WORLD WAR I

(The Great War) 1914-1918

Franco-Prussian WarWar 1870-1871 Between

France and PrussiaOne of the Wars to Unify

all of GermanyPrussia(Germany) won

the war and took territories of Alsace and Loraine

Caused tension between the nations and French desire to regain land.

Background Causes of WWI (8.1) (the “powder keg”)1. Imperial Competition = expansionism and

rivalries over colonies and trade-Africa Prime Example more colonies the more wealth-Elimination or conquest of rivals increases colonial, military, economic power

-More access to raw materials and market to sell goods-Industrial revolution made supply of goods faster

2. Extreme Nationalism = belief in national superiority among dense and diverse European populations◦ -Italy and Germany newly formed nations

Prior were many different small kingdoms were united under common culture and language in late 1800’s

◦ These nations wanted to prove their world power of GB, FR, and RUSSIA

Alliances3. Entangling

Alliances Countries made a series

of alignments for defensive purposes

These actions would bring other nations into war based on minor situations

Triple Alliance Triple Entente Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)

Britain, France, Russia

4. Trouble in Balkans -Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia

◦Serbia wanted control of Bosnia(Slavic People)Bosnians and Serbians wanted separation from AH

◦AH was German Speaking nations seen as intrudersTerrorist organizations formed to push them out (Black Hand)

◦Russia had an alliance with Serbia (Slavic connections)Russia also wanted more influence in the area Instability in the region

5. Militarismbelief that military force should be used to

achieve national goalsglorification of warquick mobilization of massive armiesmilitary drafts (conscription)

◦huge build-up of newest technological weapons capable of mass slaughter

IN combination with nationalism set a stage for countries to have huge arsenal ans need an excuse to use them for their benefit

Immediate Cause of World War I (the “spark!”)

Assassination of archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to Austro-Hungarian throne) on June 28, 1914 in Sarejavo◦ Gavrilo Princip, 19 yr

old Serb terrorist (“Black Hand”)

◦Serbia wanted Bosnia to form Slavic empire in Balkans

German Kaiser William II gave A-H full support for strong action vs. Serbia◦(Both Ethnic German nations)

A-H gave Serbia an ultimatum of extreme demands.

Serbia’s ally Russian Czar Nicholas II supported Serbian sovereignty.◦(Both Ethnic Slavic nations)

Serbia rejected some of Austria’s demands.

War is DeclaredAustria declared war on

Serbia on July 28, led to a chain reaction or “domino effect” among allies.

Russia fully mobilized its army support Serbia

Germany felt threatened and declared war on Russia.◦(France was ally of Russia)

Germany faced a two-front war (France on the west & Russia on the east.)Schlieffen Plan

= a swift invasion & defeat of France through neutral Belgium on the western front, ◦then focus united military efforts on eastern front vs. Russia.

Germany declared war on FranceGermany declared war on

France & issued an ultimatum to Belgium demanding free passage

Belgium refused & was crushed, ◦but delayed German plans.

France just enough time to prepare for German attack from Belgian border◦ (crowded French taxi cabs

used to transport troops to front lines!)

Western Front was created

Britain declared war on Germanyfor “Rape of

Belgium.” By Aug. 4, all major European powers were at war!

actions upset U.S. but U.S. stays Neutral

ALLIES CENTRAL POWERS

BritainFranceRussia

GermanyAustria-HungaryOttoman Empire

CH 8 Section 2 WWI Escalates into Global conflict

Some pacifists spoke out vs. war, but the militarists won out = glorification of war (see photo p. 431.)

Many believed that war would be an exciting adventure, their country’s cause was just & soldiers would be home by Christmas.

“World War I Alliances”

ALLIES◦Russia, Serbia, France, Britain, Italy, United States

CENTRAL POWERS◦Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria & Ottoman Empire

Western Front = Schlieffen Plan halted at Battle of the Marne a few miles from Paris.

The war became a stalemate, so both sides dug in and built hundreds of miles of trenches.

Eastern Front = Russian army moved into eastern Germany but was defeated at Battles of Tannenberg & Masurian Lakes. Russians retreated.

The 2 Fronts

Fighting in the EastA-H defeated in

Galicia, thrown out of Serbia & attacked by Italians. ◦Germans helped

Austrians and pushed Russians back.

◦( Russian casualties were extremely high)

Germany, A-H & Bulgaria eliminate Serbia from the war. ◦Successes in east

allowed German focus on western front.

