Causes of WWI

1. Causes of WWI Ms. Leverich 3/19/13

2. Most of the leaders in 1914 had no real idea of the war machine they were putting into motion. Many believed the War would be over by Christmas 1914. But by the end of the first year, a new kind of war emerged on the battlefield that had never been seen before -- or repeated since: total war-producing stalemate, the result of a war that went on for 1,500 days. Before the official Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918, nine million people had died on the battlefield and the world was forever changed.

3. Refresh Kaiser Wilhelm (in movie w/Bismarck) War hungry, big & strong army Austro-Hungarian Empire (A-H) Run by Hapsburg family Lots of different ethnic groups, languages, cultures, etc. Generally speaking – what is happening to these empires?

4. Black Hand The Black Hand was a Serbian terrorist organization dedicated to the creation of a pan-Slavic kingdom Pan-Slavic = united country of Slavic people A-H officials were worried about this nationalist movement

5. Black Hand Black Hand was extreme Gavrilo Princip was a Serbian activist who worked for the Black Hand

6. The assassination of the Archduke • The Archduke of Austria, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28, 1914 (his wife was killed too) • He was in line to be King • He was assassinated by a Princip • The Austrian government used this assassination as an opportunity to “squash” Serbia

7. Archduke of Austria Franz Ferdinand

14. In response tothe assassination… • Austria declared war on Serbiaon July 28 • Russia prepared to defend Serbia & mobilized army against Austria • Germany (ally to Austria) declares war on Russia, and on Russia’s ally, France • Germany strikes at France through neutral Belgium on August 4th • In response, Britain declares war on Germany (Aug. 4th)

15. Who’s on each side?You must know these – write down! Central Powers Allies Britain France Russia Serbia Italy & Japan to Join • Germany • Austria (Austro-Hungary Empire) • Turkey & Bulgaria to join

16. WWI alliances

17. Looking at the action on a map • http://www.pbs.org/greatwar/maps/index.html

18. BUT… Do you think this one assassination caused an entire WORLD WAR?! Why? Why not? TURN & TALK

19. 4 main Causes of WWI Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

20. Militarism • Advances in technology • Maxim Gun • Desire to protect colonies overseas • Creates anxious atmosphere – ready to fight at the drop of a dime! • Inflexible military plans • Schlieffen Plan: German troops would quickly defeat France in the West & then head east to fight Russia

21. Alliance • Signed treaties in which each nation pledges to defend the other if attacked by an aggressor. • Basically, countries agreed to help each other. • Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy • Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain • These were informal alliances (not official wartime alliances) however; they were willing to go to war for each other

22. Imperialism • You better know this one • Imperialism created rivalry btwn the European powers • Why? • Remember European countries fought each other to control regions of Africa, India, etc. • Threatened by large, powerful empires

23. Nationalism • Strong devotion to one’s nation • On the rise in early 1800s • Unification of Italy & Germany • Ex: Serbs wanted to create a united Serbia • Austria-Hungary opposed this • Too close for comfort • Didn’t want a large nation so close to theirs • Didn’t want other ethnic groups w/in their empire to follow suit

24. Note! • Kaiser Wilhelm – NOT Bismarck • Bismarck started the war mentality that Kaiser carry forward into the WWs

25. Part 1 – Intro, assassination • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeQZaSYybEY

26. Onto the battles…