1914 - 1919

1. The War to End all Wars 1914 - 1919

3. Bonkers about the Balkans • Serbia wanted to unite all Slavic (ethnicity) states • Because Russia was a predominately Slavic nation, they backed Serbia • Austria-Hungary had just annexed Bosnia and Herzegovinian and refused to let this happen

4. June 28, 1914 • Archduke Franz Ferdinand – heir to Austria-Hungarian throne • Campaign to Sarajevo • Assassinated by a Serbian terrorist • AH blames Serbia

5. June 28, 1914 • Germany, allied with AH says they will give any help necessary • July 28th – AH declares war on S • Russia mobilizes army against AH and Germany • Germany gives Russia 12 hours to stop; Russia ignores; Germany declares war on Russia – August 1 • Under Germany’s Schlieffen Plan (attack France to West and Russia to the East, speedy end to the war), France – August 3 • Germany enters France through neutral Belgium • Great Britain, allied to France and honoring Belgium’s neutrality declares war on Germany – Aug. 4

6. Alliance Dominoes…

7. New Face, New Names • Triple Entente – Allied Powers • Italy joined when Germany disregarded Belgium’s neutrality • Most of the Balkan nations joined • Japan joins • Triple Alliance – Central Powers • The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and Bulgaria joined in 1915

8. New Weapons • Machine gun • Poison gas (Mustard gas) • Carried by the wind • Burned out soldier’s lungs • Deadly in the trenches where it would sit at the bottom • Submarine • Airplane • Tank • Hand grenades • Flame Throwers

9. New Weapons

10. Western Front, the beginning • Germany invaded France through Germany trying to capture Paris • Battle of the Marne, September 1914 • Stopped German advances towards Paris • Stalemate – no longer advancing, enter Trench Warfare

11. Trench Warfare • both sides dug trenches protected by mines and barbed wire • 6,250 miles • 6 to 8 feet deep • Immobilized both sides for 4 years • Life • Bored, shell shock, unsanitary

12. Trench Warfare

13. Christmas Truce, 1914 • unofficial truce lasted for several days • “We shook hands, wished each other a Merry Xmas, and were soon conversing as if we had known each other for years…”

14. Total War - 1915 • Mobilizing ALL resources • Draft – soldiers • Rationing of resources at home so troops would be taken care of • Propaganda – divert attention to war and influence public opinion • Targeting civilians (non – military), too

15. Western Front, 1916 -1917 • Battle of Verdun • Longest battle • 21 February-18 December 1916 • Battle of the Somme • Bloodiest battle

16. Total War – German Subs • Unrestricted Submarine Warfare – Germans did not care if it was a civilian liner, they would fire – wanted to keep Allies from supplies • Lusitania was a British ship believed to be carrying goods from the US to Great Britain • May 1915, Germanyfired, killing about 120 Americans • President Wilson had no choice but to consider war

17. Eastern Front • August 1914, Battle of Tannenberg • almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army • Russia is getting destroyed – moral and confidence in government of Tsar Nicholas II is wavering

18. Eastern Front – Russia leaves • Internal Affairs • War and government = unpopular with people • Rise of Vladimir Lenin – promised to get Russia out of war • Russia leaves WWI to combat an internal revolution

19. Zimmerman Telegram • Germany sends telegram to Mexico saying if you help against US and Japan, we will help you get Texas/other land lost back form US • United States intercepts • President Wilson and Congress declare war on Germany, April1917

20. 1917-1918 • Allied forces moral and supplies renewed • “drafted 2.8 million men and by summer 1918 was sending 10,000 fresh soldiers to France every day.” • Allied victories become increasingly common and more frequent than Central Powers

21. Last Chance for Success • Spring 1918, Germans sought to divide British and French troops before large amounts of US forces arrive • Allies response: Hundred Day Offensive • September 1918, German General admits defeat and asks government for peace

22. Central Powers Collapse • Allies wouldn’t bargain with autocratic imperial government • Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated Nov. 9 • November 11, 1918, Democratic Republic of Germany signs armistice • A truce, an agreement to end the fighting • Austria-Hungarycollapsed under revolution • New states formed • Austria • Hungary • Czechoslovakia • Yugoslavia

23. Peace Settlements of 1919 • 27 Allied nations met in Paris to make final settlements • Wilson’s Proposal– Fourteen Points (1st US President to Europe) • Openly reaching peace with nations, not secret alliances • Reducing armaments • Ensure self-determination (right of each people to have its own nation) “making the world safe for democracy”

24. Paris Peace Conference • Many nations wanted Germany to “pay for this dreadful war” • Georges Clemenceau (France) desired revenge and wanted • Germany to loose all weapons • Pay reparations • Separate buffer state between France/Germany • Big Three made all the decisions • United States – Wilson • Great Britain – David Lloyd Georges • France – Clemenceau

25. Peace Settlements • League of Nations, Jan. 25, 1919 • June 28, 1919 – Treaty of Versailles • Germany took responsibility for starting war • Germany pay reparations • Germany reduce army to 100,000, cut navy and eliminate air force • Germany gave Alsace and Lorraine back to France • Germany lost eastern land to Poland • New Map of Europe