Trench warfare

Trenches were defended w. barbed wire, machine guns,◦“No Man’s Land.” land

between trenches◦Used Mustard Gas-

burned. blistered skin, blinded eyes & suffocation

◦“Live and let live” agreement between opposing trenches (unofficial rules war)

US soldier Arthur Guy Empey wrote (sticky mud, bodies laying “still” to “rest” in France, keep head down, look for snipers, lying on ground digging, “don’tduck at the crack of a bullet Yank,” “my heart turned to lead.”

Officers puzzled how to deal w. stalemate & modern weapons

They ordered huge artillery bombardments ofopposing trenches and then massive ground assaults of soldiers.

led to massive slaughters.WWI became a war of attrition (eg. Battle of

Verdun and 700,000 fatalities!)

An Industrial WarIndustrial Revolution

created railroads, factories & technology used in “modern” war.

Airplanes (Air Power) used for reconnaissance, bombing & “dog-fights.”

Germans also used zeppelins.

Other Major offenses

Allies tried to open Balkan front at Gallipoli, but withdrew after great losses.

A new front opened vs. Austria-Hungary after Italy switched sides ◦(Italy promised Austrian

land after war.)

Lawrence of ArabiaTE Lawrence was

British officer who urged Arabs revolt vs. Turks.

Governor of Makkah (Mecca) declared Arabia independent.

British advanced from Egypt to conquer Ottomans by Oct., 1918.

Britain mobilized forces within empire

India, Australia & New Zealand to fight in Middle East.

Britain, Australia & Japan seized German colonies in Africa, Asia and Pacific.

Germany’s policy of unrestricted submarine (U-boat) warfare

ANY ships were potential targets.

German sub sank passenger ship Lusitania w/o warning.

Most passengers were drowned (total of 1,195 fatalities, including 94 children and 123 Americans.) ◦Became propaganda tool vs. Germany

Why attack the LusitaniaGermany accused

Britain of hiding weapons & ammunition on the Lusitania.

Investigative team suggested that the second, explosion was due to the ignition of coal dust in storage bins.

US opinion U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

demanded Germany stop unrestricted sub warfare.

Germany temporarily stopped. ◦Wilson did not want U.S. to get into a European war.

CAUSES FOR U.S. ENTRY INTO WWI  1. Unrestricted sub-warfare

resumed by Germany in 1917 (to break naval blockade & starve Britain.)

U.S. casualties (violation of freedom of the seas.) Germany under-estimated America’s response.

2. Rape of Belgium 3. Allied Propaganda 4. Cultural Ties with Britain

(mother country) 5. Zimmermann Note (secret

German telegram asking Mexico to declare war on the U.S.!)

War declared in 1917 Large troop numbers arrive 1918

Home Fronttotal war directly affected lives of citizens as well as

soldiers. Increased govt. social, political& economic powers

(planned economies.)Govts. resorted to police powers, limiting civil rights,

censorship & propaganda to stop internal dissent.War created job opportunities for women in jobs

traditionally held by men. Most jobs temporary, but some permanent,

although paid less. Women also gained suffrage

Edith CavellEdith Cavell = British nurse helped Allied

soldiers & was executed by Germans for aiding the enemy.

The Russian Revolution ch 8.3

 CAUSES of Russian Revolutions (early 1900s:)

Discontent among all classesAgitation from dedicated

revolutionariesWeak leadership of Czar

Nicholas IIInfluence of "holy man"

Rasputin on czar’s family & govt. policies

Defeat in Russo-Japanese War

Bloody Sunday! workers petitioned and demanded rights from Czar.- Czar’s general orders troops to fire on crowd (500-1000 dead)

Huge losses in World War IFood shortages, strikes by

women and riotsVladimir Lenin (Marxist) was

a talented leader & his promises of “peace, land & bread” appealed to masses.

Troops began joining revolutionaries

EVENTS of Russian Revolutions:Abdication of czar in March,

1917Provisional government

created under KerenskySoviets grew in power in

major Russian citiesProvisional govt. failed, due

to continuation of war effortLenin, who had been exiled,

was secretly returned to Russia by Germany

Bolsheviks seized govt. in Nov., 1917

Lenin assumed control of new Bolshevik govt.

EFFECTS of Russian Revolutions:Peace with Germany under

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (harsh terms vs. Russia.)

