The Great War 1914 1918 Timeline to doom

The Great War 1914 -1918 Timeline to doom 1871 -1914 Timeline of the Great War Example One Example Two Example Three

The Political Situation 1914 Austria growing weaker every year due to the political considerations within the empire. Germany gaining power vis-a-vis France (higher birth rate, faster economic growth) but losing her superiority with regard to Russia.

The Political Situation 1914 Russia improving her industrial and transportation capacity each year. (Increased mobilization rate) France still Entente's senior partner in 1914 would become ever more dependent on Russia to drain off German strength. (Low birth rate, political/social issues)

The Political Situation 1914 Britain still world's “greatest empire” but both Germany and USA out produce her and both have rapidly expanding navies. Most European nations see a reason to fight in 1914 given their thinking.

The Last Hours of Peace “Some damn fool thing in the Balkans. . . would start the next war. ” Bismarck Wilson: “What is the smallest British military force that would be of any practical assistance to you? ” Foch: A single British soldier and we will see to it that he is killed. ” (1910)

The Plans The Schlieffen Plan? Zuber's Thesis: The actual attack against the West began as a war game (Kriegspiel) but was never intended to be Germany's only plan. Geography dictated any battle in the west be through Belgium. In 1914 Germany would commit seven of eight armies in the west, but Moltke changed Schlieffen's “swinging door”.

The Plans Plan XVII France had five armies plus the BEF France planned to attack in the mountains and woods of the southeast, leaving only the 5 th Army and the BEF north if the Ardennes.

Mobilization = War July 30, 17: 00 Austria Mobilizes July 31, (Evening) Russia Mobilizes July 31, 17: 15 French cabinet authorizes full mobilization August 1, 15: 40 France Mobilizes August 1, 17: 00 Germany Mobilizes August 1, 17: 10 Germany at war with Russia August 3—Germany declares war on France August 4—Germany invades Belgium August 4/5, 24: 00 Britain at war with Germany

The Battles of the Frontier Belgium delays German plan several days Major battles along the front August 22 -25 Germany continues to advance on her right, stops the French advance in Alsace-Lorraine German advance continues for another week.

The Marne September 6 -10, 1914 Germans lost for several reasons Non-unified command Loss of nerve Exhaustion Began the race to the sea.

The Race to the Sea The north flank of the Western Front is left hanging after the Marne and the German retreat. Attempts to “break the front” before and after the Marne are unsuccessful During October 1914 both sides attempted to turn the flank of the other as each “Raced to the Sea. ”

Tannenberg 1. 2. 3. Nimmo’s Hypothesis: Most critical events of the 20 th Century have an origin through the Battle of Tannenberg. Led to a long WWI Led to the social upheavals that exist today Led to the Soviet Union

1915: Year of Transition (A) Goals for the year Germany—Eastern Strategy/Army Reorganization Austria-Hungary—Crush Serbia/Regain lost territory France—Push back Germany/Keep Russia in the war Britain—Create a “New Army”/Support Allies Russia—Knock Austria-Hungary out of the war Italy—Make the best deal you can

Gorlice-Tarnow General Offensive began in May lasted until September More than a million Russian casualties Germany takes lead role on the Eastern Front Despite reorganization, not enough German troops released from Western Front for a decisive victory Troops pulled from the Eastern Front in the autumn to crush Serbia

1915 Major Events Dardanelles Campaign Submarine Warfare Control of German Colonies End of Serbia Lusitanian Western Front Gas—Second Ypres

1916: Goals Germany—Knock France from the war Austria-Hungary—Defend until Germany wins France—Combined Allied Offensive/Balkans Great Britain—Combined Allied Offensive/Balkans Russia—Knock Austria-Hungary from the war Italy—Make territorial gains for post-war consideration

1916: Four Decisive Battles? Verdun—Attrition replaces the military art Jutland—Major Harvey’s action alters the course of history The Somme— 20, 000 deaths in an hour The Brusilov Offensive – The Battle that killed two empires

Verdun February-July (December), 1916 The Plan: Force the French to bleed themselves white by taking the “Holy City” of Verdun Falkenhayn's plan not followed 550, 000 French 430, 000 German First mass use of Phosgene gas and flame throwers Germans win a slight victory but with the Somme the army never is the same.

Jutland May 31 -June 1, 1916 German Plan: Destroy part of the Grand Fleet, Repeat British Plan: Don't lose, destroy the Germans Run to the South, Run to the North, The fleets meet, Escape and night battles German tactical victory, British strategic victory German failure at Jutland—and their fear of repeating the battle—will lead to the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare with the understanding that the US will enter the war on the Allied side!

The Somme July-November, 1916 The Plan, Breakthrough/Attrition/Relieve Verdun 400, 000 British 200, 000 French About one in four causalities becomes a death. About half 500, 000 German return to combat. First use if the tank in combat Battle is a draw but German manpower reserves are reduced severely.

