The Great WarThe Great War

Europe Loses Her BalanceEurope Loses Her Balance

1.1. New Strong Nations Emerge: New Strong Nations Emerge:a.a. Germany: From Prussia and German speaking lands 1871 Germany: From Prussia and German speaking lands 1871established as a result of the Franco-Prussian War or 1870-established as a result of the Franco-Prussian War or 1870-7171b.b. Italy: Kingdom of Italy proclaimed in 1861 Italy: Kingdom of Italy proclaimed in 1861

2.2. Sense of Balance is lost as new strong nations begin to compete Sense of Balance is lost as new strong nations begin to compete economically and militarily.economically and militarily.a.a. of the two, Germany was the up and coming powerhouse. of the two, Germany was the up and coming powerhouse.Victories over Austria in the Seven Weeks War(1866), and Victories over Austria in the Seven Weeks War(1866), and over France in the Franco-Prussian War(1870-71)over France in the Franco-Prussian War(1870-71)

3.3. Loss of Established Strength Loss of Established Strengtha.a. Ottoman (Turkish) Empire Ottoman (Turkish) Empireb.b. Becomes Weak ““The Sick Man of EuropeThe Sick Man of Europe””c.c. Europeans Jockey for position here Europeans Jockey for position here

Shift: Balance of FearShift: Balance of FearLate 19Late 19thth -20 -20thth Century Century

A.A. IndustrializationIndustrialization

1. Nations prosper with strong national 1. Nations prosper with strong national economies economies Arms raceArms race

2. new 2. new ““high techhigh tech”” weapons, but…low tech weapons, but…low tech strategiesstrategies

a. machine guna. machine gun

b. trench warfareb. trench warfare ““no manno man’’s lands land””

BB. Colonization: Scramble for Africa (& Asia). Colonization: Scramble for Africa (& Asia)

Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism

National Newspapers National Newspapers spread hatred and spread hatred and nationalismnationalism

Two Main Blocks Two Main Blocks Develop:Develop:

Triple AllianceTriple Alliance Triple EntenteTriple Entente

The Powder Keg of The Powder Keg of Europe IgnitesEurope Ignites Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Wife Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Wife

assassinatedassassinated

Reaction of Reaction of Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary

Threatens Serbia because they believe Threatens Serbia because they believe that the Serbian Government knew of the that the Serbian Government knew of the plotplot

Need to Need to ““Save FaceSave Face”” and show that they and show that they are an established strength in the are an established strength in the BalkansBalkans This would stop Serbian support for This would stop Serbian support for

nationalism in Bosnianationalism in Bosnia

Austria Receives Austria Receives ““Blank Blank CheckCheck”” from Germany from Germany

Kaiser writes personal letter issuing full Kaiser writes personal letter issuing full supportsupport

Austria now has confidence to wage Austria now has confidence to wage war, war, if necessaryif necessary

An entire month after the incident, An entire month after the incident, on June 28th 1914, Austria on June 28th 1914, Austria declares war on Serbiadeclares war on Serbia

The Dominoes Begin to FallThe Dominoes Begin to Fall Tsar orders a partial mobilization to scare Austria into peaceTsar orders a partial mobilization to scare Austria into peace

Kaiser writes friendly letter to his cousin urging him to stop Kaiser writes friendly letter to his cousin urging him to stop mobilization. mobilization.

Tsar waits then hearing of GermanyTsar waits then hearing of Germany’’s mobilization, orders full s mobilization, orders full mobilizationmobilization Slow, huge, long distancesSlow, huge, long distances UnpreparedUnprepared

Germany Declares War on Russia on August 1Germany Declares War on Russia on August 1 FranceFrance, in following the alliance formed with Russia, begins to , in following the alliance formed with Russia, begins to

mobilize on August 1mobilize on August 1 GermanyGermany

Sends letter to Belgium asking to use Belgium lands to attack Sends letter to Belgium asking to use Belgium lands to attack France; if Belgium refuses, Germany will consider her an enemyFrance; if Belgium refuses, Germany will consider her an enemy

Declares War on France (states that a French aircraft entered Declares War on France (states that a French aircraft entered GermanyGermany’’s airspace) on Aug 4s airspace) on Aug 4

Moves into BelgiumMoves into Belgium EnglandEngland

Declares war on Germany over Belgium Neutrality on Aug 4Declares war on Germany over Belgium Neutrality on Aug 4 Must keep channel Free of German NavyMust keep channel Free of German Navy

So It Begins…So It Begins…

Plans, Opening Moves and the Plans, Opening Moves and the World of 1914World of 1914

The PlansThe Plans

Germany: Schlieffen PlanGermany: Schlieffen Plan France: Plan XVIIFrance: Plan XVII Beligium: Get ready…here comes Germany.Beligium: Get ready…here comes Germany. Britain: Control the seas and send the BEFBritain: Control the seas and send the BEF

Did not believe that they would have to send Did not believe that they would have to send their whole army.their whole army.

