1. Warm up Sarajevo War of Attrition Total War Grigory Rasputin
Bolsheviks

2. The War Begins The Spark The Balkans
World War I began in Bosnia, the heart of the ethnically diverse Balkan powder keg.
Balkan Mountains
Bosnia
Although inhabited by many Serbs, Bosnia was not ruled by Serbia, but by Austria.

3. The War Begins The Spark
Ferdinand & Family
The Spark
Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, traveled through Bosnia in June of 1914
Assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip.
Gavrilo Princip

4. The War Begins The Spark The Balkans
Princip’s assassination of Ferdinand is known as the “spark” that started the Great War.
Balkan Mountains
Bosnia

5. The War Begins
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany gave his ally Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary “carte blanche,” or a blank check of support.
A Chain Reaction
Italy

6. Austro-Hungarian Emperor Francis Joseph
The War Begins
A Chain
Reaction
With Germany’s support, Austria gave Serbia a harsh ultimatum.
Serbia refused, so Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
WAR!
Austro-Hungarian Emperor Francis Joseph

7. A Chain Reaction
Austria-
Hungary
Serbia

8. Russian Czar Nicholas II
The War Begins
A Chain
Reaction
Czar Nicholas II of Russia, a fellow Slavic nation and was ally of Serbia.
Russia mobilized, or prepared its forces for war against Austria-Hungary.
Russian Czar Nicholas II

9. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
The War Begins
A Chain
Reaction
In response to Russia’s mobilization against Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia.
WAR!
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

10. A Chain Reaction
Germany
Russia
Austria-
Hungary
Serbia

11. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
The War Begins
A Chain
Reaction
Germany then declared war on France, another ally of Russia.
WAR!
Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

12. A Chain Reaction
Germany
Russia
Austria-
Hungary
France
Serbia

13. The War Begins A Chain Reaction German troops invaded neutral Belgium.
Belgium’s protection was guaranteed by Great Britain, so the British joined the war against Germany.
WAR!

14. Germany
Belgium
France

15. A Chain Reaction Germany Britain Russia Austria- Hungary France Serbia
Belgium
Austria-
Hungary
France
Serbia

17. Turkish Muslims Declare Jihad
The War Begins
A Chain
Reaction
The Ottoman Turks joined the Central Powers to combat pan-Slavism, which threatened their empire.
Italy joined the Allies to gain Austrian-ruled lands that were inhabited by Italians.
Turkish Muslims Declare Jihad

18. A Chain Reaction Germany Britain Russia Austria- Hungary France Italy
Belgium
Austria-
Hungary
France
Italy
Serbia
Ottoman
Empire

19. The War Begins
In 1917 the US declared war on Germany after it sunk the Lusitania.
Lusitania

20. Other European Nations in World War I
Norway
Sweden
Den.
Germany
Britain
Russia
Neth.
Belgium
Austria-
Hungary
France
Switz.
Italy
Romania
Serbia
Bulgaria M
Port.
Spain A
Ottoman
Empire
Greece
Other European Nations in World War I
Allies: Romania, Montenegro, Greece, Portugal
Central Powers: Bulgaria
Neutral Nations: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Albania, Spain