introduction to world war i

World War I World War I “The Great War”“The Great War”

1914-19181914-1918

Key Questions Key Questions What impact did rising nationalism and imperialism What impact did rising nationalism and imperialism

have on the outbreak of WWI? have on the outbreak of WWI?

Why did Bismarck’s alliance system fail to maintain Why did Bismarck’s alliance system fail to maintain peace in Europe? peace in Europe?

Why did WWI become a stalemate and war attrition? Why did WWI become a stalemate and war attrition? How did the European nations mobilize for war? How did the European nations mobilize for war? What impact did the war have on the civilian What impact did the war have on the civilian

population? population? How did the Treaty of Versailles lead to WWII? How did the Treaty of Versailles lead to WWII?

Long Range CausesLong Range Causes

Prelude to war Prelude to war

Nationalism- Post 1848Nationalism- Post 1848 The unification of Germany and Italy changed The unification of Germany and Italy changed

the the balance of powerbalance of power in Europe in Europe Growing sense of Growing sense of national identify, pride, national identify, pride,

ambition, and loyaltyambition, and loyalty Nationalistic tensionsNationalistic tensions in the in the Balkans Balkans

increased tensions with the increased tensions with the Austro-Austro-Hungarian Empire Hungarian Empire

The The French loss of the Alsace and Lorraine French loss of the Alsace and Lorraine region (region (Franco-Prussian WarFranco-Prussian War) to Germany ) to Germany increased tensions between France and increased tensions between France and Germany Germany

MilitarismMilitarism

IndustrializationIndustrialization was put to work building up was put to work building up military capabilities- weaponry military capabilities- weaponry

Growth of peace time armies with Growth of peace time armies with conscription –the draftconscription –the draft

Military competition among the European Military competition among the European powers intensified powers intensified

New military technologies New military technologies Machine guns, chemical warfare, planes, large Machine guns, chemical warfare, planes, large

shell guns, tanks, battle ships, submarinesshell guns, tanks, battle ships, submarines

ImperialismImperialism

European nations competed with one another by European nations competed with one another by establishing new coloniesestablishing new colonies

Asia, Africa, Middle East, North AfricaAsia, Africa, Middle East, North AfricaTerritorial expansion Territorial expansion was seen as an expression of was seen as an expression of

powerpowerColonies were seen as sources of raw materials for Colonies were seen as sources of raw materials for

industry and business at homeindustry and business at homeTrade and the expansion of markets would create Trade and the expansion of markets would create

new wealth for the homelandnew wealth for the homelandPolitical influence would grow with the expansion Political influence would grow with the expansion

of colonies (empire building)of colonies (empire building)

Industrialization and Urbanization Industrialization and Urbanization

Industrialization gave rise to increased Industrialization gave rise to increased urbanization in Europeurbanization in Europe

Millions of Europeans moved into its cities in Millions of Europeans moved into its cities in search of a search of a better life and new work better life and new work opportunities opportunities

Many Europeans, however, felt increasingly Many Europeans, however, felt increasingly isolated and disenfranchised as the isolated and disenfranchised as the gap gap between the “haves and the have nots” between the “haves and the have nots” widened - political and economic disparitywidened - political and economic disparity

Moderate Socialism Moderate Socialism

moderate moderate socialistssocialists sought sought social and social and economic reform economic reform to promote peace to promote peace and a better life for and a better life for Europe’s growing Europe’s growing working classworking class

Jean JauresJean Jaures French Socialist French Socialist Respected voice of Respected voice of

moderation and peace moderation and peace

Radical Socialism Radical Socialism

radical and radical and revolutionary socialistsrevolutionary socialists (Marxists) promoted (Marxists) promoted drastic reform and drastic reform and violent revolution violent revolution

Many European Many European governments governments feared the feared the rise radical socialismrise radical socialism

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin promoted revolution in promoted revolution in Russia Russia

Radical Socialism in Germany Radical Socialism in Germany

Rosa LuxemburgRosa Luxemburg Murdered for her Murdered for her

revolutionary viewsrevolutionary views

The Alliance SystemThe Alliance System A system of A system of international alliancesinternational alliances was initiated by was initiated by

Bismarck in the 1870’sBismarck in the 1870’s Germany was concerned about growing tensions and unrest Germany was concerned about growing tensions and unrest

Bismarck wanted to Bismarck wanted to secure the balance of power secure the balance of power and secure peaceand secure peace in Europe (Germany) in Europe (Germany) deter a deter a “war of revenge”“war of revenge” after the German defeat of after the German defeat of

France in the Franco-Prussian War- 1871France in the Franco-Prussian War- 1871

Secret alliances were made which created distrust and Secret alliances were made which created distrust and paranoia among the various European powersparanoia among the various European powers

The The obligation of alliancesobligation of alliances would also draw all of would also draw all of the European powers into war the European powers into war

By 1914 Europe was divided By 1914 Europe was divided into two rival campsinto two rival camps

The Triple AllianceThe Triple AllianceThe Central Powers of WWI The Central Powers of WWI

