World War I

Causes of the War

• Europe at its peak– 25% of world population, – Industrialization and modernization led to sense that

they were on top

• Imperialism – competing for colonies

• Militarism– Glorification of war and military– Germany competing against England for naval

superiority

• Nationalism – pride in one’s country– Tensions between nationalist groups in many

countries

• Alliance System– Treaties to protect themselves– Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary and

Italy– Triple Entente: France, Russia and Great Britain

War Breaks Out

• Nationalism in the Balkans– Ottoman Empire falling apart creates problems in

Balkans– Russia and Austria-Hungary competing for control of

Balkans– Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia – Serbia resents this

• Assassination of the Archduke– Heir of Austria-Hungary’s throne (and wife)

assassinated by Black Hand (Serbian nationalist group)

• Austria-Hungary’s ultimatum– Austria-Hungary gets Germany’s backing – Austria-Hungary gives Serbia ultimatum– Serbia refuses to let Austria-Hungary investigate– Austria-Hungary declares war

• Alliances led to war– Russia moves troops in case Serbia needs help– Germany declares war on Russia– Germany declares war on France (Schlieffen Plan)– Germany goes through Belgium to invade France– Great Britain declares war on Germany– Within one week most of Europe in the war

Alliance and Fronts

• Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire

• Allies: Great Britain, France, Russia, Belgium – US (1917)

• Western Front– Northeastern France formed quickly– Battles long and bloody; Verdun 680,000 casualties;

Somme over 1,000,000 casualties

• Eastern Front– Russia technologically behind– Russia suffering huge defeats– Russia eventually withdraws signs Brest-

Litovsk Treaty giving 25% of land to Central Powers

• Balkan Front– Allies unsuccessfully try to land in Balkans

• Battle of Gallipoli– Allies trying to gain control of the Dardenelles– Allies suffer defeat

• Italian Front– Italy joins Triple Entente and fights Austria-Hungary

• War Ends– Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire were first to be

defeated– Revolts inside Austria-Hungary and Germany help

end the war quickly

• Allies win the war 11-11-1918

New Weapons

• Machine Gun– British machine gun fired 8 rounds per second at a

distance of 2,900 yards

• Artillery– Greater power and carried much further– Mechanized and more accurate– 24 million shells used in the Battle of Verdun alone

• Weapons of Industrial Age– 75 types of poison-gas bombs used– Flame throwers– Tanks– Airplanes– U-Boat (submarine)

• Casualties of Modern Weaponry– Tactics of sending masses of men toward enemy

didn’t work against modern weapons– Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on the first day of

the Battle of the Somme– Total losses for WWI exceeded 10,000,000

Each symbol indicates 100,000 dead

                                                                                                                        

 

Realities of Soldiers’ Lives

• Patriotic fervor– Many Europeans looked forward to the war at first

• Attitudes change– As horrors of war come out loose enthusiasm

• Truth: Soldiers’ Poetry– Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

• The Return Home– No crowds or heroes’ welcome after the war

Trench Warfare

• Race to the Sea– 475 miles of trenches were dug across northern France– British troops used over 10 million shovels during war

• Why trenches?– Fighting with old methods but using modern technology– Way to protect themselves from weaponry

• Life in the Trenches– Charging over the top, crossing no man’s land to reach

enemy trenches– Boring, terrifying, and caused shell shock– Horrible living conditions

Effect of the War on the Homefront

• Mobilizing for Total War– Civilians make huge sacrifices– Governments controlled industries and rationing

goods

• New Jobs for Women– Holding jobs traditionally held by men– Number in paid employment rises– In paramilitary organizations to support soldiers

• Women’s wages– Paid less for the same job as men– Industrial and civil work provided better pay and

working hours

• Women’s changing roles– Women discovered the benefits of financial

independence and greater mobility– Some refused to return to domestic service– Women won right to vote throughout Europe and

America

Tragedies of the war

• Popular culture reflects European’s repugnance for war

• The Wind on the Downs by Marian Allen

Treaty of Versailles

• Meet at Versailles• President Wilson’s 14 Points

– Supported self-determination for all nations – A just peace– Tries to resolve issues over territory and trade that

caused war

• European Powers Vengeance– Italy and Britain want territory– France wants to punish Germany; Britain supports

this

• Treaty of Versailles Terms– Germany had to:

• Return Alsace-Lorraine region to France• Keep Rhineland demilitarized• Give up navy and have a limited army• Pay war reparation of 32 billion dollars• Admit guilt for war

• New Europe– Treaties similar to this signed with other Central Powers– Change in borders for many countries– Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and Russia lost

territory– Many new countries created as a buffer zone against new

communist Soviet Union

1914 Europe Map

1919 Europe Map