By Mariela Recinos

From 1914 – 1918 a titanic war spread across Europe and throughout the colonies.

65 million soldiers were sent into combat.

More than 8.5 million soldiers died in the struggle.

21 million soldiers were wounded.

Almost 8 million were MIA or taken prisoner.

10 – 15 million civilians perished under the harsh wartime conditions.

• In 1914, Europe was divided. Nations had joined two different alliances. Nations in each alliance pledged to help each other if they were attacked. On one side were the Allied Powers or Allies. On the other side were the Central Powers.

Causes of the War

• There were several underlying problems that existed in Europe prior to 1914 that contributed to this destructive war. The main causes are:

M ilitarism A lliances I mperialism N ationalism

Militarism• In 1914 Europe was described as a powder

keg ready to explode.• The counties of Europe had conscripted large

numbers of soldiers into the military.• Germany 11 million soldiers• Great Britain 9 million soldiers• France 8 million soldiers• Russia 12 million soldiers.• United States 200,000.

Alliances

• In order to discourage attack, Britain, France, and Russia formed a defensive alliance know as the triple entente.

• Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance

• Russia secretly pledged to defend Serbia.• Britain secretly pledged to defend Belgium.

Imperialism

• In 1914 France and Britain controlled most of the Worlds Colonies and did not permit the Germans to trade in their ports.

• The German government dreamed of taking control of these valuable colonies and resources.

Nationalism

• Nationalism = Extreme patriotism• Countries such as Germany, France, Austria

Hungary, and Britain carried out policies designed to strengthen their power at the expense of their neighbors.

• Ethnic groups like Serbians, Poles, and Czechoslovakians, started violent uprisings in order to fight for self rule against Germany and Austria Hungary.

The Powder Keg Explodes

What finally leads to war breaking

out is the assassination of

Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand (and his wife) on June 28, 1914, by Gavrilo Princep.

Franz and Sophie

Franz and Sophie arrived in Sarajevo. Sophie was shot in the abdomen and Franz in the neck. They both died within 15

minutes

Gavriola Princip a Serbian terrorist shot him and his wife dead. The terrorist group that killed the leader was called the black hand. They trained in Serbia. As a result to the death of their next king, Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia.

Most Americans did not think the United States

should get involved in the war. But in 1915, a erman

submarine

The Big Four Leaders of World War I

• The Big Four Leaders gathered at Versailles in January 1919 to write a formal treaty for peace.

Peace Treaty Signed at Versailles, 1919• The Parisians had a

parade after the signing of the Treaty at Versailles marking the end of World War I. Notice the sign at the top of this photograph that reads: "Vive Wilson."