World War 1

1. World War 1

2. The Great War • World War I devastated Europe’s economies, and the social and political orders. • People were overwhelmed by the destruction, casualties and size of the battles. • More disturbing because it followed an age of progress. • Can be considered the first stage of a crisis that would take most of the twentieth century.

3. Factors Leading to War • Conflicting national interests led to a build-up of tensions in Europe • European countries tried to find a balance of power by forming alliances with one another. • Assassination of the Austrian archduke led to the outbreak of hostilities.

4. Europe on the Eve of War • Conflicting National Interests • Imperialism • Increased competition for overseas colonies led to high tension between countries looking to extend their control. • Nationalism • Mistrust of other countries motives. • Propaganda reminded citizens of dangers to their country and stirred up hatred of other countries. • Pan-Slavic movement in the Balkans, with support of Russia, caused stress in Austria-Hungry and Ottoman Empire, both of whom had Slavic populations that wanted independence. • Balkan states were also fighting amongst themselves for territory. • Nationalistic movement in Armenia, backed by Russia, threatened Ottoman Empire. • France had lost face in the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and was angry about German occupation in Alsace-Lorraine.

5. Europe on the Eve of War • Internal Dissent. • Socialist movement, labor strife and class conflict often turning violent. • Caused some conservatives to feel Europe was on the edge of revolution. • Some historians believe that desire to suppress internal disorder led to taking the plunge into war. • Family Rivalry? • Most of the crowned heads of Europe at the time were related by blood or marriage. • Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and King George of England were grandsons of Queen Victoria. Czar Nicholas of Russia was married to Victoria’s granddaughter.

6. Marching Toward War • Militarism: • Is a policy where the needs of the military become most important to a country. • Can be self-fulfilling, if you have more military, you see use of force as the best way to achieve your national interests and lead to war instead of to increased security. • Concern over Germany’s continuing military buildup. • Russia feared Germany’s growing ties with Austria. • British resented Germany’s expanding her navy, threatening Britain’s control of the high seas. • Arms race among the European countries • Industrial Revolution had made better armament cheaper to produce.

7. Balance of Power • Forming Alliances • Idea behind alliance system is that peace can only be maintained if no one group or country becomes stronger than another. • Balance of Power threatened by united Germany • Actually increased likelihood of war. If one country was attacked it would pull in all the alliance members, stirring a worldwide conflict even if that was not what anyone wanted to occur. • Despite alliances major countries did not necessarily trust the actions of other, even their allies • Two major alliances • Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy • Triple Entente – Great Britain, France and Russia

8. “Serbia will some day set Europe by the ears, and bring about a universal war on the Continent.” British Prime Minister, 1913

9. Balkan Powder Keg • Serbian hoped to become leader of a Slavic state. • When Austria annexed Bosnia it heightened tension among Serbian Nationalists. • Great Britain did not trust Russia’s influence in the Balkans. • Russia feared Germany’s relationship with the Turks would decrease Russia’s chances for a port on the Mediterranean.

10. Assassination! • Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand is killed in Sarajevo, Bosnia, June 28, 1914. • He had been warned of a plot. • He was prime target because Serbians feared he would increase persecution on Serbs living within the empire. • Archduke chose to tour Bosnia on the anniversary of the date of the Battle of Kosovo, an embarrassment to Serbs because it marked a time Serbia had lost independence. • Gavrilo Princip, member of Serbian nationalist group called The Black Hand, shot and killed Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife.

11. War Declared • Austria-Hungary saw the assassination as an opportunity to get involved in the politics of the Balkans but feared Russia’s involvement. • With backing of Germany, sent an ultimatum to Serbia with demands they couldn’t possibly accept without losing their sovereignty. • Serbia accepts some of the demands but not enough for Austria-Hungary. • Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia July 28, 1914

12. “Til the world comes to an end the ultimate decision will rest with the sword” Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany

13. Dominos Fall • Russia orders partial mobilization against Austria-Hungary. Army says can’t partially mobilize, the plans call for mobilizing against Germany and Austria, would cause chaos in the army. • Russia orders full mobilization knowing Germany will see it an act of war. • Germany declares war August 1st. • Germans war plan called for two front war against Russia and France (Schlieffen Plan). Since it could not mobilize only against Russia, Germany declares war on France on August 3rd. • Germany demands neutral Belgium allow German forces to pass through their territory. • Britain declares war in support of Belgium’s neutrality. They also feared for their own world power. If Germany were to defeat France and Russia, Britain would be without friends. • Before the war ends 31 countries will have joined, making it a true world war.

