1. WWI
Europe Early 1900’s

2. Great Powers
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Russia, Italy and France
These “Great powers” of Europe were competing for materials and markets all and territorial borders which all stemmed from Imperialism

3. Great Powers
Nationalism- The nations of Europe believed greatness would be achieved though military prowess
Militarism- The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an army prepared for war.

4. Military Alliances
Growing rivalries and mutual mistrust led to the creation of two rival camps, the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente

5. Military Alliances Triple Alliance: Triple Entente:
- Germany - Great Britain
- Austria-Hungary - France
Italy - Russia
A dispute between any two of these rival powers could drag all of the nations into war
“You mess with one of us, you mess with ALL of us!”

6. Powder Keg
The Balkan Peninsula had a history of ethnic clashes and Nationalists Uprisings
The situation between Serbia and Austria-Hungary was “explosive”…i.e (powder Keg)
Their tensions were over territorial disputes

7. Powder Keg
June 28, Archduke Franz Ferdinand & his pregnant wife Sophia were assassinated
The assignations were carried out by a Serbian Terrorist Group known as “The Black Hand”
“The Black Hand” was determined to rid Bosnia of Austrian rule
As a result, on July 28 Austria declared war on Serbia
Russia, an ally if Serbia also marched toward Austria that day

8. Europe Plunges Into War
The Chain Reaction!
July 28 Austria declares war on Serbia
Russia mobilizes troops towards Austrian border
August 1 Germany declares war on Russia
Germany declares war on France
Europe is now locked in to all out war!

9. Europe Plunges Into War
The Battle Lines!
Germany and Austria Hungary were known as the Central Powers because of their location in the heart of Europe, they would later be joined by Bulgaria and the ottoman Empire
Great Britain, France and Russia were known as the allied powers or Allies, they were soon joined by Japan, Italy, and Armenia

10. The War Fronts
Western Front The region in Northern France which became deadlocked during the fall of 1914
Eastern Front A Stretch of battlefield along the German and Russian border where Russians and Serbs battled Germans and Austro-Hungarians

11. Slaughter and Stalemate
New tools of war such as machine guns, poison gas, tanks and airplanes did not speed up the war
New tools of war resulted in more efficient “killing” and larger loss of life
Trench Warfare- Soldiers fought each other from trenches, progress was slow, death tolls were high
This led to more slaughter and stalemate