1917: Year of Transition Great Britain-Repeat the Somme at 3 rd Ypres, survive the U-boat threat, hold until the US arrives. France—Nivelle Offense, mutiny, hold tight for the US Russia—Two Revolutions, March & October, Peace Italy—Frustration, Caporetto brings near defeat. US—How to raise an army, help the allies, learn lessons Austria-Hungary—Can the empire survive? (Karl) Germany—Surprised by their success: Hindenburg Line, Riga, the Kerensky offensive, Caporetto and U-boats.

The Eastern Front 1916 -18 The Brusilov Offensive – The Battle that killed two empires (June-August 1916) The Isonzo Battles 1915 -17—Italy even worse at war than the Austrians Salonika—The Allies create the “world’s largest concentration camp” for themselves. Rumania chooses wrong-1916 Kerensky Offensive—July 1917—Russia’s last gasp. Riga—Trench warfare defeated

The Eastern Front 1916 -18 Caporetto—November 1917 Brest-Litovsk (Treaty of) Effect of the peace: 2. Germany was able to transfer a large number of divisions to the Western Front. (But left a large number back until the later offensives) Most of the “External” pressure taken off Austria 3. Soviet Union out of Eastern Europe until 1939 1.

1917: The Western Front Nivelle Offensive (April 1917) Mutiny Third Ypres (Passchendaele) July-November, 1917 Worse than the Somme? Cambrai (Nov/Dec 1917)

America’s Entry into the Great War 1914 -1915 August 4, 1914: Wilson proclaims US neutrality March 11, 1915: Britain announces blockade of German ports May 7, 1915: Lusitania sunk by German U-boat off Irish coast July 21, 1915: Wilson sends notes to Secretary of War Garrison and Secretary of Navy Daniels directing them to draft a defense program August 19, 1915: Two Americans die in sinking of Arabic off Ireland

America’s Entry into the Great War: 1916 March 24, 1916: French passenger ship, Sussex, torpedoed May 4, 1916: Germany renounces submarine policy "Sussex Pledge” May 31, 1916: Battle of Jutland June 3, 1916: National Defense Act authorizes five-year expansion of US Army October 15, 1916: Germany resumes U-boat attacks under search and destroy rules November 7, 1916: Wilson wins reelection December 12, 1916: Germans issue peace note suggesting compromise peace January 31, 1917: Germany announces resumption of unrestricted U-boat warfare

America’s Entry February 1917 1 st: Germany resumes unrestricted U-boat warfare 3 rd: US severs relations with Germany 5 th: British General Staff estimates that no more than 250, 000 American soldiers could be in Europe even after a year 13 th: Chief of British Imperial General Staff Sir William Robertson expresses grave doubts about American fighting capabilities 24 th Great Britain releases Zimmermann Note to US 26 th Wilson requests authority from Congress to arm US merchant ships

America’s Entry: March, 1917 1 st: Zimmermann Note released to press by State Department; 12 th: Wilson announces arming of merchant ships by executive order 20 th: Wilson's Cabinet votes unanimously for war 29 th: War College Division issues report: Calls for large force of between 500, 000 and 1, 000

America’s Entry: April German submarine campaign exacts heaviest damage of war: 881, 027 gross tons, 500, 000 of which are British 2 nd: W. Wilson delivers war address to Congress at 8: 32 pm 6 th: US declares war on Germany Article I, Section 8 Clauses 11 -17 10 th: Sir William Robertson advocates to Haig the dispatch of immediate American expeditionary force "to get some Americans killed and so get the country to take a real interest in the war"

1918 Britain/France—Don’t do anything until the US arrives in strength Italy—rebuild the armies destroyed at Caporetto Austria-Hungary—Keep the nation together until peace (general or otherwise) US—Launch a general offensive with the American Armies ASAP Germany—Knock out Britain/France before America arrives in strength

Der Kaiserschlacht Five German Offensives March-June 1918 March 21 - 4 April 9 - 29 May 27 – June 4 June 8 - 12 July 15 - 17

The Allied Counterattack July – November 1918 January 8: Wilson presents his 'Fourteen Points'. July 22: Having failed to make the key breakthrough, the Germans retreat back to the Hindenburg line. August 8: 'the Black Day of the German Army' - Canadian and Australian troops, plus 600 tanks, shatter German forces and reach Hindenburg line. September 12 - 16: US forces make first attack under independent command.

The Allied Counterattack September 26: Massive Allied attack breaks through the Hindenburg line. September 28: Ludendorff and Hindenburg recommend an armistice. October 6/7 Yugoslavia and Poland declare independence November 3: Austria and Hungary agree an armistice with the allies. (As independent states) November 9: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates. November 11: Armistice Day. At the 11 th hour of the 11 th day of the 11 th month, Germany signs an armistice with the Allies. The war is officially over.

Causes of the Allied Victory Allies had more Resources (Money) (Manpower) The Allied Blockade Room 40 The Tank American Money The Promise of America

Cost of the War Almost twenty million dead in the war More than twenty million dead in the Spanish Influenza The direct and indirect costs of the war (the destruction of wealth) will lead to the great depression. William T. Nimmo dies in 1934 leaving two young children without a father.