1

The First World War- The First World War- War at Home & Abroad &War at Home & Abroad &

Treaty of Versailles & Treaty of Versailles &

Fourteen PointsFourteen Points

2

Assassination of Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand

(June 1914)(June 1914)

The following is an eyewitness account of the Archduke Franz The following is an eyewitness account of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s bodyguard. Ferdinand’s bodyguard.

He was one of those in the car when the Archduke of Austria-He was one of those in the car when the Archduke of Austria-Hungary was shot. Hungary was shot.

““At that, I seized the Archduke by the collar of his uniform, to stop his At that, I seized the Archduke by the collar of his uniform, to stop his head dropping forward and asked him if he was in great pain. He head dropping forward and asked him if he was in great pain. He answered me quite distinctly, 'It's nothing!' His face began to twist answered me quite distinctly, 'It's nothing!' His face began to twist somewhat but he went on repeating, six or seven times, ever more somewhat but he went on repeating, six or seven times, ever more faintly as he gradually lost consciousness, 'It's nothing!' Then, after a faintly as he gradually lost consciousness, 'It's nothing!' Then, after a short pause, there was a violent choking sound caused by the short pause, there was a violent choking sound caused by the

bleeding. It was stopped as we reached the Konak."bleeding. It was stopped as we reached the Konak."

3

Woodrow Wilson:Woodrow Wilson: U.S. Declaration of Neutrality U.S. Declaration of Neutrality

(August 19, 1914)(August 19, 1914)

Austria-Hungary declared war on Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia in July, 1914 after the Serbia in July, 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Ferdinand.

This one declaration of war This one declaration of war brought many other world brought many other world powers into war because of the powers into war because of the alliances each country had made alliances each country had made prior to the outbreak of war. prior to the outbreak of war.

President Wilson declared the President Wilson declared the United States neutral at the United States neutral at the outset of war. outset of war.

4

German Declaration of Naval German Declaration of Naval Blockade Against Shipping to Blockade Against Shipping to

Britain (February 4, 1915) Britain (February 4, 1915)

The following is the declaration by the German government The following is the declaration by the German government informing countries around the world that Germany was establishing informing countries around the world that Germany was establishing

a war zonea war zone Germany did this in response to Britain’s naval blockade of Germany did this in response to Britain’s naval blockade of

Germany.Germany. ““The waters round Great Britain and Ireland, including the English The waters round Great Britain and Ireland, including the English

Channel, are hereby proclaimed a war region.Channel, are hereby proclaimed a war region.On and after February 18th every enemy merchant vessel found in On and after February 18th every enemy merchant vessel found in this region will be destroyed, without its always being possible to this region will be destroyed, without its always being possible to warn the crews or passengers of the dangers threatening.”warn the crews or passengers of the dangers threatening.”

5

President Wilson: U.S. 'Strict President Wilson: U.S. 'Strict Accountability' Warning to Germany Accountability' Warning to Germany

(February 10, 1915)(February 10, 1915) After World War I started Great Britain blockaded Germany. After World War I started Great Britain blockaded Germany. In response Germany declared a War Zone around Great Britain In response Germany declared a War Zone around Great Britain

and used unrestricted submarine warfare sinking all ships and used unrestricted submarine warfare sinking all ships regardless if they were belligerents or neutral countries.regardless if they were belligerents or neutral countries.

In the following Wilson warned that the US would hold Germany In the following Wilson warned that the US would hold Germany accountable for any harm done to Americans or their property on accountable for any harm done to Americans or their property on the seas. the seas.

““the Imperial German Government can readily appreciate that the the Imperial German Government can readily appreciate that the Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the Imperial Government of Germany to a strict accountability…and to Imperial Government of Germany to a strict accountability…and to take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American take any steps it might be necessary to take to safeguard American lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full lives and property and to secure to American citizens the full enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas.”enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas.”

6

The Lusitania and Unrestricted The Lusitania and Unrestricted Submarine Warfare Submarine Warfare

7

Propaganda Leaflettes Propaganda Leaflettes from World War Ifrom World War I

The following excerpts include examples of leaflets dropped over enemy The following excerpts include examples of leaflets dropped over enemy lines from planes and balloons. lines from planes and balloons.

These are great examples of the types of psychological tricks employed These are great examples of the types of psychological tricks employed by the combatants during the war.by the combatants during the war.

* British leaflet dropped into German trenches by balloon:* British leaflet dropped into German trenches by balloon:

FOR WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING, MICHEL? FOR WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING, MICHEL?

They tell you that you are fighting for the Fatherland. They tell you that you are fighting for the Fatherland. Have you ever thought why you are fighting? Have you ever thought why you are fighting?

You are fighting to glorify Hindenburg, to enrich Krupp. You are fighting to glorify Hindenburg, to enrich Krupp. You are struggling for the Kaiser, the Junkers, and the You are struggling for the Kaiser, the Junkers, and the militarists....militarists....

8

U.S. Propaganda Posters U.S. Propaganda Posters

9

10

German Ambassador German Ambassador Count Johann von Bernstorff: Count Johann von Bernstorff: letter to Robert Lansing, U.S. letter to Robert Lansing, U.S.

