Europe 1914

A. Four Causes of WWI :

1. Nationalism – - Belief in the superiority of one’s nation.- Desire to unite with others and form a

country.2. Imperialism – domination of one country over another territory.

Ex. Colonies

* Great Britain and France had many colonies. Germany desired to gain colonies. This caused conflict.

I. World War I (1914 – 1918)

3. Militarism – building up a military

a. Germany had the largest army in Europe.

b. Great Britain had the largest Navy in the World.

* Germany began to build a Navy to compete with Britain.

Arms Race – race to build the most armaments.

4. Rival Alliances:a. Triple Alliance – defensive pact between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

b. Triple Entente – Alliance between Great Britain, France, and Russia.

* These two alliances divided Europe into two sides.

II. The war starts in the Balkans

A. Balkan Peninsula – the many ethnic groups in the Balkans added stress to the area (“The Powder Keg of Europe”)

* Serbia (Slavic people) wanted to take over Bosnia and Herzegovina (Slavic).

The Serbs hated the Austrians for this!* In 1908, Austria-Hungary took control of this area.

1. The heir to Austria-Hungary’s throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, visited Sarajevo (capital of Bosnia)

2. Gavrilo Princip – 19 year old member of the “Black Hand” assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand on June 28, 1914. (Start of WWI!)

C. World War I started with a war between Austria-Hungary and Serbia

1. Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an Ultimatum (“do this or else”)

2. Serbia agreed to all the demands except for giving members of the Black Hand over.

3. Fearing war, Serbia mobilized its troops.

4. On July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. (Germany gave them a “Blank Check” = do anything and we will back you up)

D. The war expanded

1. Russia (Slavic) mobilized its troops to support Serbia (Slavic).

2. Germany (Kaiser William II) declared war on Russia (August 1, 1914) for mobilizing its troops.

Kaiser William II

William II

3. Germany declared war on France in fear of an attack. (Aug. 3, 1914)

4. German forces marched through Belgium (neutral) (Aug. 4, 1914)

5. Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgium's neutrality.

King George V

Triple Entente Triple Alliance

vs.becomes

Allied Powers

Great Britain

France

Russia

And 29 other countries

becomes

Central Powers

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire

Bulgaria

Italy and the U.S. join later.

Wooo…wooo….wooo…wooo…wooo…

The Face of the Western Front

Expectations Before Conflict

- Most nations expected:- The war would be short- The human cost would be small- Those who fought would return as heroes

The Realities of WWI

-Machine Gun Changed everything a) Men were quickly mowed down

b) Forced both sides (German, Allies) to make a complex system of trenches

Trench warfare was common on the western front between Germany and France.

Trench Warfare

The area of land between the opposing trenches was called “no man’s land” because no man survived for

long there.

Life in the Trenches

* Men would have to stand in the water with wet feet for days at a time. As a result…

Trench Foot – The skin on their feet began to rot. The only cure was Amputation

III. Fighting World War I (Great War)

A. New Weapons

1. Machine gun – could kill many at one time.

2. Tanks – first used by British!

3. Airplane – used in observation and bombing.

* Dogfights – fights between airplanes with mounted guns.

4. Poison Gas – mustard and chlorine gas introduced by the Germans.

`

5. Submarines – Germany became the 1st nation to rely on Submarines called U-boats.

The British Blockade - Naval Blockade that initially prevented Military supplies from going to Germany

-Later it blocked Food -Mined the Entire North Sea

Germans Suffer

- As a consequence of the Blockade, 750,000 Germans Starve to death!!!

-Germans NEED food, so they fight back.

-Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - Germans sink any ship that is associated with the allies or in ally water.

*This angers Americans because they See Germans as bullies.

-Bolshevik Revolution – In 1917 the Bolshevik Party, Led by Vladmir Lenin and Leon Trotsky took control of Russia

-Lenin quickly signed a peace treaty with Germany, taking Russia out of the War.

-Bolsheviks were communists – this is the beginning of communism in Russia.

-Bolshevik Revolution – In 1917 the Bolshevik Party, Led by Vladmir Lenin and Leon Trotsky took control of Russia

-Lenin quickly signed a peace treaty with Germany, taking Russia out of the War.

-Bolsheviks were communists – this is the beginning of communism in Russia.

Vladmir LeninVladmir Lenin

Leon TrotskyLeon Trotsky

***Germany can Now Focus Entirely on the West!!

America Was Drawn Into World War I.America Was Drawn Into World War I.

May 7, 1915, Germans sink British Lusitania killing 128 AmericansMay 7, 1915, Germans sink British Lusitania killing 128 Americans

Summer, 1916 Congress passed laws increasing the size of the army and navy.Summer, 1916 Congress passed laws increasing the size of the army and navy.

February 1, 1917 Germany renews unrestricted submarine warfare.February 1, 1917 Germany renews unrestricted submarine warfare.

