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Europe Plunges into War

Europe Plunges into War. The Western and Eastern Fronts. The Outbreak of War. July 28, 1914 – Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia alliance system begins Russia mobilizes army (July 31) Germany asked Russia to cancel mobilization – or war would begin Russia didn’t reply

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Europe Plunges into War

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  1. Europe Plunges into War The Western and Eastern Fronts

  2. The Outbreak of War • July 28, 1914 – Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia • alliance system begins • Russia mobilizes army (July 31) • Germany asked Russia to cancel mobilization – or war would begin • Russia didn’t reply • Germany declared war on Russia (August 1) • Knowing France would join Russia – Germany declares war on France (August 3) • What problem does Germany have now that they have declared war on Russia and France?

  3. 1914 July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. July 31 Russia announces full mobilization. August 1Germany declares war on Russia. August 3 Germany declares war on France. August 4 Germany invades Belgium, Britain declares war on Germany August 5Montenegro on Austria Hungary August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia Serbia declares war on Germany. August 9 Montenegro declares war on Germany. August 11 France declares war on Austria-Hungary. August 12 The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary. August 22 Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium. August 23Japan declares war on Germany. August 25 Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary. November 1 Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire. November 3 Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire. 1915 May 23Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary. October 14Bulgaria declares war on Serbia October 15 The United Kingdom declares war on Bulgaria. October 16 France declares war on Bulgaria. 1916 August 27 Italy declares war on Germany; Romania enters on the Allied side 1917 April 6The United States declares war on Germany. December 7 The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary. Declarations of War

  4. Journal #13 • “Serbia was right in wanting to expand, Austria in wanting to survive. Germany was right in fearing isolation, Great Britain in fearing German power. Everyone was right. And everyone was wrong, for no one foresaw what war would mean, either in terms of costs or of consequences. All were sinners, all were sinned against.” - Joachim Remak • Who was responsible for starting WWI?

  5. 1914-1915: Illusions and Stalemate • Illusions fed enthusiasm for the war in 1914 • Belief that the war would only last a few weeks • Home by Christmas (historical trend in Europe, American Civil War overlooked) • War could not last for more than a few months without destroying a nation’s economy • Fatal Attraction to a “glorious adventure” • Redemption: national rebirth based on self-sacrifice, heroism, and nobility

  6. The Western Front The SchlieffenPlan • Called for Germany to quickly crush France before Russia was fully ready • Plan had many faults: • more resistance in Belgium; German advances delayed • Russia mobilized faster • Britain met German forces in northern France • France attacked in the south

  7. Germany invaded France through Belgium (a neutral nation) • Britain brought into war once Germany entered Belgium, Britain pledged to defend Belgium’s neutrality • August 4, 1914 Britain declares war on Germany

  8. German offensive stalled in September with France and Britain taking stand along Marne River • The First Battle of the Marne was perhaps the single most important event of the war • This ended hopes of quick victory for Germany • Ruined Schlieffen Plan • Germany was pushed back

  9. By fall 1914 Britain and France stabilized Germany along the western front • Nov. 1914: neither side could deal final blow • settled down to trench warfare • for next 3 years: fighting only preserved stalemate w/ many casualties

  10. Stalemate

  11. Nations Take Sides Central Powers • Germany • Austria-Hungary • Bulgaria (joins later 11/1914) • Ottoman Empire (joins later 10/1915) Allied Powers (Allies) • Great Britain • France • Russia • Japan • Italy (1915)

  12. Western Front Battles • Verdun and Somme • Most costly battles of the war, exemplified “war of Attrition” • Trench Warfare

  13. Verdun (Feb–Dec 1916) • Begun by Germany to end stalemate • Casualties – nearly a million (fairly equal on both sides) • Result: Germany advanced about four miles

  14. Somme (in northern France)July 1, 1916 – November 1916 • Begun by Allies to draw Germans out of Verdun • Casualties (one of the bloodiest battles of war, ever): first day=20,000 British soldiers dead • Result: Allies had gained five miles of bloody mud from the Germans at a cost of 600,000 men: 400,000 British Imperial, and 200,000 French casualties  (BBC)

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