CHAPTER 28: CAUSES OF THE GREAT WAR

Pages 671-681Primary Sources: Popular Art and Memoirs of an Incomplete Soldier,

pgs. 372-381

Europe in 1911

Things to Know: 1914-1918 First known as “The Great War” or “The War to End All

Wars” Fought on two fronts: Western Front and Eastern Front Sides:

Triple Entente (Allies): Britain, France, Russia Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

Fighting around the world: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia

New modern weaponry and technology is used.

ilitarism

lliances

ationalism

mperialism

ssassination

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Causes of World War I

ImperialismDespite the Berlin Conference (1884-85) at which European leaders set rules for the colonization of Africa, imperialism still caused friction among the European states.Great Britain had territories on five continents—Canada, Australia, large parts of Africa, India, spheres of influence in China; France had large colonial holdings in Africa as well as controlling French IndochinaGermany, who had entered into the land rush later due to internal issues (Germany was not a united nation-state until 1871), was left with smaller claims in Africa

Causes of World War I

MilitarismWhen Otto von Bismarck was named Prime Minister of Prussia in 1862, he set out to create a “German” empireMuch of this involved military expansion; Bismarck created a modern military machine that easily defeated Austria and France in the 1860s-1870s.But then Germany started building a navy to rival that of Great Britain, the undisputed ruler of the seas at the time.This led to an arms race between the two countries (Germany and Great Britain) and to strained relations.

Causes of World War I

#5

NationalismIn particular, this means Slavic nationalism. Since the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire had controlled much of the Balkan peninsula, but their hold had slowly been eroding.1908 – Austria-Hungary annexes former Ottoman-held Bosnia; this upsets Serbia (and many in Bosnia) who feel that a Slavic state (like Serbia) should control Bosnia instead of the German-speaking Austria1912-13 – The Balkan Wars; once again, the people of the Balkans reclaim territory from the Ottoman Empire and once again, Austria-Hungary steps in to assert control

Causes of World War I

AlliancesAfter completing the creation of the German Empire, Bismarck started making alliances with other countries to ensure the stability of the new Germany.This led to a wave of alliances signed by different states between the years 1873 and 1914; the importance of these alliances were that some states had no option but to declare war if one of their allies entered into war first.

Causes of World War I

#7

MAIN Causes of WWI Militarism

Naval rivalry increases, Germany builds navy to rival Great Britain Military cooperation between Britain, France, Russia Biggest arm race at this point in history Armies grow in size and firepower

Alliances Worried European nations form Alliances as nations grow in power

Imperialism Competition for colonies By 1900, most areas are colonized by one of the major powers.

This increases competition for the few that remain Military success could distract from problems (strikes, labor

unrest) at home Nationalism

Rivalries to colonize heighten nationalist sentiments (warlike) in each country

Assassination in SarajevoEurope had reached its breaking point when on June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by a Serbian nationalist (Gavrilo Princip) belonging to an organization known as The Black Hand. Immediately following the assassination Germany pledged its full support (blank check) to Austria-Hungary, pressuring them to declare war on Serbia, while France strengthened its backing of Russia. Convinced that the Serbian government had conspired against them, Austria-Hungary issued Serbia an unacceptable ultimatum, to which Serbia consented almost entirely. #12

                                                                                  

Gavrilo Princip #13

Falling Dominoes Unsatisfied, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. On July 29, Russia ordered a partial mobilization only against Austria-Hungary in support of Serbia, which escalated into a general mobilization.

The Germans threatened war on July 31 if the Russians did not demobilize. Upon being asked by Germany what it would do in the event of a Russo-German War, France responded that it would act in its own interests and mobilized.

On August 1, Germany declared war on Russia, and two days later, on France. The German invasion of Belgium to attack France, which violated Belgium's official neutrality, prompted Britain to declare war on Germany. World War I had begun.

#15

The War in Europe Germany’s plan for a quick victory over France

fails German leaders confident that railways and size of

army would allow them to overwhelm the Belgians and defeat the French before they could mobilize

French launch offensives at Alsace-Lorraine but fail Obstacles

Belgium resisted and slowed the Germans British get involved Germans tired, running low on supplies by the time

they reach Northern France French retreat, reorganize in Paris Battle of Marne: 5 day battle, stop Germans and push

them back

The official annunciation of the war in Berlin (August 2, 1914) #18

#19

Cheerful German soldiers on the train to the front

#20

Trench Warfare Troops along the Western Front begin to dig into the ground Miles and miles of trenches along the Western front “No Man’s Land”- area between the trenches, high

casualties, assaults almost suicidal Leads to stalemate in war on Western Front, difficult to gain

ground Terrible Conditions: rats, disease, lice Exposed to weather: cold, rain (Trench foot)

