World War I The Great War The War

World War I “The Great War” “The War to End All Wars” “The War to Make the World Safe for Democracy”

The Causes of WWI w. Militarism w. Alliance System w. Imperialism w. Nationalism

Imperialism w Industrial economies compete for colonies – French vs. Britain = Fashoda Incident • compromise leads to Entente Cordiale – Moroccan crisis (1905) • Germany tries to split Entente Cordiale – advocates for Moroccan independence – demands international conference – Britain and others side with France

Moroccan Crisis

Imperialism w Industrial economies compete for colonies – German East Africa (Tanzania) • stands in the way of Cairo to Cape Town railway

Cairo to Cape Town

Imperialism w Geopolitical strategy – Britain wants to protect India • Britain vs. Russia = Central Asia • “The Great Game” – Divide Persia into spheres of influence – Acknowledges British control over Afghanistan – Both sides pledge noninterference in Tibet – Allows Anglo-Russian Entente

Imperialism w multi-national empires in Europe. – Austria-Hungary • Expanded into Bosnia as Ottomans decline – Ottoman decline creates turmoil of new states jockeying for territorial advantage • Balkan Wars

Imperialism vs. Nationalism

Nationalism w Pride in one’s country – leading to competition between nations • France wants revenge on Germany for Franco. Prussian defeat (return of Alsace-Lorraine) – “revanchism” • Germany wants empire to prove status • “sun never sets on the British Empire. ” w Desire for self-determination, freedom from foreign control – Balkans = “the powder keg” • many ethnic groups want self-determination – Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, etc. • Austria-Hungary (expanding) • Ottomans (retreating = “sick man of Europe”) • Russia is the traditional protector of Southern Slavs – Pan-Slavism

Balkan Nationalism

Militarism w War is a means of achieving goals – Military power essential for national strength – threats favored over diplomacy • Kaiser Wilhelm II = insecure blowhard – Tries to assert his authority – Fires Bismarck in 1890 w Influence of military on decision-making – military philosophy infiltrates civilian govt. – leads to arms race • France and Germany 2 x military $ (1870 – 1914) • Germany and Britain compete for naval power – Who can launch the most “dreadnoughts” w War is “glorious” – Young men are eager to get into the “last war” • but unaware of what awaits them

“Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori” “It is sweet and glorious to die for one’s country”

Alliance – Triple Entente (“understanding”) System • Develops after Bismarck is fired w guarantees all major powers become involved in the conflict. w Draws 3 rd parties into conflict • France and Russia – France financing Russian industrialization – Bismarck’s worst fear comes true • “Germany is encircled” • France and Britain – Entente Cordiale – both “democracies” – Britain irritated w/German naval buildup • Britain guarantees Belgium neutrality

Alliance System – Pan-Slavism • Russia as Serbia’s protector • Russia and Austria compete in Balkans as the Ottomans fade. w guarantees – Three Emperor’s League fails • Pan-Germanism/fear of Russia all major – Unites Germany and Austria powers • Germany likes weak partner become – Bismarck fired 1990 involved in • Reinsurance Treaty not renewed • Final bond with Russia broken the conflict. – Ottomans wary of Russians w Draws 3 rd parties into conflict • Russia wants Dardanelles – Link Black Sea to Mediterranean • Germans gives Turks military support – together they will contain Russia • Bulgarians want revenge on Serbia – Balkan Wars

Spark that ignited the powder keg Gavrilo Princeps Archduke Franz Ferdinand his Family

Spark that ignited the powder keg

The Aftermath of Sarajevo or “The March to War” w Kaiser gives Austria a “blank check” – Urges them to move quickly while global opinion is still against Serbia – Austria waits a month, then declares war w Russia mobilizes in support of Serbia w Germany must mobilize in response – Schiefflen Plan kicks in (avoid two front war) • knock out France, then focus on Russia w Germany invades neutral Belgium – in an attempt to capture Paris and knockout France – almost succeeds, stopped 25 miles short w Britain declares war because of violation of Belgian neutrality

Schlieffen Plan Stalemate on the Western Front Schlieffen Plan