World War Ithe Great War

the War of End All WarsJuly 1914- Nov 1918

Snoopy and the Red Baron

The Great War • “We wake up in the middle of the night. The

earth booms. Heavy fire is falling on us. We crouch into corners. We distinguish shells of every caliber. The dug out heaves, the night roars and flashes” - soldier of the Great War

War clouds gather• Nationalism

– Pride in one’s country – “Jingoism” – extreme patriotism – Flourished in Europe in during the 1800s– Created tension between European

nations• German and France over the French defeat in

the Franco-Prussian War • Italy and Austria-Hungary over millions of

Italians living in the Austria-Hungary empire• Serbs and Austria-Hungary many Serbs living

in Austria-Hungary empire wanted to join with independent Serbia

“We don’t want to fight, but by jingo, if we do.We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, and got the money too! – English music hall singer

• Imperialism– Colonial rivalries– Early 1900 European

nations scrambled for colonies in Africa and Asia

– European competing spheres of influences were a continuing sources of irritation

• Militarism– Nations of Europe took steps to prepare

for war– Military spending jumped 300%– European nations competed for power

and prestige by enlarging their armies and navies

– German and Britain competed for naval superiority

• Britain wanted her navy to be more powerful than others

• Germany began to build ups its navy German U-Boat World War I

• Secrete Alliances– Triple Alliance

• By Otto von Bismarck• Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy

– When war begins Italy would not stay – joins with Allies in exchange for the promise of land

– When war begins Ottoman Empire will join hoping to maintain its empire

– Triple Entente• France, Russia and Great Britain

– False sense of security – lead them to believe that they could avoid a major war

• When war broke out– Triple Alliance became known as Central

powers • Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

– Triple Entente became known as the Allies• France, Great Britain, Russia later the US

The Spark

• The Powder Keg of Europe– The Balkans

• Austria Hungary controlled much of the Balkans

– An area in south-east Europe

• Ethnic Serbs in Austria-Hungary wanted to join with independent Serbia

– Assassination of the archduke of Austria Hungary in Sarajevo

The Assassination

• Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary went to visit Sarajevo

• Archduke and his wife, Sophia, were driving through the streets

• A bomb exploded so the route had to be changed

• Driver began to back the car up• Gavrilo Pincip a member of the

Black Hand stepped out and killed the archduke and his wife

The Outbreak of War

• Austria- Hungry blames Serbia• Gets message from Germany that Germany will

back Austria-Hungry if war comes– Known as German’s Blank Check

• With this backing sends Serbia an ultimatum• Serbia cannot meet all of the demands• unsatisfied with Serbia's response to her

ultimatum declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914.

Russiabound by treaty to Serbiamobilization of its army in her defensea slow process that would take around six weeks to complete.

The Enemy is at the Gate

Germanyallied to Austria-Hungary by treatyviewed the Russian mobilization as an act of war against Austria-Hungarydeclared war on Russia on 1st of August

France bound by treat to Russiawar against Germany and, by extension, on Austria-Hungary

Germany invaded neutral Belgium so as to reach Paris by the shortest possible route.

The French Infantry in the Battle

Britainallied to France declared war against Germany on 4th of August obligated to defend neutral Belgium by the terms of a 75-year old treaty

With Britain's entryher colonies and dominions abroad offered military and financial assistance

AustraliaIndiaCanadaNew Zealand Union of South

Africa

Canadian Propaganda Poster

Japanhonoring a military agreement with Britain

Declared war on Germany on 23 August 1914

Two days later Austria-Hungary responded by declaring war on Japan

Italycommitted to defend Germany and Austria-Hungary only in the event of a 'defensive' war; arguing that their actions were 'offensive'

declared instead a policy of neutrality

The following year joined the conflict on the side of the Allies

German Plan• Schlieffen Plan

– Hold off Russia– Defeat France by going

through Belgium– Turn and defeat Russia

• German Leader– Keiser Wilhelm II

• German General– Hindenburg

French Plan

• Hold off the German advance

• Break the German lines

Two armies meet on the Western Front

Trench Warfare

No Man’s Landarea between each sides trenches

military leaders sent boys up over the trench's

“go over the top”

charges ended in high number of death

line moved only yards – if at all – bloody stalemate

Trench Warfare

• Characteristics of Trench Warfare– Charges ended in a high number of death– Line moved over a few yards – if at all– Method of fighting on the Western Front– Filth, lice, rats, polluted water, dysentery– Lack of sleep – due to bombing – “shell Shock” – emotional collapse – Trench foot – rotten toes and feet– Trench mouth – infection of the gums and throat

Fighting on the Eastern Front• No trench warfare here• Front much larger than the western

front– Baltic Sea to the Black Sea

• Russia army suffered from appalling lack of supplies and poor leadership– Some had no weapons

• Battle of Tannenburg German destroyed Russian armies

• Russians never again threatened Germany

• Revolution in Russia pulls Russia out of the war in March 1917

• Lenin takes over in Nov 1917

United States • President Woodrow Wilson declared absolute neutrality

• Divided loyalties at home– Socialist saw war as capitalist struggle– Pacifists against war

• Conscientious objector– Americans still had relatives in old country

• US goes to war– Freedom of seas/right to trade

• German use of U-boats• Lusitania

– Make the world safe for Democracy• When Russia pulled out in March 1917

– Ensure Allied repayment

• Over act– Zimmermann Note– Sinking of more US merchant ships

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress for a declaration of war against

Germany. Congress declared war on April 6, 1917.

Zimmermann NoteSTRICTLY SECRET. DECODE YOURSELF WE INTEND TO BEGIN UNRESTRICTED U-BOAT WARFARE ON FEBRUARY FIRST. EFFORT WILL BE MADE NOTWITHSTANDING THIS TO KEEP THE UNITED STATES NEUTRAL.IN THE EVENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS, WE PROPOSE ALLIANCE TO MEXICO UPON THE FOLLOWING BASIS: TO MAKE WAR TOGETHER; MAKE PEACE TOGETHER; GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT; AND AGREEMENT ON OUR PART THAT MEXICO SHALL RECONQUER THE FORMERLY LOST TERRITORY IN TEXAS, NEW MEXICO, ARIZONA.ARRANGEMENT OF DETAILS TO BE LEFT TO YOUR HONOR. YOU SHOULD DISCLOSE THE FOREGOING TO THE PRESIDENT [OF MEXICO] IN STRICT SECRECY AS SOON AS OUTBREAK OF WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES IS CERTAIN AND ADD THE PROPOSAL [THAT HE SHALL) INVITE JAPAN TO IMMEDIATE SPONTANEOUS CONCURRENT EFFORT AND AT THE SAME TIME USE HIS GOOD OFFICES BETWEEN US AND JAPAN.PLEASE CALL THE PRESIDENT'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE RUTHLESS EMPLOYMENT OF OUR U-BOATS OFFERS THE PROSPECT OF FORCING ENGLAND IN A FEW MONTHS TO [MAKE] PEACE.ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT.ZIMMERMANN..

US Declare War

• In April 1917• President Wilson• Entered the war to help pave

the way for a future order of peace and freedom for all

• America goes to war in World War I: A Crash Course in US History

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59wErqg4Xg