Italy: NeutralItaly: Neutral Russia: Get moving…prepared or not!Russia: Get moving…prepared or not!

Two attacks: North and SouthTwo attacks: North and South

Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan

KeysKeys Strong right Strong right

through through Belgium takes Belgium takes ParisParis

Left feints Left feints retreatretreat

Take French Take French PortsPorts

France: Plan XVIIFrance: Plan XVII

Emphasized Emphasized ““elanelan”” and and ““crancran”” – – ““courage and guts.courage and guts.””

Push with Push with ““all forces united to attack all forces united to attack the German armiesthe German armies””

Underestimated strength of German Underestimated strength of German forces going through Belgiumforces going through Belgium

Opening MovesOpening Moves

Western FrontWestern Front

Eastern FrontEastern Front

New Weapons UsedNew Weapons Used

Machine GunsMachine Guns – Weapon – Weapon that changed the strategy that changed the strategy of warof war

AirplanesAirplanes Poison GasPoison Gas – though – though

France was the first to use France was the first to use chemical warfare, it was chemical warfare, it was Germany that used Germany that used chemical warfare in the chemical warfare in the form of poison gases form of poison gases (chlorine, phosgene, (chlorine, phosgene, mustard) most extensively. mustard) most extensively.

TankTank – introduced by the – introduced by the British in Sept. 1916, the British in Sept. 1916, the tank did not prove effective tank did not prove effective and reliable until WWIIand reliable until WWII

Country Total Casualties Deaths

Austria-Hungary 100,000 3,000

British Empire 188,706 8,109

France 190,000 8,000

Germany 200,000 9,000

Italy 60,000 4,627

Russia 419,340 56,000

USA 72,807 1,462

Others 10,000 1,000

Casualties and Deaths by Gas

The Red Baron’s (Manfred von Rickthofen) Triplane

United States Gets United States Gets InvolvedInvolved 1916—Wilson reelected with slogan, 1916—Wilson reelected with slogan, ““He He

kept us out of war.kept us out of war.”” Pressure builds to intervenePressure builds to intervene

Shared culture with the British EmpireShared culture with the British Empire JingoismJingoism Tie to the AlliesTie to the Allies

Sold food and materialsSold food and materials From debtor to creditor nation – If Allies lose war From debtor to creditor nation – If Allies lose war

what will happen to loans?what will happen to loans?

Time to ActTime to Act

Unrestricted submarine warfareUnrestricted submarine warfare Germans want to stop US from helping the AlliesGermans want to stop US from helping the Allies Sink any ships in war zoneSink any ships in war zone British passenger liner Lusitania sunk: 1198 drown; British passenger liner Lusitania sunk: 1198 drown;

124 Americans124 Americans Allies in disarrayAllies in disarray

Russia in turmoilRussia in turmoil French troops mutiny and refuse to fightFrench troops mutiny and refuse to fight England down to 6 weeks of food reservesEngland down to 6 weeks of food reserves

Zimmermann LetterZimmermann Letter

The EndThe End

19181918 August: Germans RetreatAugust: Germans Retreat September: Germans ask for Armistice, France September: Germans ask for Armistice, France

and Britain refuse: REVENGE!and Britain refuse: REVENGE! October: Austria-Hungary asks for ArmisticeOctober: Austria-Hungary asks for Armistice Riots in BerlinRiots in Berlin Kaiser abdicates and flees to HollandKaiser abdicates and flees to Holland Armistice BeginsArmistice Begins

Effects: Political ChangeEffects: Political Change Changed the power structure in Europe: Changed the power structure in Europe:

Fall of Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire, Fall of Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire, German Empire and Austro-Hungarian German Empire and Austro-Hungarian EmpireEmpire

Step towards decolonizationStep towards decolonization Hostilities in the Arab WorldHostilities in the Arab World Communism in RussiaCommunism in Russia Heightened US prestigeHeightened US prestige Women gain more power (suffrage, Women gain more power (suffrage,

workers rights)workers rights)