GermanyGermany Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary ItalyItaly

Bulgaria and Turkey (the Ottomans) would later Bulgaria and Turkey (the Ottomans) would later join to make up the join to make up the Central Powers during Central Powers during WWI WWI

The Triple EntenteThe Triple EntenteThe Allied Powers WWI The Allied Powers WWI

BritainBritain FranceFrance RussiaRussia

Russia withdrew from the war in 1917 due to Russia withdrew from the war in 1917 due to devastating losses and increasing political unrest at devastating losses and increasing political unrest at home- home-

Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

Allied Powers of WWI (US will enter WWI in Allied Powers of WWI (US will enter WWI in 1917) 1917)

The “Spark”The “Spark”

““Some damn foolish thing in the Some damn foolish thing in the Balkans”……Balkans”……

Otto von Bismarck’s Otto von Bismarck’s

prophetic statement prophetic statement

Trouble in the BalkansTrouble in the Balkans In 1908 In 1908 Austria annexed Bosnia and Austria annexed Bosnia and

Herzegovina (region in the Balkans)Herzegovina (region in the Balkans) This angered the independent state of This angered the independent state of SerbiaSerbia Serbia wanted to expand into territory held by Serbia wanted to expand into territory held by

the Ottoman Turksthe Ottoman Turks In July of In July of 1914, the Austrian Archduke1914, the Austrian Archduke and and

his wife werehis wife were assassinated assassinated during a state visit during a state visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina to Bosnia and Herzegovina Assassinated by a Serbian nationalistAssassinated by a Serbian nationalist

War between Serbia and Austria resultedWar between Serbia and Austria resulted

Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo right before the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo right before the assassinationassassination

The Funeral of the ArchdukeThe Funeral of the Archduke

Austrian reprisals against Serbian nationalists for the Austrian reprisals against Serbian nationalists for the assassinationassassination

WW I Begins: August 1914WW I Begins: August 1914

Austria declared war on Serbia Austria declared war on Serbia in August of in August of 19141914

Germany supported AustriaGermany supported Austria in its war effort in its war effort Russia ordered a mobilizationRussia ordered a mobilization against against

Austria and Germany in Austria and Germany in support of Serbiasupport of Serbia Germany invaded Belgium and FranceGermany invaded Belgium and France Britain joined the war in support of FranceBritain joined the war in support of France

– – declared war on Germanydeclared war on Germany

WW I AlliancesWW I Alliances

A small conflict became an A small conflict became an international world warinternational world war

German aggression German aggression was a reflection of the was a reflection of the failure of failure of Bismarck’s alliance systemBismarck’s alliance system

Some leaders in Germany may have seen war as a way Some leaders in Germany may have seen war as a way of building of building German nationalism German nationalism and unity at home in and unity at home in the face of growing political tensions and rising the face of growing political tensions and rising socialismsocialism

Nationalism built up a Nationalism built up a “war fever”“war fever” and created a and created a romantic notion of warromantic notion of war, national honor, and self-, national honor, and self-sacrificesacrifice

WWI Postcard - Central Powers WWI Postcard - Central Powers

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen PlanGermany’s plan to invade France through BelgiumGermany’s plan to invade France through Belgium

Russia pulled out of the war in Russia pulled out of the war in 1917 as it struggled with a 1917 as it struggled with a

revolution at homerevolution at home

Major Battles of WWI Major Battles of WWI

Battle of the MarneBattle of the Marne VerdunVerdun The SommeThe Somme

Most of the major battles were fought in Most of the major battles were fought in France and Belgium France and Belgium

The war would continue for The war would continue for four long yearsfour long years

Ultimately WW I became a war Ultimately WW I became a war of of attrition and stalemate attrition and stalemate with no with no

real gains on either sidereal gains on either side

““I am staring at a sunlit picture of I am staring at a sunlit picture of Hell.” Hell.”

British poet Siegfried SassoonBritish poet Siegfried Sassoon

German painter Otto DixGerman painter Otto Diximages of warimages of war

The TrenchesThe Trenches

New Weapons and TechnologiesNew Weapons and Technologies

War Propaganda War Propaganda

Injuries Injuries

““Grieving Parents”Grieving Parents”by German artist by German artist Kathe KolliwitzKathe KolliwitzWWI CemeteryWWI Cemetery

War’s EndWar’s End

Germany began to experience military losses Germany began to experience military losses ((the United States had entered the war in 1917)the United States had entered the war in 1917)

Many in Germany called for an end to the warMany in Germany called for an end to the war Food shortages and labor issues Food shortages and labor issues plagued much of plagued much of

EuropeEurope Revolution broke out in Germany Revolution broke out in Germany as many as many

demonstrated for peacedemonstrated for peace November 11, 1918November 11, 1918 - the war ended as Germany - the war ended as Germany

accepted the terms of surrenderaccepted the terms of surrender

The Treaty of Versailles would The Treaty of Versailles would establish the post war terms and establish the post war terms and lay the ground work for a second lay the ground work for a second

conflict in the 1930’sconflict in the 1930’s