Causes of World War ICauses of World War IPart 3Part 3

Causes of the WarCauses of the War

The The ““ismsisms””– NationalismNationalism– ImperialismImperialism– MilitarismMilitarism

Entangling alliancesEntangling alliances– Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-

Hungary, ItalyHungary, Italy– Triple Entente – Britain, France, RussiaTriple Entente – Britain, France, Russia

Failed DiplomacyFailed Diplomacy

The Balkans had many The Balkans had many ethnicities with different ethnicities with different language, culture, religions, language, culture, religions, etc.etc.In 1908, talks between In 1908, talks between Russian Foreign Minister Russian Foreign Minister Alexander Izvolski Alexander Izvolski (eezvolskee) and Habsburg (eezvolskee) and Habsburg Foreign Minister Count Foreign Minister Count Aehrenthal led to the Balkan Aehrenthal led to the Balkan fuse being litfuse being lit

Aehrenthal

Failed DiplomacyFailed Diplomacy

Russia – wanted to change the Russia – wanted to change the ““rulerule”” of the of the Straits of Constantinople, which was closed to Straits of Constantinople, which was closed to all warships when Turkey was at peace, to a all warships when Turkey was at peace, to a new rule which would allow Russian warships new rule which would allow Russian warships to pass themto pass them

Austria-Hungary – wanted to convert the Austria-Hungary – wanted to convert the occupation of the two Turkish provinces of occupation of the two Turkish provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina into an actual Bosnia and Herzegovina into an actual annexationannexation

Failed DiplomacyFailed DiplomacyThey promised each other mutual support…the They promised each other mutual support…the basis of the talks were to increase Austro-Russian basis of the talks were to increase Austro-Russian cooperationcooperationAehrenthal collected his side of the bargain, before Aehrenthal collected his side of the bargain, before Izvolski could speak to the Tsar or BritainIzvolski could speak to the Tsar or BritainSlav Serbia, resenting the annexation, appealed to Slav Serbia, resenting the annexation, appealed to Russia for support; Austria relied on GermanyRussia for support; Austria relied on GermanyTo save face, Izvolski claimed he had been tricked To save face, Izvolski claimed he had been tricked by Aehrenthalby AehrenthalGood relations between Austria and Russia were Good relations between Austria and Russia were ended. They would no longer settle their imperial ended. They would no longer settle their imperial rivalries in the Balkans togetherrivalries in the Balkans together

Russian Support of SerbiaRussian Support of Serbia

SerbiaSerbia’’s nationalist feelings s nationalist feelings had been wildly aroused by had been wildly aroused by the Monarchythe Monarchy’’s annexation s annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was inhabited by which was inhabited by mostly Serbsmostly SerbsRussia backed Serbia and Russia backed Serbia and Germany backed AustriaGermany backed AustriaThe Russians backed down The Russians backed down as they werenas they weren’’t ready for wart ready for war

Russian Support of SerbiaRussian Support of Serbia

Russia had been more concerned with Russia had been more concerned with Constantinople than with supporting SerbiaConstantinople than with supporting Serbia

The Russian government in 1914 knew they had The Russian government in 1914 knew they had failed to support Serbia in the previous year as failed to support Serbia in the previous year as warmly as the Serbs had expected and hopedwarmly as the Serbs had expected and hoped

Failure to support Serbia again would mean the Failure to support Serbia again would mean the end of Russian prestige in the Balkans and the end of Russian prestige in the Balkans and the beginning of a possible new diplomatic alignment beginning of a possible new diplomatic alignment therethere

First and Second Balkan WarsFirst and Second Balkan Wars

The small Balkan states were greedy and The small Balkan states were greedy and wanted Turkish territory in Europewanted Turkish territory in Europe

They were ready to fight each other over They were ready to fight each other over the spoilsthe spoils

In 1912 and 1913, the Balkan states went In 1912 and 1913, the Balkan states went to war with each otherto war with each other

