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World War I

The first modern war involving multiple countries from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The war that reshaped the world order and led to the largest mobilization effort to date.

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World War I

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  1. World War I World Civilizations

  2. The Great War: In a Nutshell • The first war to include multiple countries • The first war to include countries from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia--drawn together by complex alliance system • The first “modern” war • Use of modern technology: first airplanes, first tanks, first gas attack • Most dead in a single battle • The first “European” war the U.S. fought in • Largest mobilization effort, to date

  3. M.A.I.N. Causes of the War Video

  4. Militarism • During the Industrial Revolution, many European nations greatly increased their ability to produce “stuff.” • Countries such as Germany and France began applying their industrial production power to an arms race. • Militarism made countries feel patriotic, but also increased distrust among nations of Europe. • Guns- Use ‘em or Lose ‘em • Alfred Thayer Mahan- The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

  5. Alliances • Countries seek to protect themselves through alliances • Bismark- Goal was to isolate France • Drikaiserbund- Three Emperor’s League- Germany, A-H, Russia • Triple Alliance- G, A-H, It • 1890- Bismark forced to retire, Drikaiserbund breaks up • Russia and France team up • Germany now faces a 2 front war • 1907- Triple Entente- France, Russia, GB, not binding, but at least stay out • GB pledges to protect Belgium’s neutrality

  6. Alliances and the First World War: Triple Alliance, 1882 Then Bismarck allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary (the TRIPLE ALLIANCE, 1882). Together with his friendship with Russia, this kept Germany safe.

  7. Alliances and the First World War: Germany encircled But when Kaiser Wilhelm became Emperor, he dumped the Russian alliance. He kept the Triple Alliance, but this did NOT solve the problem of Germany’s encirclement.

  8. Alliances and the First World War: Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892 Instead, in 1892, Russia made an alliance with FRANCE. Although it was only a DEFENSIVE alliance, it was Germany’s worst nightmare!

  9. Alliances and the First World War: Triple Entente, 1907 In 1907 Russia joined Britain and France to make the Triple Entente. So by 1914 Europe had divided into two massive superpower blocs. People thought this BALANCE OF POWER would keep the peace.

  10. CENTRAL POWERS Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Ottomon Empire 23 million troops THE ALLIES Australia Belgium Brazil Britain Canada China Costa Rica Cuba France Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras India Italy Japan Liberia Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua Panama Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Siam South Africa United States 42 million troops A World War

  11. Imperialism • After the Industrial Revolution, the European powers-including Great Britain, Germany and France-needed new markets for their goods and new producers of raw materials. • They looked to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, lands which they considered their for the taking, and established colonial control. Including completely dominating the other nation. • Countries saw that Imperialism made them powerful. More colonies = stronger, better. • The countries of Europe competed for what little “unconquered” lands remained. These rivalries caused tension and mistrust among the nations of Europe. • Resulted in competition over territorial acquisition • Resulted in long-term aggression over border disputes, natural resources, and new markets • Examples: • France v. Germany over Alsace-Lorraine • Austria-Hungary v. Russia over Balkans • Video

  12. Nationalism • Nationalism is patriotism gone wild. It is loving your country by hating on others. • 2 kinds • Rivalry between powers • Smaller groups want freedom • The belief that each country was culturally superior to any other countries • European governments fueled prejudice and mistrust against neighboring rival nations. • This mistrust of others and crazy patriotism lead to the countries teaming up, because “my enemy’s enemy is my friend.” • Long term cultural hatred (the Russians hated the Germans, the Bosnians hated the Serbs, the Ottomans hated the Greeks, etc) • Resulted in a global effort to prove superiority • Evident in growth of military, the growth of industry, the acquisition of territories • Resulted in large scale international tension

  13. Ottoman Empire starts to collapse Both Russia and AH want to take over their Balkan lands AH wants more power Russia wants a warm water port 1908- AH annexes Bosnia Serbia and Russia protest Germany backs AH Serbia backs down, but tensions still there Slavic Nationalism Problems in the Balkans

  14. The Snowball Effect… • In the spirit of nationalism and self-determination, the small country of Serbia seeks independence from Bosnia, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary. • The region, the Balkans, is THE highway for all trade and communication between Europe and Asia. • The Balkans is a region ALL COUNTRIES want to control. • The Balkans is convulsed by civil war.

