World War I: Causes, Players, and Effects

1. World War One1914-1918

2. DODEA Standards: • 10SS7.a: Compare and contrast global imperialism, nationalism, militarisms, and secret alliances that lead to World War I. • 10SS7.b: Analyze the effect of the Russian Revolution and the entry of the United States into World War I. • 10SS8.a: Compare the aims and negotiating roles of world leaders, the terms and influence of the Treaty of Versailles and Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, and the global impact of the United States’ rejection of the League of Nations. • 10SS8.b: Describe the effects of the war and resulting peace treaties on population movement, the international economy, and shifts and shifting international borders.

3. Index • Europe Before the War • Reasons for the War • The Spark • The July Crisis • Schlieffen Plan • War at Sea • New Technology • Russian Revolution • October Revolution • America Enters the War • The Tide Turns

4. Europe before the War

5. The Players: • German Kaiser (Emperor) Wilhelm II • Austrian Emperor Franz Josef • British King George V • Russian Tsar (Emperor) Nicholas II • French President Raymond Poincare • U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

7. German Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) • Emperor from 1888-1918 • Son of Frederick III and Victoria, who was the daughter of British Queen Victoria. • Had a withered left arm, and he blamed his mother for it. He also suspected her of being a British spy. • He was overtly militaristic, anti-democratic, arrogant, self-absorbed and prone to bouts of depression.

8. Austrian-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I (1830-1916) • Came to the throne in 1848 at the age of 18. • His reign marked a continual decline in Austrian power and influence in Europe. • Austria’s relationship with Russia was severely damaged because Austria did not support Russia in the Crimean War (1853-1856) • It became worse after the 1908 Buchlau Conference when Austria “tricked” the Russians into giving them Bosnia-Herzegovina. • Russia was supposed to gain access to the Bosporus for their fleet, with Austrian support, but they did not follow through. • This made the Russians look weak in the eyes of their Balkan friends.

9. British King George V (1865-1936) • Second son of Edward VII and Alix of Denmark, grandson of Queen Victoria. • Was destined for a Royal Navy career until his older brother died and he became heir to the throne. • Personally tried to keep on friendly terms with his cousin Wilhelm II, but it was difficult. • He was very close to Nicholas of Russia. • Of all the European monarchs, he had the least amount of power over his government.

10. Russian Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918) • Son of Tsar Aleksandr III and Tsarina Marie. • Autocratic ruler of Russia. • His aunt is the mother of Edward VII, making him a cousin to George V and Wilhelm II. • Poorly educated and not trained to be Tsar. His uncles bullied him into making poor decisions. • When he stopped listening to his uncles, he relied on his wife Alix (also a grandchild of Queen Victoria) whose advice was worse. • He was a weak man whose character ranged from vacillation to resolute stubbornness.

11. French President Raymond Poincare (1860-1934) • Served as Prime Minister of France five times and President from 1913-1920. • Strongly anti-German, especially after the German surrender. • He wanted to continue the war and push deeper into Germany in late 1918. • His prime minister was Georges Clemenceau

12. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) • Re-elected in 1916 in a close race using the slogan, “He kept us out of war.” • Tried in 1916 to initiate peace talks between the warring parties in Europe. • The German use of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1915 almost brought the USA into the war. • The Germans pledged to stop the practice. • In 1917, they began again forcing Wilson to re-consider neutrality. • In March 1917, the Zimmermann Telegram was released to the US public. • It was an offer of alliance between Germany and Mexico if war broke out between Germany and the USA. • Germany promised to give back Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico if victorious. • The US entered the war on April 6, 1917

13. Reasons for the War: • Militarism • Imperialism • Economics • Naval Rivalry • Treaty System

14. Militarism • All of the large European nations kept standing armies, but they also had trained reservists. • Newspapers also fanned the flame of militarism and nationalism. • The political feeling in Europe was, “We can all sort it out by going to war.” • No nation wanted to back down for fear of being seen as weak. • Few people wanted war, but many took it for granted that it was inevitable.

15. Militarism • In an attempt to break up the British-French friendship, the Germans sent a gun boat to the Moroccan port Agadir. • The Germans were sending a signal to the British that they accepted French control of Morocco, even though Britain did not. • In a later treaty, the French gave Germany part of the Middle Congo. • As for Britain, it actually drew them closer to France out of fear and hostility towards Germany.

