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Origins of WWI: The Road to Catastrophe

Explore the events leading to World War I, from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the complex alliances and arms race that fueled the conflict. Discover the key figures like Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II and the interconnected web of European powers.

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Origins of WWI: The Road to Catastrophe

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  1. 1. Germany 2. Balkans 3. Arms Race 4. Alliance system Origins of WWI

  2. “Shot heard ‘round the world.” 28 June 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Sarajevo, Bosnia GavriloPrincip; Black Hand

  3. Germany • Empire (1871)‏ • Industrial growth • Leadership • Bismarck • Wilhelm II

  4. Steel Productions of European Powers, 1870-1914 (in million tons)‏ 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1914 *Germany0.3 0.7 2.3 6.7 13.814.0 Austria-Hungary-- -- 0.5 1.2 2.2 2.7 France 0.3 0.4 0.7 1.6 3.4 3.5 *Great Britain0.7 1.3 3.6 5.0 5.96.5 Russia-- -- 0.4 1.5 3.5 4.1

  5. Bismarck ‏(1815-98) Chancellor (1871-90) German foreign policy Balance of power in Europe 1879 Dual Alliance 1881 Three Emperors’ League 1882 Triple Alliance Isolate France Otto von Bismarck

  6. “France will have but one thought: to reconstitute her forces, gather her energy…raise her young generation to form an army of the whole people…to become again a great France, the France of 1792, the France of an idea with a sword. Then one day she will be irresistible. Then she will take back Alsace-Lorraine.” French writer Victor Hugo (1802-85)‏

  7. Bismarck ‏(1815-98) Chancellor (1871-90) German foreign policy Balance of power in Europe 1879 Dual Alliance 1881 Three Emperors’ League 1882 Triple Alliance Isolate France Otto von Bismarck

  8. Kaiser Wilhelm II (1888-1918)‏ Destabilizing factor Belligerent foreign policy Forced Bismarck to resign (1890)‏ Weltpolitik: “world policy” Allowed alliance with Russia to lapse (1890)‏ Focused support on Austria-Hungary War between Aus-Hung & Russ more likely? Wilhelm in 1897: “Nothing must henceforth be settled in the world without the intervention of Germany and the German Emperor.”

  9. “The Emperor is like a balloon; if one did not hold him fast on a string, he would go no one knows whither” - Bismarck

  10. Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)‏ Pan-Slavism Serbia (1878)‏ Austria-Hungary Russia Balkans

  11. Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867-1918

  12. Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)‏ Pan-Slavism Serbia (1878)‏ Austria-Hungary Russia Balkans

  13. Arms Race (militarism) Germany Britain Dreadnought (1906)‏

  14. Alliances • 1879 Dual Alliance • 1882 Triple Alliance • 1894 Franco-Russian alliance • ended French isolation • 1904 Entente Cordiale • 1907 Triple Entente • Bismarck's nightmare • ‘

  15. Europe c. 1907 Europe: two allied camps Balkans: unstable area – forces of nationalism Austria-Hungary & Russia: struggle for influence in Balkans Germany & Austria-Hungary: strong relationship

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