1. Chapter 13 Section 2

2.  One European nation after another was drawn into a large and industrialized war that resulted in many casualties.  Much of the technology of modern warfare, such as fighter planes and tanks, was introduced in World War I.

3.  By 1914, Europe was divided into two rival camps. ◦ The Triple Entente  Great Britain, France and Russia ◦ The Triple Alliance  Germany, Austria- Hungary and Italy  Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia set off a chain reaction within the alliance system. ◦ Pledged to support each other.

4.  Russia began moving its army toward the Russian-Austrian border in response to Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia.  Russia expected Germany to join Austria, therefore, they also moved their troops to the German border.  Germany took this as a declaration of war. ◦ Germany declared war on Russia on 8/1/1914

6.  Russia looked to France for help.  Before France could react, Germany declared war on them, too.  Great Britain declared war on Germany.

7.  By mid-August 1914, the battle lines were clearly drawn.  Germany and A-H were on one side. ◦ Central Powers  Later joined by Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire  Britain, France and Russia on the other side. ◦ Allied Powers or Allies  Japan soon joined  Italy joined later

8.  Italy had been a member of the Triple Alliance with Germany and A-H.  However, Italians felt that Germany and A-H unjustly started a war and changed sides.

9.  Many people felt that the war would be short.  By fall of 1914, the war turned into a long and bloody stalemate.  This deadlocked region in northern France became known as the Western Front.

10.  Germany was facing a war on two fronts.  Developed a battle strategy known as the Schlieffen Plan. ◦ Called for attacking and defeating France in the west then rushing to fight Russia in the east.  Germans felt this plan would work because Russians lagged behind Europe in their railroad system. ◦ This meant longer waits for supplies on the front line.

11.  German leaders needed a quick victory over France.  Things looked good for Germany at first.  They entered the outskirts of Paris.  Allies, however, regrouped and attacked the Germans.  After four days of fighting, Germans gave the order to retreat.

12.  The First Battle of Marne.  Defeat of the Germans left the Schlieffen Plan in ruins.  Russian forces had already invaded Germany in the east.  Germany was forced to fight a two front war. ◦ Sent troops to the east. ◦ Western Front remained in stalemate.

13.  By 1915, the armies on the Western Front had dug miles of parallel trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire.  This set the stage for trench warfare.  Soldiers fought each other from the trenches.  Armies traded huge losses of life for small land gains.

14.  Life in trenches was pure misery.  Mud  Rats  Food – nonexistent  Sleep – nearly impossible

15.  Space between the trenches = no man’s land.  When ordered to attack, soldiers would enter this area. ◦ Faced many rounds of gunfire  Stay in the trench? ◦ Gunfire went right into the trenches, too. WWI - European Conflict.asxWWI - European Conflict.asx

16.  Military strategists were at a loss.  The new tools of war had not delivered the fast moving war they expected. ◦ Machine guns ◦ Poison gas ◦ Armored tanks ◦ Larger artillery ◦ Big Bertha  Technology killed greater numbers of people more effectively.

17.  War on the Western Front claimed thousands of lives.  Both sides were still sending millions more men to fight on the Eastern Front. ◦ Stretch of battlefield along the German and Russian border.  Russians and Serbs were battling Germans and Austro- Hungarians.  More mobile than in the west.  Slaughter and stalemate were still common.

18.  Russian forces launched an attack into both Austria and Germany.  Germans counterattacked and crushed the Russian army, killing 30,000 Russians.  Russians drove deep into Austria after two wins.  Three months later (December 1914) Austrians defeated the Russians and pushed them out of their country.

19.  By 1916, Russia’s war effort was near collapse.  Russia was not industrialized like other European countries. ◦ Short on food, guns, ammunition, clothes, boots and blankets.  Allied supply shipments were limited by German control of the Baltic Sea, extensive submarines in the North Sea and Ottoman control of the Black Sea.

20.  Russian army’s one asset – it’s numbers.  The Russian army, due to it’s population, managed to hold up hundreds of thousands of German troops on the Eastern Front.  As a result, Germany could not fully attack the west.  Fighting soon spread to Africa, Southwest and Southeast Asia.