16. Imperialism • “The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations” • By 1900, Europeans controlled 20% of the Earth’s surface • By 1900, Europeans controlled 10% of the world’s population. • Europeans believed they needed colonies to provide raw materials and markets for their goods. • Add to this the internal pressure to “civilize” those they colonized with religion, extension of European culture, and ideas. • By 1890, almost all of Africa was claimed by European powers.

18. Imperialism: Weakness of the Ottoman Empire • With the slow and steady decline of Ottoman influence, a power vacuum develops. • Two wars in two years: 1912 and 1913. • Two powers try to fill vacuum; Austria-Hungary and Serbia. • The Serbs want to bring all Serbs into a “Greater Serbia” nation. • The Austrians want the Serbs to stay out of their empire and mind their own business. • This simmering conflict raises tensions between Austria and Russia. Russia has always been protective of the Serbs due to the cultural ties between the two (same alphabet and close in religion).

19. New Nations in the Balkans With new nations in the Balkans, Austria, Serbia and Russia try to extend their political influence. This is exacerbated by the growth of nationalist movements within the Balkans.

20. Economics • Tensions began in 1872, just after German unification. • Prior to 1871, Germany produced about 75% of the steel that the British did. By 1900, they were out producing Britain and France, combined. • German goods were taking over the markets of both British and French colonies. • This lost income to Germany angered Britain and France. • Germany feared that Russia would soon be out producing them in agriculture and industrial production. • This added to the German fear of Russia; with its manpower and industrial power, Germany would lose any potential war with Russia.

21. Naval Rivalry • The naval race between Britain and Germany began in the late 1890’s. The British did not see the need for Germany to have such a large navy. • Germany did not have that many colonies whereas Britain did. • The Germans believed they would need a navy large enough to beat both the British and the French if a war broke out. • In reality, the reason was Wilhelm II’s own personal insecurity with his British relatives. He believed that with a bigger navy, he would get more respect from them.

22. Naval Rivalry • The race continued until the British finally deployed a new type of ship: the HMS Dreadnought. We know them now as battleships. • The Germans finally realized that this was an expense they could no longer afford. • They decided to make a treaty with the British limiting the naval tonnage each side could have. • This was the Treaty of Portsmouth, 1906. • The treaty did not include the newest naval innovation, the submarine.

23. Growth of Naval Tonnage This chart demonstrates the growth of navies prior to World War I. The German naval expansion slowed after 1910.

24. HMS Dreadnought forced the Germans to give up their naval race with Britain.

25. Rather than concentrating on surface vessels, the Germans begin to concentrate on the new technology of submarines, or in German; unterseeboot, U-Boat. These were not included in the 1906 Portsmouth Naval Treaty between Britain and Germany.

26. Treaty System • The idea of collective security for all European nations actually worked against peace. Rather than secure safety and prevent a war, it actually triggered one. • The major nations involved in the war: • Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy*, Ottoman Empire (joined October 1914) • Allies: France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States** *Italy refused to join the Central Powers, they claimed the alliance was only for defensive proposes. They joined the Allies in 1915. **The United States joined the Allies in April, 1917.

28. Entangled Alliances • Each nation needed to make sure their friends would honor their agreements. Both Austria and Russia were afraid of committing to a war and being left without the help of their friends. • Austria was given a “blank check” of support by Germany. • Serbia was given a guarantee from Russia (after they got their own guarantee from France), this gave the Serbs the confidence to reject the Austrian ultimatum. • These promises triggered a course of action no one would or could stop.

29. The Spark—June 28, 1914 • Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, visit Sarajevo. • It is the weekend of their 14th wedding anniversary. • Franz Ferdinand wanted people to make a big fuss over Sophie because back home, she was not allowed to be at the Austrian court. In fact, she was rarely even seen by the people. • Emperor Franz Josef did not like her and, for several years, was not recognized as Franz Ferdinand’s wife and had a minor royal title. Their children had royal titles, but could not inherit the throne.