As a result, Serbia greatly increased her As a result, Serbia greatly increased her territory, to the alarm of Austriaterritory, to the alarm of Austria

Effects of the Balkan WarsEffects of the Balkan Wars

Greece, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Montenegro gained Romania, Montenegro gained independenceindependenceSerbia gained a much greater sense of Serbia gained a much greater sense of nationalism because they won both and nationalism because they won both and gained territorygained territoryRussia and Austria-Hungary felt equally Russia and Austria-Hungary felt equally threatened by each otherthreatened by each other’’s diplomatic s diplomatic policiespolicies

Cause #5 – AssassinationCause #5 – Assassination

The emperor going into WWI was The emperor going into WWI was Francis Joseph, who had won the Francis Joseph, who had won the affection of his subjects simply by affection of his subjects simply by always having been there:always having been there:

– Braved family misfortunesBraved family misfortunes– Was simple and honestWas simple and honest– Had pride in his old ageHad pride in his old age

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was his Archduke Franz Ferdinand was his only heir to the throneonly heir to the throne

Cause #5 – Cause #5 – AssassinationAssassination

Occurred on June 28, 1914Occurred on June 28, 1914The assassins received their weapons from the The assassins received their weapons from the Serbian terrorist organization called the Black Serbian terrorist organization called the Black Hand. It was headed by Colonel Dragutin Hand. It was headed by Colonel Dragutin Dimirijevic, who was also in charge of army secret Dimirijevic, who was also in charge of army secret intelligence in Serbiaintelligence in SerbiaThe Bosnian youths had also been helped by The Bosnian youths had also been helped by Serbian agents across the borderSerbian agents across the borderDespite a warning by the PM of Serbia, Nikola Despite a warning by the PM of Serbia, Nikola Pasic, Archduke Francis Ferdinand went to Bosnia Pasic, Archduke Francis Ferdinand went to Bosnia anyhowanyhowWhen the chauffeur hesitated which way to go, When the chauffeur hesitated which way to go, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated the ArchdukeGavrilo Princip, assassinated the Archduke

The Assassins Locations: 28th June, 1914

1 Muhamed Mehmedbasic

5 Gavrilo Princip (morning)

2 Nedjelko Cabrinovic6 Gavrilo Princip (afternoon)

3 Vaso Cubrilovic 7 Trifko Grabez

4 Cvijetko Popovic 8 Danilo Ilic

Gavrilo Princip

The Archduke’s Car

The Archduke’s Uniform

Cause #5 – AssassinationCause #5 – AssassinationAustria-HungaryAustria-Hungary’’s Reactions Reaction

They believed that:They believed that:– Serbia and Russia would be restrained by Serbia and Russia would be restrained by

Austria backed by GermanyAustria backed by Germany– A diplomatic offensive was no longer enoughA diplomatic offensive was no longer enough– Serbia needed to be Serbia needed to be ““punished or the empirepunished or the empire’’s s

role as a great power would be at an endrole as a great power would be at an end””– If they didnIf they didn’’t do something, ethnicities in their t do something, ethnicities in their

country would stand up to the Austrian govcountry would stand up to the Austrian gov’’t and t and push for independencepush for independence

Cause #5 – Cause #5 – Assassination:Assassination:Blank CheckBlank Check

Bethman Hollweg (the German Bethman Hollweg (the German chancellor), the Kaiser, and the chancellor), the Kaiser, and the military decided to back Austria-military decided to back Austria-Hungary with German military Hungary with German military support if necessary, should Russia support if necessary, should Russia interveneinterveneThe Austrian ministers were given a The Austrian ministers were given a free hand to settle with Serbia in any free hand to settle with Serbia in any way they thought appropriateway they thought appropriate

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:The Wait For WarThe Wait For War

Even after the German assurances, there was Even after the German assurances, there was still hesitation:still hesitation:

