incurred somewhere around 260,000 for both sides
What is the difference between casualties and deaths?

26. German Retreat & Western Front

27. 1st Battle of Marne Importance
One of few non-trench battles on Western Front
Led trench warfare and Race to Sea (this is what the German retreat is frequently referred to)
Essentially set the tone for the rest of the war
1st use of planes for reconnaissance
Called by some historians most important battle of 20th century (set tone for WWI & WWII)
Nations realize that this isn’t going to be a short affair
These trench lines are essentially what become the Western Front

33. Battle - Tannenberg Forest
August 26-30, 1914
Germans v Russians
Most dominant win of WWI for Germany even though they were extremely outnumbered
160,000 Germans
400,000 Russians
Russians encroached on German Prussia (what is now Poland)
Russians led by General Alexander Samsonov
Germans led by Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, both generals

34. Erich Ludendorff
Alexander Samsonov
Paul von Hindenburg

37. Battle - Tannenberg Forest
What happened
Hindenburg bought out of retirement and tactically dominates the Russians
½ the Russian army falls apart and runs away
Poor leadership, and political turmoil led to an un prepared force
Other half is encircled w/ 100,000 dead, 78,000 prisoner and 10,000 escape; Germans capture 500+ artillery
Importance
Brings Hindenburg and Ludendorff to power
Establishes German dominance in Eastern Front—a front they will never lose (until the end of the war)
Exposes weakness of Russian Army—Samsonov suicide
Unites Germany via nationalism