World War I World War I Unexpected Ends

World War I

World War I �Unexpected �Ends long period of peace in Europe �Unprecedented level of causalities �Total War �Called the “War to end all wars”

Reasons for World War I (1908 -1914) � 1) Military Alliances �Nations built armies and navies (protection) �Also build up alliances, or agreements with other nations for further protection. � Agreed if attacked they would defend each other

Alliances �Triple Alliance � Triple Entente �Germany � Great Britain �Austria-Hungary � France �Italy �Other smaller European nations � Russia � Other smaller European nations

Reasons for WWI cont. � 2) Nationalism- many people eager for independence (patriotic feelings aroused) � Serbia hoped to establish independence from Austria (Create a Slavic Republic, or Yugoslav � 3) Imperialism was race between European countries to control other parts of world � 4) Militarism- Both led to militarism that glorified war and battle, causing nations to build up arms � Mechanization of military vs. traditionalism � New weapons (dreadnaughts) � Armies larger (drafts) � War budgets increased

Reasons WWI cont. � 4) The Second Moroccan Crisis �France and Germany both wanted Morocco �France stationed in Algeria �Germany issued Morocco will stay independent �In 1911, France enter Fez, Germany sent battleships to port city of Agadir. �Germany backed down but both prepared for war.

Reasons WWI cont. � 5) The Balkans Crisis (Bosnia) � Austria-Hungary tried to make Balkan countries part of its empire. � Balkans violently opposed Austria � Russia helped nations like Serbia opposed Austria � Germany aided Austria, but Serbia gave in and joined Empire to avoided war. � Serbia started small war with Ottoman Empire to get outlet to sea and won � However Austria-Hungary prevented Serbia from taking control of land. Serbia backs down

Reasons WWI (cont. ) � 7) Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand � Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is killed in Bosnia by Serbian nationalist. � Austria decided to go to war with German help, Russia decided to help Serbia. France called up army and Great Britain waited to see what would happen. � Germany attacked neutral Belgium and Great Britain declared war on Germany.

Reaction to Assassination �Austria issues ultimatum to Serbia �German gives Austria a “blank Check” �Russia and France support Serbia

Total War � World War I was total war. � Total war uses farm, factory and science to help war effort. � Citizens drafted to serve in army as professional soldiers not enough to win. � Propaganda used to influence people that their cause was the just cause � Propaganda is technique of influencing people's minds and influence public opinion

Bryce Report �Bryce Report- issued by British Lord Bryce that Germans committing atrocities. �In Belgium, Germans were killing babies and civilians �No evidence �Purposely exaggerated to get U. S. into war �Many papers calling Germans the “Huns” to illustrated their ruthlessness

Sides Were Equally Matched � Allies were Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and later U. S. � had more resources � Controlled Sea � France and Great Britain had good armies, Russia weak �Central Powers were Germany, Turkey, Austria-Hungary, and Bulgaria. �Unified Command �Germany had excellent Army

Industrial Effort � Industries sped up production of goods � Some Industries came under government control � Railroads essential to move goods/supplies � Ration system started to control food/gas consumption � Government taxed and borrowed to pay for war debt � Women took factory jobs because men were fighting in war

Strategies � Austria Hungary and Russia � Invade Balkans and gain access to the sea � Germany � � � Westward through Belgium and capture Paris Plan to make left flank weak, draw in French Right wing swing around and traps French Called the Schlieffen Plan Defeat France in six weeks a must First France because Russia large country, slow, distance � Eastward into Poland to meet Russians � France � Plan 17 � to attack in the Alsace Lorraine region � Plan failed as underestimated German army and overestimated our courage and spirit � Great Britain � Defend access to Africa � Blockade

The End