Secretary of State Secretary of State (January 31, 1917)(January 31, 1917)

This is a response from The German Ambassador to the This is a response from The German Ambassador to the Secretary of State regarding President Wilson’s stance on Secretary of State regarding President Wilson’s stance on unrestricted submarine warfare unrestricted submarine warfare

““The German people also repudiate all alliances which serve to The German people also repudiate all alliances which serve to force the countries into a competition for might and to involve force the countries into a competition for might and to involve them in a net of selfish intrigues.  On the other hand, Germany them in a net of selfish intrigues.  On the other hand, Germany will gladly cooperate in all efforts to prevent future wars.”will gladly cooperate in all efforts to prevent future wars.”

11

President Wilson: Address to President Wilson: Address to Congress (February 3, 1917)Congress (February 3, 1917)

This is President Wilson’s response to Germany’s This is President Wilson’s response to Germany’s decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare. decision to resume unrestricted submarine warfare.

““Unless the Imperial Government should now Unless the Imperial Government should now immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its immediately declare and effect an abandonment of its present methods of submarine warfare against present methods of submarine warfare against passenger and freight carrying vessels, the Government passenger and freight carrying vessels, the Government of the United States can have no choice but to sever of the United States can have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations with the German Empire altogether.”diplomatic relations with the German Empire altogether.”

12

Arthur Zimmermann:Arthur Zimmermann: Decoded message text of the Decoded message text of the

Zimmermann TelegramZimmermann Telegram The following is a letter the German foreign minister Arthur The following is a letter the German foreign minister Arthur

Zimmermann wrote to Mexico. Zimmermann wrote to Mexico. Germany wanted to try and beat the Allied Powers before the U.S. Germany wanted to try and beat the Allied Powers before the U.S.

joined. joined. Germany thought if the U.S. were to be fighting a war against Germany thought if the U.S. were to be fighting a war against

Mexico in the U.S. they would not send troops to fight in Europe. Mexico in the U.S. they would not send troops to fight in Europe. This note was published in U.S. newspapers and angered most This note was published in U.S. newspapers and angered most

Americans. A month later the U.S. declared war on Germany, April Americans. A month later the U.S. declared war on Germany, April 4, 1917.4, 1917.

““keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal or alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory”reconquer the lost territory”

13

The Espionage Act The Espionage Act (May 16, 1917)(May 16, 1917)

The following act was passed by Congress shortly after The following act was passed by Congress shortly after the United States declared war on Germany in April, the United States declared war on Germany in April, 1917. 1917.

Congress passed this to silence people who did not Congress passed this to silence people who did not support the war in the U.S. support the war in the U.S.

““and whoever shall wilfully advocate, teach, defend, or and whoever shall wilfully advocate, teach, defend, or suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this suggest the doing of any of the acts or things in this section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act section enumerated and whoever shall by word or act support or favor the cause of any coun try with which the support or favor the cause of any coun try with which the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the United States is at war or by word or act oppose the cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a cause of the United States therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both”more than twenty years, or both”

14

Woodrow Wilson: Woodrow Wilson: Fourteen Points Fourteen Points

(January 8, 1918)(January 8, 1918) The following is President Wilson’s plan to end World War I; The following is President Wilson’s plan to end World War I;

The Fourteen Points. The Fourteen Points. He delivered this plan to congress January 8, 1918 after an He delivered this plan to congress January 8, 1918 after an

armistice was signed to stop the war in Europe November 11, armistice was signed to stop the war in Europe November 11, 1918.1918.

““What we demand in this war, therefore, is nothing peculiar to What we demand in this war, therefore, is nothing peculiar to ourselves. It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and ourselves. It is that the world be made fit and safe to live in; and particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation particularly that it be made safe for every peace-loving nation which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own which, like our own, wishes to live its own life, determine its own institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other institutions, be assured of justice and fair dealing by the other peoples of the world as against force and selfish aggressionpeoples of the world as against force and selfish aggression” ”

15

Peace Treaty of Versailles: Peace Treaty of Versailles: Articles 159-213; Articles 159-213;

Military, Naval and Air Clauses Military, Naval and Air Clauses After World War I ended a peace conference was held in After World War I ended a peace conference was held in

Paris. Paris. At this peace Conference the Big 4 (President Wilson from the At this peace Conference the Big 4 (President Wilson from the

U.S., Prime Minister David Lloyd George from Great Britain, U.S., Prime Minister David Lloyd George from Great Britain, Premier Georges Clemenceau from France, and Prime Premier Georges Clemenceau from France, and Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando from Italy) dominated the peace Minister Vittorio Orlando from Italy) dominated the peace talks. talks.

The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that Germany signed. The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that Germany signed. The terms of the treaty were very harsh and disliked by The terms of the treaty were very harsh and disliked by

Germans. Germans. The Treaty of Versailles made many German soldiers, like The Treaty of Versailles made many German soldiers, like

Adolf Hitler, bitter about the results of World War I. Adolf Hitler, bitter about the results of World War I.