world war i. overview world war i was the first true world-wide conflict; referred to as “the...
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World War I
Overview World War I was the first true world-wide conflict; referred to
as “The Great War” The first total war (the govt mobilized every person and
resource for the war) New military technology made it more destructive than all
previous conflicts Toppled several monarchies Created several new nation-states in Eastern Europe Helped lead to the Russian Revolution
The Road to War
The early 20th century was dominated by European imperialism
No major wars for a century
The Road to War Europe had always had a history of conflict In the previous century, the continent had been overrun with
Napoleonic Wars Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) had created a balance of
powers that was upset with the creation of new empires such as Germany. Otto von Bismarck humiliated France and challenged Britain Germany joined the quest for new colonies in Africa and Asia
Underlying Causes of World War I
Nationalism – each ethnic group wanted their own nation and you should promote your nation’s interest above all others Sometimes nationalists assert their
nation is more superior than others Encouraged rivalries between several
European countries Led to creation of new independent states in
the Balkans Austria-Hungary was composed of several
ethnic groups that wanted to break up the empire and create their own countries
Underlying Causes of World War I Imperialism – possession of oversea
colonies was a sign of great power Many European countries were competing for
colonies in Africa and Asia; competing claims created tension
One quarter of the world was under the British Empire
Germany threated British economic supremacy Russian interests threatened Austria-Hungary
and Turkey
Underlying Causes of World War I The Alliance System – Europe had divided into two major
alliances: Triple Alliance (1882) – Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy Triple Entente (understanding) - Great Britain, France, and
Russia Alliances were meant to preserve power but it meant that if any
two of these countries went to war, they all went to war
Underlying Causes of World War I Militarism – military values and goals took over civilian
society Bismarck had united Germany through Prussia’s military power Every country built up military power Kings wore military uniforms Generals became influential in government
The Spark June 28, 1914 Archduke
Francis Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated by the Serbian nationalist group “The Black Hand”.
July 5, 1914 Germany issues A-H “blank check” pledging military assistance if
A-H goes to war against Russia
July 23, 1914 Austria issues Serbia an ultimatum Declared war when Serbia
only agreed to 8 out of 10 demands
The Spark July 28, 1914 A-H
declares war on Serbia
July 29, 1914 Russia orders full mobilization of its troops
August 1,1914 Germany declares war on Russia
August 2, 1914 Germany demands Belgium declare access to German troops
The War Begins
The War Begins Began with France, Britain, and Russia on one side (the
Triple Entente) against Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire (Central Powers) Italy was part of the Triple Alliance with Germany, but joined the
Entente after a secret agreement guaranteeing land from Austria-Hungary
Most European countries chose sides As Triple Entente grew, came to be known as “Allied Powers”
Illusions of Grandeur Many Europeans were excited about war
“Defend yourself against the aggressors” Domestic differences were put aside
War would be over in a few weeks Ignored the length and brutality of the American Civil War (prototype to
World War I)
Belief that Modern industrial war could not be conducted for more than a few months
“Home by Christmas”
Illusions of Grandeur“Fatal attraction of war”
Exhilarating release from every day lifeA glorious adventureWar would rid the nations of selfishnessSpark a national re-birth based on heroism
Fighting the War Schlieffen Plan
German plan finalized in 1905 to plan victory in a war in which the German Empire might find itself fighting on two fronts – France (west) and Russia (east)
Concentrate troops in the west, quickly defeat France, and then rush troops to the east by rail to face the Russians before they had a chance to mobilize
It was successful for the first month but ultimately failed
Fighting the War King Albert I of Belgium denied permission for
Germans to move troops through Belgium “Belgium is a country, not a road”
August 2, 1914 Germany declared war on France
August 4, 1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality
Germany made vast encircling movement through Belgium to enter Paris
Underestimated speed of the British mobilization Quickly sent troops to France
A War on Multiple Fronts In the end, Germany had a war to fight on two fronts
Technically three when Italy entered the war between the Italians and Australians
President Woodrow Wilson called upon Americans to remain neutral
Fighting on the Western FrontSept 6-10, 1914
Battle of MarneStopped the Germans but French troops were
exhaustedBoth sides dug trenches for shelter
Fighting on the Western Front
Trench warfare: Both sides dig ditches to create fortified positions
Separated by fields of barbed wire and mines called “no man’s land”
Trenches dug from English Channel to Switzerland
6,250 miles
6 to 8 feet deep
Immobilized both sides for 4 years
In the TrenchElaborate systems of defense Barbed wire Concrete machine gun
nests Mortar batteries Troops lived in holes
underground
In the TrenchBoredom
Soldiers read to pass the time
Sarah Bernhardt came out to the front to read poetry to the soldiers
In the Trenches “We all had on us the stench of dead bodies.”
