1. The Great War Begins
Chapter 11
Section 1

2. Videos:

3. Triple Alliance
Bismarck (Germany) knew France wanted revenge after losing Franco-Prussian War
Knew they wouldn’t do so alone
By 1882 he had signed treaties with Italy and Austria-Hungary to form the Triple Alliance (Later known as the Central Powers)
Germany also drew close to Ottoman Empire

4. Triple Entente France formed an alliance in 1893 with Russia
Then formed an entente with Britain in 1904
Triple Entente later known as the Allies
Britain also drew close to Japan

6. Competition Britain felt threatened by Germany’s rapid growth
Germany felt disrespected
Germany felt threatened by possible growth of Russia (Stolypin)

7. Competition
1905 & 1911 Moroccan crises caused Britain and France to strengthen ties
Britain and Germany began a naval arms race
Germany began to build to protect its growing overseas empire
Britain became suspicious
Militarism
Glorified the military
Fed by nationalism

8. Nationalism
Germans proud of their new empire’s military power and industrial leadership
French remembered glory of Napoleon, bitter about Franco-Prussian War, especially loss of Alsace and Lorraine.
Russia sponsored Pan-Slavism: idea that all Slavic peoples shared a common nationality
As largest Slavic country, had duty to defend all Slavs (such as Serbia)
Serbia could take territory away from both Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire

9. Balkans
1912 – Balkan Wars
Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro unite against Ottomans to take over Balkans
Begin fighting each other over the territory seized
Tensions rise as Serbia gains power
Austria-Hungary feels threatened
Germany sees it as Russian power growing

11. Powder Keg Ignites
Archduke Francis Ferdinand, nephew and heir of Austria-Hungary announces a visit to Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia
Bosnia under Austria-Hungary control
Bosnia home to many Slavs, especially Serbs

12. Powder Keg Ignites Visit to be on June 28
Date Serbia was conquered by Ottomans (1389)
Date Serbia freed itself from Ottoman rule (1912)
Also anniversary of Francis Ferdinand and Sophie

13. Powder Keg Ignites
Unity or Death (Black Hand) terrorist group vows action
Archduke ignores warnings and travels in open car
Gavrilo Princip fires twice into the car killing the archduke and his wife

16. Powder Keg Ignites
Francis Joseph (leader of Austria-Hungary) shocked but reluctant to go to war
His government saw it as an excuse to finally crush Serbia
Germany promised unconditional support

17. Austria Strikes Back
Francis Joseph sends Serbia an ultimatum of 10 points, including
End all anti-Austrian agitation
Punish any Serbian official involved in plot
Let Austria join investigation
Serbia agrees to most, rejecting only 1
July 28, 1914, Austria declares war on Serbia

18. Alliances Kick In
Serbia turned to Russia, champion of Slavic nations, for help
Tsar Nicholas II asked German Kaiser William II (his cousin by marriage) to ask Austria to ease up.
Didn’t happen
Russia mobilizes along Austria-Hungary border
So Germany declares war on Russia

19. Alliances Kick In Russia not prepared for war Appeals to ally France
France gives Russia unconditional support
Germany warns France to butt out
France refuses
Germany declares war on France
Italy and Britain uncommitted

21. Schlieffen Plan Named for General Alfred von Schlieffen
To avoid 2 front war (France on one side, Russia on the other) take out France as quickly as possible
Thought Russia would be slow to mobilize
After defeating France, turn army around to fight Russia

23. Schlieffen Plan
Requires Germany to march through neutral Belgium to swing behind French lines, encircling them
Germany invades Belgium August 3
Britain had signed treaty guaranteeing Belgium neutrality
Britain declares war on Germany August 4

24. Maps: http://www.the-map-as-history.com/demos/tome06/

25. Assessment
Pg 357 (3-6)