TECHNOLOGY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

#37

British Machine Guns

Indian Gun Crew

German Artillery

Allied Howitzer

German Zeppelin

#45

French Spad

British Sopwith Camel

#50

In the trenches: Infantry with gas masks, Ypres, 1917

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German Carrier Pigeons in Gas

Protected Boxes

#56

Casualties New weapons contribute to mass casualties:

artillery, machine guns, poison gas (Mustard Gas)

Casualties on Western Front in 1916: Germans: 850,000 French: 700,000 British: 400,000

The War in the East Germans alarmed at Russia’s quick mobilization

Germany reorganizes with new emphasis on Russia, defeat several Russian armies, put them in retreat

Russian problems lead to high casualties Illiterate and poorly trained peasants used Commands sent in un-coded format Artillery operated by upper class provides little support for peasant

forces Germans begin moving into provinces of Russian empire Poor showing by commanders, Tsar Nicholas II takes command

sparking mutinies and peasant revolts Tsarist regime destroyed by revolution in 1917

Russia has some better success against inept generals of Austria-Hungary and mixed ethnic armies with little support for the Austrian emperor

Austrians crush Serbia, with the help of Germans keep Russia in check

The War in Italy

Italy breaks alliance, saying Austria-Hungary broke defensive alliance by attacking first

Launch offensive campaigns against Austria-Hungary with the promise of land gains from Britain.

Near collapse of Italian lines: Incompetent and corrupt generals Disgust over costly campaigns that go nowhere Double dealing of politicians Soldiers desert and war plunges Italy into social

and political turmoil

Home Fronts in Europe Soldiers resent politicians and civilians who don’t understand

the realities of war, even though civilians are suffering Food shortages lead to rationing Industrial sectors taken over by state Politicians seize power from parliaments Dissent suppressed by force, newspapers and media censored Governments use propaganda

Organization in Industry is sped up, socialists and union chiefs given recognition and allowed to serve on governing boards (negotiate improved working conditions)

Labor protests in opposition of leadership and war (Bolsheviks rise to power in Russia: 1917)

Women’s participation increases, brings about a “liberation” of women

Forced to give up jobs to returning men soldiers after the war, but still make gains (voting) in Britain, Germany, U.S.

The War Outside of Europe Colonies drawn into the war

Fighting in Middle East, W & E Africa, China, islands of Pacific by 1915 Soldiers recruited from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa (Triple Entente)

1917: US enters the war Britain makes it truly global

Cut off Germany from colonies in Africa, China, Pacific Powerful navy = effective blockade Control trans-Atlantic cable Japan attacks German colonies in China and Pacific Canada, Australia, New Zealand (British Dominion): supply food and raw

materials Help from foreign troops:

Dominion troops help fight in Europe, Middle East (defend Suez Canal) Non Settler colonies in Africa, India, SE Asia fight in sub-Saharan Africa, Middle

East French rely on laborers from colonies in Africa to Vietnam

German trained African soldiers hold off British led Indian and S. African troops

Main outside source of help for Germans came from Ottoman Empire and Young Turk leaders Turks blame Christian Armenian minorities for failures against Russia (Genocide

used)

U.S. Involvement Americans disagree over which side is right or wrong,

debate involvement at all American businesses profit from selling food, raw

materials, eventually weapons to Triple Entente Allows US to take new markets in Latin America and Asia,

turns US from debtor to creditor nation and worlds strongest economy

Join war in 1917, declaring war on Germany Pro-British (use of propaganda), Zimmerman Note, U-boats

(Lusitania) American President: Woodrow Wilson Convoy system used to combat U-Boats Early numbers of troops small, but symbolic By 1918, millions recruited and trained, thousands start arriving

in Europe Germany realizes it must launch massive strike before full

manpower and resources of US reach Europe

The Return to Offensive Warfare

March-April 1918: massive offensives launched by Germans on Western front Appears Central Powers might win An entire British army defeated another in retreat Demoralized French falling back toward Paris Russia leaves war, 1 million German soldiers

transfer from Eastern Front New fighting tactics and storm trooper bring them

close to Paris Then the advance slows (mass casualties, fatigue,

tanks, fresh soldiers from US), then stalls, Germans pushed back

Austrian front breaks down

Popular Art

Why was propaganda art such an important part of WWI?

Who is being targeted by this popular art?

Memoirs of an Incomplete Soldier

http://youtu.be/oV5Wq0vMZnw How does Clapham’s memoirs compare

to the young soldier’s recollections in the video clip?