30. Franz Ferdinand was actually the nephew of Emperor Franz Josef. Ferdinand became heir to the throne after Josef’s son committed suicide in 1889. Crown Prince Rudolf, who was married, was told to get rid of his mistress. Rather than give in, they both committed suicide together at his hunting lodge. In this way, Emperor Franz Josef became stuck with a nephew he never liked. It was important to Franz Ferdinand that Sophie experience being a royal princess in Sarajevo. She had a day to remember. Franz Ferdinand and Sophie

31. The Black Hand • A secret military organization within Serbia dedicated bringing all Serbians together in one nation. • They helped arrange the assassination of Franz Ferdinand.

32. The Deed—More like a Comedy of Errors • The Black Hand had sent to Sarajevo seven assassins who had tuberculosis (there was no cure for it back then). • They were given handguns, small bombs, and cyanide (to take if they were captured). They were also given the route Franz Ferdinand would take to city hall. • On the way to the city hall, one bomb was thrown at Franz Ferdinand’s car, but it actually hit the second car. No one was seriously injured. • The assassin then tried to jump into the river to drown himself, but there had been a drought, so the river only had four inches of water in it. • He took his cyanide capsule, only to make him wretch and not kill him. It was very old cyanide. • He was captured. • Another assassin, Gavrilo Princip, chickens out when he has his chance. Feeling like a big loser, he goes for a cup of coffee near the Latin Bridge.

33. The Deed—More like a Comedy of Errors • The royal couple makes it to City Hall for Franz’s speech and lunch. • Franz is not happy about bombs being thrown at him and Sophie and complains about it. • The security man in charge decides to change the route back, just in case.

34. The Deed—More like a Comedy of Errors • With a new driver, they begin to go back out of the city. • They take a wrong turn and stumble upon Gavrilo Princip sipping some coffee to calm his nerves. • As the driver is trying to turn around, the car stalled. • This time, Princip does act. • Princip gets up and rushes the car firing into it. • Sophie is hit in the stomach and Franz Ferdinand is hit in the neck. Both are dead within 10 minutes. • Princip takes his cyanide, he just wretches. He is arrested.

35. Austrian Reaction • Officially, Austria-Hungary is very upset at the murder of Franz Ferdinand. • Privately, most Austrian officials were relieved. Franz Ferdinand was known to want reforms they did not want to make. • Austria takes it time developing an ultimatum to Serbia in response to the assassination. • What they are really doing behind the scenes is making sure the Germans will back them up. • When they realize the Germans are on their side, they make demands they know Serbia cannot possibly accept. • Austria believed that it could go to war to take over Serbia and keep Russia out of any conflict. • The ultimatum is delivered on July 23, 1914.

36. The July Crisis • The governments of Europe each try to put a spin on the crisis; saying they want peace, but doing everything to have a war. • The Austrians could have avoided the conflict by doing two simple things; giving Serbia more time to consider 9 out of the 10 demands; and by dropping the demand that said Austria would have the power to fire any Serbia official they wanted. • It is safe to say that fear motivated the French and the Russians and aggression motivated the Germans and to a lesser extent, the Austrians.

37. British “dithering”verb 1. to act irresolutely; vacillate • Despite being on friendly terms with France and Russia, the British refused to say if they would or would not go to war. • This made the Germans think that they would remain neutral. • The British had an entente cordiale (friendly understanding) with France dating back to 1904. Russia was added to it in 1907. • It was not a military alliance and did not say Britain had to defend either nation.

38. World War I Begins • July 28, 1914—Austria declares war on Serbia. • July 31, 1914—Russia mobilizes its forces along the Austrian and German borders. • August 1, 1914—Germany declares war on Russia. • August 2, 1914—Italy declares itself neutral. • August 3, 1914—Germany declares war on France. • August 4, 1914—Germany attacks Belgium after German requests to transit through Belgium is denied. • August 4, 1914—Britain, citing an 1839 treaty with Belgium, declares war on Germany. • August 5, 1914—Austria declares war on Russia. • August 10, 1914—France declares war on Austria. • August 12, 1914—Britain declares war on Austria.

39. German Schlieffen Plan • Developed by the German High Command in December 1905 to counter the possibility of a two-front war. • The Germans feared that with the manpower of the Russians, a two-front war would result in their defeat. • Since the Russians took so long to mobilize (six weeks), the Germans decided to attack and crush France first, then turn on Russia. • The key to success was a quick war with France. The Germans gave themselves 21 days to take Paris and win the war in the west and force a French surrender.