Death numbed the soldier’s minds. Shell shock Psychological devastation Mustard gas
Carried by the wind Burned out soldier’s lungs Deadly in the trenches where it would sit at the
bottom
In the TrenchesTrench warfare baffled military leaders
Attempt a breakthrough Then return to a war of movement Millions of young men sacrificed attempting the
breakthrough
Battle of Verdun 10 months 700,000 men killed Longest and one of the
most devastating battles of war and the history of warfare
Tactical victory for France Had recaptured most of its
defensive system
New Technology New weapons crippled the “frozen front”
Poison gas (mustard gas) Hand grenades Flame throwers Tanks Airplanes Tanks Subs
New Technology Airplanes
Dog fights in the airBombing inaccurateRomanticized the battlefieldsParis and London bombedPilots fired pistols and threw hand grenades
New Technology German submarines or U-boats dominated the seas
Used to attack large ships Britain placed a blockade around Germany and Austria-Hungary
in an attempt to starve them into submission Russia became isolated from the West
Eastern Front Russian army moved into
Eastern Germany on August 30, 1914 Defeated
The Austrians kicked out of Serbia
Italians attacked Austria in 1915
Germany came to Austrian aid and pushed Russians back 300 miles into own territory
Eastern FrontMuch more mobile more than the West
But loss of life still very high1915: 2.5 million Russians killed, captured, or
wounded
Germany and Austria Hungary joined by Bulgaria in Sept. 1915Attacked and eliminated Serbia from war
Eastern Front The Russian army fought badly, driven out of East Prussia
and Poland in 1915 Failed counterattacks in 1916 and 1917
Lack of leadership and heavy causalities caused increased hostilities towards Czar Nicholas II Helped lead to the eventual takeover by Lenin and the
Bolsheviks Withdrawal of Russia from the war in 1917
War Outside Europe Serbia, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Greece, and Portugal joined
the Allied Powers The US was officially neutral but was sympathetic to
Britain and France American ships sent supplies to Allies and were attacked by
German submarines Lusitania sinking
1917 – US enters the war (same year Russia leaves it) Most solders went to the Western Front and called “doughboys”
War Outside Europe World War I led to the end of the Ottoman Empire
Sultan joined Central Powers to oppose Russia Armenia Massacre
Ottomans fearful Christian Armenians would side with Christian Russians
Millions of Armenians were jailed or killed by Turkish soldiers Minor skirmishes in African colonies Both sides sent soldiers from various colonies to fight
British Indians hoped support would earn their independence Britain gained support from Jewish settlers in Palestine by
promising to help carve them a homeland
The Home FrontWomen took war
factory jobsReceived lower
wages than malesFood shortages made
running a household difficult
The Home Front Censorship
Not told about high death toll Romanticized the battlefields
“Soldiers have died a beautiful death, in noble battle, we shall rediscover poetry…epic and chivalrous”
“Newspapers described troops as itching to go over the top.”
“Government reported to the press that life in the trenches promoted good health and clear air”
The Home Front “On Leave”
Troops would stay together so they could sympathize with each other
Impossible to hide death Women in mourning Badly wounded soldiers
returned home Opposition began to
emerge
The War Ends 1917 – Russia surrenders (a separate peace) U.S. joins the war on the Allied side Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month Now celebrated at Veteran’s Day
Death Toll
Allied Powers Central Powers
42 million served 23 million served
22 million casualties 15 million casualties
Impacts Social Impacts
Men lost limbs and were mutilated Birthrate fell markedly Invalids unable to work Ethnic hostility Influenza epidemic
Psychological impact “Never such innocence again” Bitterness towards aristocratic officers whose lives were never in
danger
Paris Peace Conference 1919 All victorious nations attended
Central Powers (or Russia) were not allowed to come and had no say in the agreements
Three most influential leaders were Woodrow Wilson (US), David Lloyd George (Great Britain) and Georges Clemenceau (France)
Wilson wanted a world “safe for democracy” and this would be the “war to end all wars” Fourteen Points
Britain and France wanted to punish Germany
Wilson’s Fourteen Points Wilson announced his 14 Points when the US entered the
war Wanted each nationality in Europe to have its own state
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey
Also demanded freedom of the seas End of secret diplomacy Creation of League of Nations – nations would protect each other Free trade Reduced national armies and navies Adjustment of colonial claims
Treaty of Versailles – 1919 German Territorial Losses
Independent Poland created Lost territory to France and Poland
Return of Alsace-Lorraine to France; extension of French border to Rhine River Lost all of its oversea colonies Britain and France divide the Ottoman Empire/Arab lands (Sykes Picot
Agreement)
Austria-Hungary and Turkey Austro-Hungarian Empire divided into several new nation states Turkey lost its territories in the Middle East
Treaty of Versailles - 1919 Punishment of Germany
Germany lost its navy, and army reduced to small police force Forced to accept all blame for starting the war in the War Guilt Clause Required to pay huge reparations (payments for damages) to the
Allies
League of Nations Created the League of Nations, an organization of nations pledged to
defend each other against aggressors No military force of its own
US, Russia, and several other major powers failed to join it Prelude to the United Nations
Economic Impact Germany was prohibited from importing or manufacturing war
materials and weapons Article 231 (“War Guilt Clause”): Germany forced to pay over $30
billion in war reparations over 30 years Severe inflation and economic disaster affect Germany after the war since
large amounts of paper money printed to pay off war debts German people have trouble accepting that one nation should be blamed
for starting the war United States implements the Dawes Plan in 1924 to loan $200 million
to strengthen the German economy and implement a more realistic schedule of reparations
United States rejects Treaty of Versailles and signs a separate peace with Germany.