1. WWI
Chapter 26

2. Who’s Fighting? Triple Alliance
Italy, Germany, and Austria-Hungary
Germany and Austria-Hungary became the Central Powers
Germany also later signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire
Triple Entente (Non-binding agreement to follow common policies)
France, Russia, Britain
Became known as the Allies

3. Starting the War Assassination in Sarajevo
Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist in Bosnia
Bosnia was a part of Austria-Hungary, but home to many Serbs and other Slavs
Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph was shocked, but not quite ready for war
Government saw this as an opportunity to crush Serbia
Sent an ultimatum that Serbia must cease all anti-Austrian agitation or else Austria would declare war
July 28, 1914 war is declared

4. Entangled Alliances Russia backs Serbia and begins to mobilize troops
Germany then declares war on Russia
Russia looks to France for assistance, France offered backing to Russia
Germany declares war on France

5. The Schlieffen Plan
Developed by Alfred von Schlieffen to avoid a two front war
Counted on defeating France quickly and then turning efforts to Russia
Require German armies to march through Belgium and attack behind French lines
European powers had signed a treaty guaranteeing Belgium’s neutrality
Britain was outraged and declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914

6. Schlieffen Plan Failure
Belgium put up more of a fight than the Germans expected
French & British were able
to hold back the German troops
at the Marne River in Sept. 1914
Both side dug trenches and
Fought in a long, deadly, stalemate
Battle lines remained unchanged
for nearly 4 years

7. Modern Weapons
Modern weapons were used with old fighting strategies that led to disastrous results
Machine gun
Could be used to kill enemy very quickly
Artillery
Used in Napoleonic Wars as well
Allowed combatants to kill others from as far as 10 miles away
Poison Gas
First used by Germans
Caused burning and blisters

8. Modern Weapons Britain used the first armored tank in 1916
Designed to move across no mans land
Unreliable
Planes were originally used to observe enemy troops
Zeppelins
Huge, gas filled balloons used by Germans to bomb the English Coast
Submarines
German U-Boats did tremendous damage to the Allies