40. German Schlieffen Plan • The German plan called for 90% of the German army to transit through Belgium to attack northern France. • The armies would then pivot southwest to take Paris and force a French surrender. • The problem was, Belgium would not give the Germans permission to send their armies through their country. • After a French surrender, German forces could be moved to the Russian front to fight there.

41. Schlieffen Plan

42. First Battle of the Marne • By the end of August, three German armies are sweeping south towards Paris. • Using a retreat to re-group, French General Joffre, reorganizes his forces and tries to counter-attack. • Joffre is able to open a 35 mile gap between two of the German armies, splitting them. • Using Paris city taxis, the French rush another 6,000 troops to reinforce their position. • The Germans are forced to retreat on September 10. • Although the Germans were not able to achieve a quick victory, their armies are intact and were able to withdraw. • Casualties: French, 250,000; Britain, 13,000; German 250,000 (estimated).

43. TannenbergAugust 23, 1914 • The Russians reacted much faster than the Germans thought possible. • They invaded East Prussia with two armies (each 150,000 men), approaching from different directions. • German generals Hindenburg (above right) and Ludendorff (above left) engaged the Russians and trapped both armies in a pincer movement. • Only 10,000 Russians made it back to their lines. • The Germans took 92,000 Russian prisoners. • Despite the crushing loss, the Russians actually saved the French because the Germans had to send armies to the eastern front to protect against further Russian incursion.

44. A Static War in France • After the first major engagements of the war, the battle lines fell into a static pattern. • This was characterized by trench warfare, poison gas attacks and battles that, for most of the war, had no impact on the territories held by either side. • Life in the trenches was not easy.

45. Trench Warfare

46. Trench Warfare • Most front line soldiers spent the war in these trenches. • Most trenches were about 5-6 feet deep and in the rainy seasons, filled with water. • Soldiers were faced with numerous problems in the trenches; trench foot, rats, dead bodies buried in trench walls, poor food and supplies, diseases, not to mention the threat of enemy snipers, artillery shelling, or gas attacks. • In sectors that did not see a great deal of action, soldiers would build bunkers into the soil. This provided some comfort for the soldiers. • In active sectors, soldiers agreed, the smell was the worst part of being in the trenches. French troops preparing to “go over the top” into No Man’s Land.

47. Trench Warfare • Rats were a huge problem for the soldiers. • The brown rat was the most despised and could grow to be the size of a cat. • Rats usually ate the bodies of dead comrades in No Man’s Land or those buried in the walls of the trenches. • Each female rat could produce several hundred offspring each year. • Lice was another common problem. Due to the lack of bathing facilities, soldiers became infected with lice on a regular basis. • Frogs, horned beetles, and slugs also thrived in the environment.

48. Trench Warfare • The picture above shows a soldier who has trench foot. • It is fungal infection of the feet caused by exposure to cold and wet conditions. • It could easily turn gangrenous requiring amputation of toes, or the entire foot.

49. VerdunFebruary – December 1916 • This move signified a change in the German war tactics: they decided it was critical to defeat the French and British first. • In implementing this, Wilhelm also authorized unrestricted submarine warfare. This was needed to ensure the Allies would run out of war materiel. • German attempted to take the French forts near the city of Verdun. • One of the largest German offenses of the war; one million soldiers against 200,000 French. • Even after the German’s used a new gas, phosgene, the French held out. • Due to heavy losses, the Germans suspended the attack on December 15, 1916.

50. SommeJuly 1, 1916 – November 18, 1916 • One of the costliest battles in terms of human life; over one million casualties on both sides. • Territory gained was 7 miles. • It was poorly planned and executed by the Allies. The Germans had been expecting an assault in the sector and had prepared for it well. • Despite this, the British commander, Haig, continued to pour men into battle. He believed that a major breakthrough was just one push away. • Supporters of Haig claim he needed to keep the pressure on the Germans to help save Verdun. British Mark I tank saw its first action in the Battle of the Somme. The name ‘tank’ came from their shipment containers; they were marked as water tanks to mislead any possible German spies.