– A-H PM was opposed to war and did NOT A-H PM was opposed to war and did NOT want Serbia annexed because he didnwant Serbia annexed because he didn’’t want t want any more Slavsany more Slavs

– The army asked for more time to prepareThe army asked for more time to prepare– A-H decided to wait until the French A-H decided to wait until the French

President and PM had ended their visit to St. President and PM had ended their visit to St. Petersburg, making it more difficult to consult Petersburg, making it more difficult to consult her French allyher French ally

On July 23rd, an ultimatum was presentedOn July 23rd, an ultimatum was presented

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:War BeginsWar Begins

On July 25th, although Serbia submitted to all On July 25th, although Serbia submitted to all the demands except Austrian investigators, the demands except Austrian investigators, Serbia mobilized her armySerbia mobilized her army

Later that evening, the Austro-Hungarian army Later that evening, the Austro-Hungarian army mobilized against Serbiamobilized against Serbia

Although the Austro-Hungarian army wouldnAlthough the Austro-Hungarian army wouldn’’t t be ready for another 3 weeks, they declared be ready for another 3 weeks, they declared war on the 28th of Julywar on the 28th of July

On July 29th, they bombarded BelgradeOn July 29th, they bombarded Belgrade

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:RussiaRussia’’s Reactions Reaction

The Tsar hoped that Germany and The Tsar hoped that Germany and the other powers would stand aside the other powers would stand aside while Russia supported Serbia to while Russia supported Serbia to prevent Austria-Hungary from prevent Austria-Hungary from attacking Serbiaattacking SerbiaRussia Russia ““partiallypartially”” mobilized against mobilized against Austria-Hungary on July 29thAustria-Hungary on July 29thThe French urged for FULL The French urged for FULL mobilizationmobilization

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:RussiaRussia’’s Reactions Reaction

The Tsar wanted to avoid pushing The Tsar wanted to avoid pushing Germany into mobilization by his partial Germany into mobilization by his partial mobilization, but eventually he was told mobilization, but eventually he was told this was technically impossible, so he this was technically impossible, so he consented to a general mobilization on consented to a general mobilization on July 31stJuly 31st

This triggered the military in Berlin, which This triggered the military in Berlin, which was now in a frenzywas now in a frenzy

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:GermanyGermany’’s Reactions Reaction

The Schlieffen Plan was dependent on The Schlieffen Plan was dependent on quick mobilization and defeat of France. quick mobilization and defeat of France. Any country that mobilized meant that Any country that mobilized meant that the plan would have to be executed or it the plan would have to be executed or it would be too latewould be too lateAs soon as the policy of frightening As soon as the policy of frightening Russia into acquiescence had failed, Russia into acquiescence had failed, the Germans mobilized. France had to the Germans mobilized. France had to be defeated before Russia fully be defeated before Russia fully mobilizedmobilized

Cause #5 – Assassination:Cause #5 – Assassination:War Is Declared By GermanyWar Is Declared By Germany

On August 1st, 1914, war On August 1st, 1914, war was declared on Russiawas declared on Russia

On August 3rd, 1914, war On August 3rd, 1914, war was declared on Francewas declared on France

On August 4th, 1914, On August 4th, 1914, Germany invaded neutral Germany invaded neutral Belgium; Britain declared Belgium; Britain declared war on Germany the same war on Germany the same dayday

Why Diplomacy FailedWhy Diplomacy Failed

Alliances divided the world and made it more Alliances divided the world and made it more likely for a large war to developlikely for a large war to developCountries couldnCountries couldn’’t settle their imperial disputes t settle their imperial disputes and created competition/rivalriesand created competition/rivalriesThe blank check issued by Germany bolstered The blank check issued by Germany bolstered AustriaAustria’’s confidences confidenceThe ultimatum failed to settle the Serbian-The ultimatum failed to settle the Serbian-Austria conflict peacefullyAustria conflict peacefullyBritish attempts to call for a conference for British attempts to call for a conference for peace after the assassination failedpeace after the assassination failed