Bolsheviks (Communists) totally in control of govt., politics, economy & Red Army

Leon Trotsky became talented Commissar of War, who reinstated draft & was rigid disciplinarian ◦(he was later exiled & then

assassinated in Mexico by agents of Stalin)

Communist strictly control othersOther political parties banned, economy

ruined, strict, centralized control by Communist party.

Red Terror (“Cheka” secret police destroyed counter-revolutionaries)

Royal Family Assassinated

Czar and his whole family executed (wife Alexandria the czarina, son Alexis czaravich & heir) and four daughters including Anastasia

Bloody civil war 1918-21 (Reds vs. Whites)

15 Million Russians die in this conflict

Communists (Reds) won and Russia was renamed the Soviet Union, the world's first communist country.

Reds strongly united, used war communism to provide for Red Army.

Whites were disunited but stillsupported by Allies

(foreign troops on Russian soil actually helped communist propaganda)

The END of WWI and its Aftermath 8.4“Yanks & Tanks” turned tide of war in the Allies favor.

OTTOMAN EMPIRE COLLAPSES

Turkish genocide of Armenian Christians (approx. 1 million killed.) Crimes vs. humanity!

Britain & France divided Ottoman lands in Middle East.

Colonel Mustafa Kemal called for creation of a new Republic of Turkey ◦(last sultan fled, end of

empire.)

Last German Offensive

After Russia pulled out, Erich von Ludendorff gambled on a German break the stalemate On Western Front in March, 1918.

At the Second Battle of the Marne, Germans were halted and pushed back into Germany.

General Ludendorff informed German leaders that war was lost in Sept., 1918.

Kaiser Steps DownAllies unwilling to make peace

with William II’s autocratic govt. ◦ Councils of workers & soldiers

started to take over govt. offices. The kaiser fled Germany on Nov.

9.Social Democratic party under

Friedrich Ebert announced creation of democratic republic.

Two days later an armistice was signed on 11, 11 at 11 = 11th hour a.m., 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918.◦ Called Armistice Day until

after WWII, when name changed to Veteran’s Day.

Austro-Hungary Collapses

Replaced by independent states of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia & Yugoslavia.

January, 1919, Allies met in Paris make final peace “THE BIG THREE:”1. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (an

idealist) proposed Fourteen Points for a just and lasting peace:

Arms reductions, self-determination for people, & peacekeeping association of nations

2. French Premier Georges Clemenceau, authoritarian leader who suspended civil rights, was anti-German,sought revenge for Germanies Attack & security vs. future German aggression, ◦ Wanted disarmament of Germany, huge

reparations (payments) & separate buffer state (Rhinland)

3. British Prime Minister David Lloyd George “make the Germans pay.”

Italy was a fourth major ally, but did not play as big of a role as the Big Three.

Germany was not invited & Russia couldn’t attend, due to civil war

Allies CompromiseWilson got his League of Nations(keep the

Peace)France and GB got Territorial Gains.No Separate Rhineland, but border would

become a demilitarizedDeffensive Alliance Between US, FR, and

GB◦(but isolationist U.S. Senate refused to ratify.)◦US did Not Join the League of Nations

Treaty of Versailles harsh on Germany

Article 231 “War Guilt Clause”, ◦huge reparations,◦ major reductions in

military,◦ territorial losses to France

and to a new Poland.

◦Arab states were given to Britain (Iraq & Palestine) and France (Syria & Lebanon) as mandates.

Map of Europe was redrawn: new countries emerged, old empires disappeared

Cost OF the WarTotal war had resulted in vast destruction

and the death of 10 million people! Govts. had increased powers over

people and there was a greater sense of insecurity.

British poet, Wilfred Owen describes effects of gas warfare before killed

in last week of war. Fellow soldier who didn’t get gas mask on in time

“was yelling out and stumbling and flound’ring like a man in fire… He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning… If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come

gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs… My friend, you would not tell with such high zest to childrenardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie that “it is sweet and right to die for one’s country.”

American-British poet T.S. Elliot described how war affected men who fought it.

“We are the hollow men… Those who have crossed with direct eyes, to death’s other Kingdom… This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.”

German author Erich Maria Remarque wrote the novel All Quiet on the Western Front.

“Our schoolmaster… gave us long lectures until the whole of our class went…to the DistrictCommandant & volunteered… No one had the vaguest idea what we were in for…While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded & dying. While they taught that duty to one’s country is thegreatest thing, we already knew that death-throes are stronger… We loved our country as much as they; we went courageously into every action; but we also distinguished the false from the true.”