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World War One. 1914 to 1918. The Main Causes of World War One. Militarism Policy of larger European nations to build up their armies and navies Felt a large military force would give them both prestige and power
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World War One 1914 to 1918
The Main Causes of World War One • Militarism • Policy of larger European nations to build up their armies and navies • Felt a large military force would give them both prestige and power • Creates fear and distrust amongst European nations- leads to an arms race in Europe • Alliances • Tensions and distrust amongst European nations leads to forming of alliances • Triple Alliance- Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy • Triple Entente- Britain, France and Russia • Imperialism • European nations possess a desire to rule over lands beyond their own borders • This desire direct cause of conflicts amongst European nations • Nationalism • Europeans felt themselves to be superior to the peoples of other nations • Pan-Slavism- desire of Russia to protect Slavic people throughout Europe • Leads to Russia backing of newly independent nation Serbia • Pan-Germanism- Germany’s desire to protect all German-speaking people in Europe • Leads to German backing of Austria-Hungary
The Spark • 1908- Austria-Hungary gains control over Bosnia from Ottoman Empire- This angers Serbiaand the people of Bosnia • Archduke Francis Ferdinand • Heir to Austrian-Hungarian throne • Visits Sarajevo(city in Bosnia) with his Wife to oversee military training in newly acquired area • The Black Hand-Serbian nationalist group plots to kill Ferdinand during his visit to Sarajevo • GavriloPrincip- walks up to the Archduke’s car and fires two shots killing both the Archduke and his wife • Austria-Hungary immediately blaMEs the Serbian government for the assassination • July 18, 1914- Austria-hungary declares war on Serbia • The alliances amongst European nations is what turns a limited conflict in the Balkans to explode into the first world war
The Great war begins • Central powers • Formerly the triple alliance • Made up of Germany, austria-hungary, Bulgaria and the ottoman empire • Allied powers • Formerly the triple entente • Britain, France and Russia • Later joined by Italy, japan, the united states and other nations. European Alliances During World War One
The first offensive • The Schlieffen plan • December 1905- Alfred von schlieffen, german army chief of staff, devises plan to counter joint attack from France and Russia • Schlieffen realized the French were Germany’s biggest threat and had to be defeated quickly • Calls for 90% of german army to invade Belgium on its way to france • August 2nd, 1914- schlieffen plan put into action • With help from Belgium army and british forces, germans are stopped at the Marne river
Trench Warfare • INTRODUCTION OF THE MACHINE GUN AND QUICK FIRING ARTILLERY CAUSED FOR LARGE SCALE USE OF TRENCHES • TYPICAL TRENCH SYSTEM CONSISTED OF TWO OR MORE PARALLEL TRENCHES, CONNECTED BY COMMUNICATION TRENCHES
Conditions in the Trenches • Stand-to- before dawn and dusk soldier on front line manned the fire step ready for attack • Day-time hours were spent doing small chores, writing letters home, or trying to sleep • Night-time hours is when trenches became very busy • Rats infested trenches by the millions • Lice were never-ending problem causing trench fever • Trench foot-fungal infection cause by the cold, wet and unsanitary conditions of trenches • The smell in the trenches was horrible especially those who first came to the trenches
The Western Front • The most important battles of World War One were fought along the Western Front in Europe(mostly in france) • Stalemate- very little territory along the western front changed hands • War of attrition-wearing down an opposition by causing them to exhaust all their resources • Battle of Verdun(February 21,1916- December 16,1916) • Attempt by germans to take city of Verdun in France • Longest lasting single battle of world war One • Battle of somme(july 1, 1916-November 1916) • British offensive meant to ease pressure off French forces in verdun
The Eastern Front • The eastern front saw territory change hands more than on the western front • German and Austria forces invade Poland which was part of Russian empire • Russian revolution in 1917 • Russian losses and suffering cause Russian people to rise up and overthrow the czar • The communists come to power in Russia • The treaty of bret-litovsk(march 1918) • Signed between Germany and Russia • Withdraws Russia from world war one • Germans gained many of the most fertile farming lands in western Russia • Most importantly Germany no longer had to fight on two fronts.
The War at Sea • At the beginning of world war one the british owned the worlds strongest navy • Germany attempted to build a navy that rivalled the british royal navy • British navy blockades german coast • Battle of jutland(1916)- Germany navy attempts to break british blockade • Submarine warfare • German naval fleet consisted of 20 u-boats during world war one • January 9, 1917-Germany proclaims unrestricted submarine warfare • German u-boats attacked many allied supply ships • German u-boats sunk many neutral supply ships- angering many neutral countries especially the united states
The Russian Revolution of 1917 • Russian revolution in 1917 • Russian losses and suffering cause Russian people to rise up and overthrow the czar • The communists come to power in Russia • The treaty of bret-litovsk(march 1918) • Signed between Germany and Russia • Withdraws Russia from world war one • Germans gained many of the most fertile farming lands in western Russia • Most importantly Germany no longer had to fight on two fronts.
The United States Enters the great war • While remaining neutral American sympathies did side with the allies. • the sinking of the Lusitania • On may 17, 1915 a germanu-boat torpedoed and sunk the british liner named the Lusitania • 1,198 people were killed with 128 being American citizens • As the war continues more American supply ships are sunk by germanu-boats • The Zimmerman note • January 1917- german foreign secretary Arthur zimmermann sent a telegram to the government of mexico • Asks Mexican government for help should Germany go to war with the united states • In return german promised to help mexico conquer states of texas, Arizona and new mexico • Making the world “safe for democracy” • Americans began to fear whether or not democracy could survive in Europe if Britain and france lost the war • Central powers were regarded as undemocratic and militaristic • President Wilson believed America needed to aid the allies to make the world “safe for democracy” • April 6, 1917- with president Wilson’s urging congress declared war on germany
The end of the great war • June 1917- American forces begin arriving in france • Presence of American fighting troops gives new spirit to exhausted French and british troops • American troops help allies gain victories in important battles of chateau-Thierry and belleau wood • German people revolt against their government and Kaiser Wilhelm ii • November 11, 1918- an armistice is reached ending world war one
Peace conference? • January 1919- allied leaders meet in france to draw up an official peace treaty • President Woodrow Wilson of united states, prime minister david Lloyd George of Britain, premier georges Clemenceau of france, and premier Vittorio Orlando of Italy • Woodrow Wilson’s fourteen points-publicized January 1918 • Calls for a “peace without victory” • Wilson also called for an end to secret alliances, freedom of the seas, and a reduction in weapons • Treaty of Versailles-signed june 1919 • War guilt clause-Germany took full responsibility for world war one • Forced Germany to pay reparations to the allied nations • German colonies and territories taken away, industrial areas placed under allied control, and military greatly reduced • League of nations- established to prevent future wars by finding peaceful solutions • United states senate rejected both the treaty of Versailles as well as membership in the newly formed league of nations
Europe After World War One Europe Before World War One