4

5

Monarchs of the Great War

Czar Nicholas II of Russia King George V of Britain Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany

Cousins!?

6

Causes of World War I

• Nationalism• Imperialism• Alliances• Militarism

7

The Spark• Archduke Franz

Ferdinand of Austria.

• Sarajevo, Serbia• June 28, 1914• The Black Hand• Gavrillo Princep

8

Major Events and Themes of The Great War

• Schlieffen Plan– General Count Alfred von Schlieffen

9

Battle of Verdun

• Verdun, France• Germans un-successfully try to take Verdun• Results: estimated 500,000 dead and wounded between February and July of

1916.

10

The Tide Turns

• Un-restricted submarine warfare– German U-Boats

• Lusitania– May 7, 1915

• 2000 dead (130 US Citizens)

• USA gives Germany an ultimatum to stop attacks, if not diplomatic relations would end.– Germany stops the attacks, but starts up again in 1916.

11

The Zimmerman Telegram, March 1917

• German Foreign minister, Arthur Zimmerman.– Ambassador to Mexico.• Mexican support in the war

– Promised Mexico Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico back from the USA.

• Telegram intercepted by the British.• USA enters the war in April, 1917.

12

The End of The Great War

• Germany’s allies surrender in 1918– Ottoman Empire surrendered after losing battles

in the Balkan Peninsula.– Austria-Hungary surrendered after being defeated

in the Battle of Vittorio in Italy.• Germany’s last attempt at victory– March to July 1918. Stopped about 40 miles from

Paris.

13

The End of The Great War

• Allies launch a counter offensive– The German army is weak. Major Flu outbreak.– September, Germans were pushed back to the

borders of Germany—Knew there was no way to win.

– November 9, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and went to Holland (a neutral country).

– November 11, 1918 at 11:00 AM the fighting finally stopped.

14

Treaty of Versailles

• Negotiated and written by The Big Four.• German Delegates were forced to sign on June

28th, 1919.• Major Provisions:– “Guilt Clause”: Germany forced to accept

responsibility for causing WWI.– German armed forces greatly weakened• Only allowed to keep a very small army and navy• Greatly limited the amount of weapons and equipment