  15. Assassination in Sarajevo • Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife, Sophia, were murdered in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. • His assassin was a 19-year old Serbian nationalist and member of the terrorist group “The Black Hand.” • He kills Ferdinand because of Slavic Nationalism

  16. Degenerating to War: The Fall of 1914 • June 28, 1914: Austria-Hungarian Archduke assassinated • Austria blames Serbia • Germany gives AH a “blank check” • July 23: AH gives Serbia an ultimatum, do all these ore else, decide in 48 hrs. • July 25: Serbia accepts all but one. Austria-Hungary mobilizes army and declares war on Serbia • July 30: Russia mobilizes army against Austria-Hungary and Germany • July 31: AH mobilizes against Russia, Germany tells Russia to demoblize or else, Germany asks France are you neutral or with Russia, France says its with Russia • August 1: Germany declares war on Russia • August 3: Germany declares war on France, Germany goes into Belgium, GB protests • August 4: Angered, Great Britain declares war on Germany • August 6: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia

  17. Germany. In Munich, crowds greet the news that war has been declared with excitement. Adolf Hitler, is there.

  18. Plan XVII (17th itemization of plan for war against Germany) • Based on two postulates • Germans wouldn’t use reserves - not strong enough to advance through Belgium • French soldier was irresistible in the attack, so they should advance through German center • Pledged not to violate Belgium’s Neutrality • Staff negotiations committed England to provide land forces to secure left wing

  19. Schlieffen Plan • Germans want to finish off French before Russia is ready to fight • Germans believe French will immediately try to retake Alsace-Lorraine • Original plan called for economy of force on the left while heavily weighting the right flank • Von Moltke revised and distributed forces more evenly across the front • Plan failed when Germans were held up by Belgians, then stopped by French and British at the Battle of the Marne • Russians also mobilized more quickly than expected

  20. Schlieffen Plan

  21. Problems with the Schlieffen Plan • Moltke modified Schlieffen’s original plan • Weakened the right wing and strengthened the left • Moved four and a half corps from the west to the east to protect East Prussia • Modified sweep of right wing so that Germans would not violate the Netherlands’ neutrality • Added a counterattack mission to the left wing • Violated Schlieffen’s dying words to “Keep the right wing strong”

  22. Problems with the Schlieffen Plan • Became inflexible “war by timetable” • Required enormous logistical effort to move men and equipment from Aachen to around Paris in a little more than five weeks • Committed Germany to a two front war • Necessitated attacking before Russia or France could seize the initiative (even if Germany wasn’t ready)

  23. Result Schlieffen Plan works initially but stalls due to logistical demands; static warfare begins

  24. STALEMATE • Allies halt Central Powers; both sides dig in • No flanks for either side to attack • Barbed wire entanglements up to 150’ deep • Neither side gains more than 10 miles in over 2 years • Countries will try new technology to break the stalemate • Mass is supreme principle • Massed assaults • Massed fires

  25. Trench Warfare • Machine gun and artillery make it difficult to attack a trench • Huge artillery preps make “No Man’s Land” virtually impassable • Huge casualties for attackers

  26. Stalemate • The Tactics of Trench Warfare • Generals were unprepared for the development of trench warfare: their training was in army mobility • Main strategy: • To use a combination of heavy artillery and MORE MEN to break the trench line • First, to use artillery to “soften up” the enemy and destroy barbed wire • Second, to fix bayonets and lead a charge across No Man’s Land • Third, to kill the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. • Exceptions, by mutual consent: • No bombing the latrines. • No bombing before breakfast. • No bombing on major holidays.

  27. Trench Diagram #1

  28. Trench diagram #2

  29. Life in the hole • The Equipment: • 1 rifle, 1 bayonet, 170 rounds of ammo, 1 gas mask, 1 shovel, wire cutters, a full water bottle, food rations, extra clothing, medical supplies, portable cooking stove and fuel, personal belongings • Total Weight: 60 lbs.

  30. This is a typical BRITISH soldier. Soldiers were expected to carry their equipment with them at all times. They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition.

  31. No smiling and relaxed faces… No fun with mates… No clean uniforms… Their equipment is scattered everywhere… Boredom is obvious…

  32. Real life in the trenches was MISERABLE

  33. The Trench System

  34. British trench, Thiepval Woods, France

  35. RUTHLESS TACTICS • Chemical warfare made trench warfare more horrible • Mustard/Blister agents deployed • First used on French in 1915

  36. The Battle for 1916: • The Battle of Verdun: February-December, 1916 • The longest battle of the WWI, lasting over 10 months. • Over 1 million dead on the battlefield • The battle became symbolic for WWI: French stubbornness to defend vs. German stubbornness to “bleed the French dry.”

  37. Battle of the Somme: 1916 • The Battle of the Somme: July-November, 1916 • British offensive to relieve French allies at Verdun • British casualties on the first day: 20,000 • Most dead on both sides: 1 million

  38. Somme (June 1916) • “Bleed them white” • Almost 3 million men - Allies thought mass was answer • 1500 Guns (1 per 20 yds) • Artillery prep - 7 days, 1.7 million rounds • In 4.5 months, Allies gained 8 miles • British lost 60,000 men first day; attacked in waves, soldiers carried 66 lbs. • Video

  39. Losses • Allies - 620,000 • Germans - 500,000

  40. The Results

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