World War I

Major Players

Austria-Hungary and Germany

Germany• Desired to expand its empire

and get colonies• Built a powerful army and navy

to equal Great Britain.• Feared France due to anger

over lost territories of Alsace & Lorraine

Germany and Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary• Contained a large number of

Slavic peoples living in the southern part of the country who wanted their freedom

• Annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, which angered the Slavics

Europe in 1914

Italy• Main goal to colonize, mainly

northern Africa

• No large empire to defend and not much of a threat militarily

Great Britain• Industrialized-large, strong navy.

• Wanted to maintain a balance in Europe so she couldn’t be threatened.

• Was threatened by Germany’s military build-up and desire to expand.

France• Feared Germany’s growing

power!

• Angry with Germany over the loss of territories (Alsace and Lorraine) during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

Russia• Largest of the Slavic countries

and acted as a protector

• Looking to expand its empire, especially in the south to allow for sea access.

Serbia

• Wanted to bring all of the Slavic peoples together.

• Angered over the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Slavic territories) by Austria-Hungary

The Balkan Region 1914

Triple Entente

Balkans