14. “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.” Edmund Grey, British Foreign Minister

15. The War is Fought • Military Resources and Strategies • Allies had more troops, better industrial bases, and naval access to trade with neutral countries, especially the “Great Neutral”, the United States. • Russian armies were slow to mobilize and not well armed. • Germany had superior railway system, large well trained military force, and a powerful navy. • Germany’s Schlieffen Plan had been in place for a number of years. • New technology used in WW1 included tanks, machine guns, giant cannons, hand grenades, fighter planes and the German U-boat. • Triple Alliance = Central Powers • Triple Entente = Allies/Allied Powers

17. “What did the people know of war in 1914, after nearly half a century of peace? They did not know war; they had hardly given it a thought. The still saw it in the perspective of their school readers and of paintings in museums; brilliant cavalry attacks in glittering uniforms, the fatal shot always straight through the heart, the entire campaign a resounding march of victory – “we’ll be home at Christmas,” the recruits shouted laughingly to their mothers in August of 1914…. The young people were honestly afraid they might miss this most wonderful and exciting experience of their lives;… that is why they shouted and sang in the trains that carried them to the slaughter.” Stefan Zweig, Austrian writer 1914

18. 1914-1915 Illusion and Stalemate • Each nation believed their cause was just. • Europeans had had a half century of peace and went to war with remarkable enthusiasm. • All wars since 1815 had been over in a few weeks, why should this be different? • Western Front: • Schlieffen Plan called for quick encirclement of French Army. • Germany took early advantage and got as far as northern France enroute to Paris. • First Battle of the Marne: French forces, reinforced by fresh troops arriving by 2000 Paris taxis, stopped the German advance and ended the Schlieffen Plan as a battle strategy. • War became a stalemate as trenches were dug from the English Channel to Switzerland. Neither side was able to dislodge the other.

19. 1914-1915 Illusion and Stalemate • Eastern Front: • More typical war of movement and maneuver • Russia took early decisive defeats against Germany, but won battles against Austria-Hungary at first, but then was pushed back and almost knocked out of the war with 2.5 million killed or captured. • Bulgaria joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1915 and knocked Serbia out of the war. • Italy betrayed the Central Powers, attacked Austria and joined the Allied side. • Success of the war in the East allowed Germany to refocus their offensive on the western front.

20. 1916-1917 The Great Slaughter • Trench warfare: • Elaborate defenses, protected by barbed wire up to 5 feet high and 30 yards wide, concrete machine gun nests, gun batteries, supported from behind by heavy artillery. • Tactics: • Baffled military leaders trained to fight against maneuvers. • Only plan they came up with was attempting to break through by throwing masses of men at the opposing bulwark after bombarding it with artillery. • Rarely worked. Millions of men died fighting for a few miles of land. • Turned into a war of attrition based on wearing the other side out first. Lasted until US entered the war. • “They Shall Not Pass” rallying cry in allied trenches.

21. Life in the Trenches • Boredom • Battles went on for months • Daily routine consisted of being up before dawn ready for an attack, if no attack came then they would have breakfast, inspection, work on the trenches and take care of their belongings • Constant presence of death. Had to carry on in the midst of bodies blown apart by artillery • Mud, lice, disease

23. Major Battles • Battle of the Marne. • First, Sept 6-9, 1914. • Second, July 1918. Germans failed to break the lines at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Woods. • Argonne offensive, allies push back through the forest. • Verdun, symbol of pride for France, refused to give in. 1.5 million men died without either side claiming victory • River Somme, trench battle lasted 4-5 months without progress. British lost more than 500,000 men. • Ypres, three major battles. In the first the British Expeditionary Force lost half its men. The second was the point Germany used poison gas for the first time. Third battle tried to move the grand total of 5 miles. • Dardanelles: Turks and Russia, strategic point on the Black Sea. • Gallipoli: Allied forces captured Constantinople

24. The War in the Air • Planes originally for spotters, then began attacking ground targets. • Dogfights developed. First with airmen armed with pistols, then with machine guns mounted on the nose. • Germany’s attempts to use zeppelins to bomb England originally caused terror, until Germany’s enemies realized that the zeppelins exploded into fireballs when hit by anti-aircraft guns.

25. The War at Sea • Britain and Germany attempted to blockade each other to prevent supplies from reaching the enemy. • The cause of the US involvement in the war was largely a result of this British-German naval warfare. • Germany enforced her blockade with the use of unrestricted submarine warfare; which included sinking passenger liners. • Lusitania was sunk in 1915, killing over 100 American civilians. • Sussex was sunk in 1916 with similar result. • President Wilson promised to go to war if Germany did not stop the unrestricted submarine warfare. • Germany reduced their use of subs to avoid further threats by the US. • Jan. 1917 Germany attempts to break deadlock by returning to unrestricted submarine warfare and US enters the war. • Only actual naval battle was the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Neither side won a conclusive victory.

