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Why Europe?. Industrial Revolution is at it’s peak; modernization led to sense that European’s were at the peak of world civilizations. Europe had 25% of the world’s population. Imperial tensions led European nations to complete for colonies
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Why Europe? • Industrial Revolution is at it’s peak; modernization led to sense that European’s were at the peak of world civilizations. • Europe had 25% of the world’s population. • Imperial tensions led European nations to complete for colonies • Militarism – glorify war and spend major $$ to protect your interests. • Nationalism - many countries had only recently become independent. • System of Alliances to protect themselves!
WWI – Alliances • Central Powers/Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire • Allied Powers/Triple Entente: Great Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Belgium, Japan
The spark… • The Balkan Peninsula was full of smaller countries supposed to be protected by Russia. • Other powerful countries competed for this land and the people were resentful of this. • During this time Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia. • Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife visited Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia on June 28, 1914 and are assassinated.
Who set fire to the powder keg?… • 19 year old Gavrilo Princip shot the Archduke and his wife. • A member of a Serbian nationalist group called the Black Hand; composed mainly of teenagers • Several members of this group missed on an earlier attempt to kill the archduke. • Princip dies in prison but the storefront that was site of the murders was used as a museum to Serbian nationalism until it was closed in 1992.
How it all unfolded… • Austria-Hungary offers an ultimatum to Serbia – bring the Black Hand to justice or else! • Serbia doesn’t cooperate – AH declares war. • Russia mobilizes troops • Germany declares war on Russia • France declares war on Germany • Britain declares war on Germany • US – Neutral (for the time)
The Guns of August • Many countries were unprepared for war • The old traditions of war still lingered • Many underestimated the length of the war (our boys will be home by Christmas) • Many lacked war materials and ammunition
Schlieffen Plan • German General Schlieffen in 1905 • Two parts: • Defeat France in the Western front in 6 weeks • Then move to the Eastern front to fight Russia • DID NOT WORK!
Some Costly Battles • Verdun: French and German forces battled for nearly one year; 500,000 deaths. • Battle of the Somme : Allies initiated conflict • 60,000 British dead or wounded in ONE day. • ONE million died in five months. • Neither side gained an advantage.
Trench Warfare • Dug along the western front for +/-500 miles • “no man’s land” was the area in between trenches, land mines and barbed wire. • Life in the trench was cold, muddy, rat infested, and boring at times • “Over the top” was the order to leave the trench and go into no man’s land, led to heavy casualties
Trench Foot • Life in the trench wasn’t life at all… • Trench foot was your biggest enemy • Muddy boots, wet socks on your skin for days, weeks, months caused the skin to rot away.
Poison Gas • Over 75 types invented during the Industrial Revolution • Led to blindness, choking, vomiting, torn lungs, and often death
The machine gun • Was first used in combat on a regular basis • Machine guns fired 8 rounds per second • Enemies could literally be mowed down in seconds.
This British Vickers machine gun is being fired by a team of two who are wearing early gas masks in case of a gas attack was very popular. This machine gun could shoot 450 rounds a minute. As well as the Vickers machine gun, the British used the Hotchkiss and the Lewis gun. • At the start of the war, senior British army officers were less than sure about the effectiveness of the machine gun. Therefore most battalions were only issued with two. • This was a lot less than the Germans who were much more sure as to the effectiveness of the machine gun. The Germans placed their machine guns slightly in front of their lines to ensure than the machine gun crews were given a full view of the battlefield. At the Battle of the Somme, their efficiency lead to the deaths of thousands of British troops within minutes of the battle starting.
“Peace, Land and Bread” • Vladimir Lenin led a revolution in Russia. • In 1918 signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russian participation in WWI. • Germany could focus on the Western Front.
British ocean liner • Sank in 18 minutes • Killed 1,198 people • 128 Americans died • Germany claimed the Lusitania was carrying weapons.
Zimmerman Note…Dear Mexico, • To the German Minister to Mexico • Berlin, January 19, 1917 • On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavour to keep neutral the United States of America. • If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement... • You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. • Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. • Zimmermann(Secretary of State) • Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923
Victory! • After the arrival of the Americans, German generals reported that the war could NOT be won. • The Germans sought an armistice, an agreement to end fighting. • At 11:00AM on 11/11 1918, WWI ended!
TOTAL NUMBER OF CASUALTIES ATTRIBUTED TO WWI • 9.7 MILLION MILITARY DEATHS • 10.0 MILLION CIVILIAN DEATHS
Woodrow Wilson: United States - Fourteen Points - Could be hard to work with - Wanted a peaceful world Georges Clemenceau: France - The “Tiger” - Very Anti-German - “Mr. Wilson bores me with his 14 points…God has only 10.” David Lloyd George: Britain - Demanded harsh treatment of Germany. THE BIG THREE
The Treaty of Versailles…A Peace of Vengeance • Limited the German army to a size of 100,000 men, • Demilitarized a large section of Germany nearest France, • Forbade the German ownership of military aircraft, poison gas, or any naval units. • Huge war reparations were to be paid, the extent of which were undetermined at the time (so Germany was signing a blank check). Expectations concerning these reparations were huge since the Entente wanted Germany to pay their war expenses and damages done to France and Belgium. • The Treaty also required Germany to put many of her “war heroes” up for trial.
Major Charles Whittlesey • A pacifist before the war. • Trained as a lawyer, not a West Point graduate • Followed orders to lead his troops into the Argonne Forest knowing that the results would be terrible. • Received a Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts. • Committed suicide on 11/29/21