26. United States Entry into the War • European nations were deadlocked • Pres. Wilson urged “peace without victory” and the formation of a League of Nations to work out international disputes • Zimmerman Telegram: • Germany tried to get Mexico involved in the war against the US • Offered to return Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. • Britain intercepted the telegram and turned it over to the US. • Americans were outraged. • Return to unrestricted submarine warfare: • all ships in the war zone, passenger, merchant, at war or neutral – would be sunk without warning. • Germany sank 5 unarmed merchant ships • America declared war “to make the world safe for democracy”

27. Total War • Total War required complete mobilization of resources and people. • Affected everyone no matter how far they were from the battlefield. • Increase in government powers • Draft • wage and price controls • food rationing • took over transportation facilities. • Manipulating public opinion – • morale boosting, recruiting, war bond selling. • increased police powers to protect against dissent. • British passed the Defense of the Realm Act to arrest protestors. • US passed Alien and Sedition Acts. • Authoritarian Governments used force.

28. The End • Fall, 1918 Germany was desperate, Turkey and Austria had surrendered, French, British and American troops were close to the German border, the people were angry and exhausted. • German sailors mutinied, councils of workers and soldiers were forming. Wilhelm II gave in and left the country, Germany announced the formation of a democratic republic, and surrendered. • The armistice was signed at the eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month. Why we celebrate Veterans Day when we do now.

29. The Peace • Versailles • most important • between Germany and Allies • established League of Nations (which did not include Germany) • made Germany responsible for the war • required reparations payments, reduction in the army and navy and a ban on major weapons. • Saint-Germain: • Allies and new republic of Austria. • Included the League of Nations • Dissolved the Austro-Hungarian Empire. • Reduced Austria’s military and forbid them from entering alliance with Germany.

30. The Peace • Trianon: • dissolved Hungarian territory, • reduced size of Hungary by 2/3 and gave lands to other territories. • Hungary was left landlocked, and without much of its resources. • Neuilly: • Bulgaria and Allied nations. • Bulgaria was assigned reparation payments • had the military reduced • had to give up part of its territories to other countries • Sevres: • Turkey and Allies. • Dissolved the Ottoman Empire and gave control of Turkey’s economy to the allies. • rewritten in 1923 as Treaty of Lausanne because the nationalist government that revolted in Turkey after the war refused to recognize the Treaty of Sevres.

31. Results • German Communists try to stage a revolution and fail. German middle class are left with a deep hatred of Communists. • Austria-Hungary disintegrates into independent states of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Rivalries in these countries will weaken eastern Europe for the next 80 years. • Ottoman Empire broken up and mandates over Middle east given to France and Britain. • 5 important treaties altered the map of Europe – and laid the groundwork for WW2. • The League of Nations is formed. Though without “teeth” to support its declarations it is doomed to fail.

32. Reasons • Secret Treaties and agreements made before the war encouraged hopes for territorial gains that couldn’t be totally ignored. • The Big Three delegates to the Paris Peace Conference came with differing agendas. Compromise was critical to getting a treaty signed at all. • Italy’s leader also attended the conference as part of the Big Four but played less of a role than the Big Three. • Russia could not attend because of the civil war and revolution. • Germany and Austria were not permitted to attend, the peace was forced upon them.

33. President Woodrow Wilson • United States • Idealist • New world order that would assure “political independence and territorial integrity for both great and small nations” • Prime Minister David Lloyd George • Great Britain • Recently elected in a landslide • Make Germany pay all the costs of the war. • “…squeeze them til the pips squeak” • Premier Georges Clemenceau • France • Revenge and National Security • Disarm Germany and make her pay • Rhineland buffer state • Blame Germany for the war • “… the Germans are responsible, only a professional liar would deny this.”

34. …and Ramifications • Many of the smaller Balkan states had their borders redrawn during this process without regard to their culture or ethnicity. Has led to continuing trouble in the area that still exists today. • The economic pressure put on Germany by the reparations payments and blows to German pride would sow the seeds that would start WW2 a generation later. • Costs of the war in financial terms, loss of productive capacity and destruction of infrastructure would haunt the world’s economy. • New technology of warfare would forever change the nature of war. • Total War made a strong central authority an expected way of life. • United States failure to ratify the treaty doomed the League of Nations and left France without the defensive alliance she had accepted instead of the Rhineland state.

35. World Wars: Cause and Effect Economic competition Nationalism Militarism Alliances End of Old Order Political Instability Disillusionment Resentment Economic Suffering Social Chaos Nationalism Rise of Dictatorships Aggressive Expansionism World War II World War I Shift in Balance of Power Emergence of Superpowers Creation of New Nations Founding of United Nations

36. Who Caused the Great War? • Historians have debated since the end of the war • Treaty of Versailles says “Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage ….” • Harry Elmer Barnes writes in The Genesis of the World War, in 1927, “In estimating the order of guilt of the various countries we may safely say that the only direct and immediate responsibility …falls on Serbia, France and Russia” • Fritz Fischer concludes “As Germany willed and coveted the Austro-Serbian war and, in the confidence of her military superiority, deliberately faced the risk of a conflict with Russia and France, her leaders must bear a substantial share of the historical responsibility for the outbreak of the general war in 1914.” Germany’s Aims in the First World War, 1961