February 1, 1917 U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany and February 1, 1917 U.S. breaks off diplomatic relations with Germany and arms merchant (supply) shipsarms merchant (supply) ships

March 1917, March 1917, Zimmerman NoteZimmerman Note outrages Americans – Germans sink three outrages Americans – Germans sink three U.S. merchant ships.U.S. merchant ships.

April 1917, Congress declares war on GermanyApril 1917, Congress declares war on Germany

Unrestricted submarine warfare was all Germany could do Unrestricted submarine warfare was all Germany could do to stop supplies from getting to England and France. It also to stop supplies from getting to England and France. It also

led to war with the United States.led to war with the United States.

Note by German foreign minister Arthur Note by German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman to German minister in Mexico. Zimmerman to German minister in Mexico.

It read that if the U. S. entered the war, It read that if the U. S. entered the war, Mexico should attack the U. S. As its Mexico should attack the U. S. As its

reward, Mexico would recover Texas, New reward, Mexico would recover Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.Mexico and Arizona.

Note by German foreign minister Arthur Note by German foreign minister Arthur Zimmerman to German minister in Mexico. Zimmerman to German minister in Mexico.

It read that if the U. S. entered the war, It read that if the U. S. entered the war, Mexico should attack the U. S. As its Mexico should attack the U. S. As its

reward, Mexico would recover Texas, New reward, Mexico would recover Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.Mexico and Arizona.

The Selective The Selective Service/DraftService/Draft: : Helped U.S. to Helped U.S. to build large build large military.military.

Financing the Financing the War:War: A) A) Bonds Bonds - - you loan the you loan the government $. B) government $. B) TaxesTaxes

BuildingBuilding the Warthe War MachineMachine: Men : Men go off to fight. go off to fight. Women and Women and minorities work minorities work in factoriesin factories

During WWI, African Americans migrated from the south to north to fill job vacancies left from those

fighting the war.

During WWI, African Americans migrated from the south to north to fill job vacancies left from those

fighting the war.

Established in 1910 in Chicago to help African Americans adjust to northern city life.

Established in 1910 in Chicago to help African Americans adjust to northern city life.

The government took control of industryThe government took control of industry22

33People rationed suppliesPeople rationed supplies

such as coal, oil, meat, wheat, fuel, etc...such as coal, oil, meat, wheat, fuel, etc...

11 Factories switched from peacetime Factories switched from peacetime to war time productionto war time production

German Americans suffered the most. German Americans suffered the most. The language was no longer taught in The language was no longer taught in

schools. German music was considered schools. German music was considered unpatriotic. Businesses with German unpatriotic. Businesses with German

names changed their names.names changed their names.

The Russians were knocked out of the war in 1917 The Russians were knocked out of the war in 1917 because of revolution. The communists took over because of revolution. The communists took over and made a separate peace with Germany. This and made a separate peace with Germany. This

allowed the Germans to send all their troops from allowed the Germans to send all their troops from the Eastern Front to the Western Front. However, the Eastern Front to the Western Front. However, America enters the war and tips the scales in favor America enters the war and tips the scales in favor

of France and Britain and against the Germans.of France and Britain and against the Germans.

The Russians were knocked out of the war in 1917 The Russians were knocked out of the war in 1917 because of revolution. The communists took over because of revolution. The communists took over and made a separate peace with Germany. This and made a separate peace with Germany. This

allowed the Germans to send all their troops from allowed the Germans to send all their troops from the Eastern Front to the Western Front. However, the Eastern Front to the Western Front. However, America enters the war and tips the scales in favor America enters the war and tips the scales in favor

of France and Britain and against the Germans.of France and Britain and against the Germans.

General John J. “Black Jack” PershingGeneral John J. “Black Jack” Pershing

Pershing was in charge of Pershing was in charge of the Allied Expeditionary the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during Force in Europe during WWI He was THE WWI He was THE commanding officer.commanding officer.

Meuse-ArgonneMeuse-Argonne OffensiveOffensive: 900,000 : 900,000

Americans Americans participated. It was participated. It was the battle that forced the battle that forced

Germany to Germany to surrender. The war surrender. The war

ended on 11 ended on 11 November, 1918, at November, 1918, at

11:00 a.m. The 11:00 a.m. The Allies WinAllies Win!

President Wilson’s plan for postwar peace. It President Wilson’s plan for postwar peace. It basically asked that we don’t punish the losers. basically asked that we don’t punish the losers.

The The Versailles TreatyVersailles Treaty ended WWI. The Allies, especially ended WWI. The Allies, especially Britain, France and Italy wanted Germany to pay for the Britain, France and Italy wanted Germany to pay for the

war. They forced Germany to accept war. They forced Germany to accept reparationsreparations, , (payment for war damages,)(payment for war damages,) and and mandatesmandates, (land Germany , (land Germany had to give up to the Allies such as part of their country or had to give up to the Allies such as part of their country or

colonies.) colonies.) US did not sign the Treaty!US did not sign the Treaty!

The The Versailles TreatyVersailles Treaty ended WWI. The Allies, especially ended WWI. The Allies, especially Britain, France and Italy wanted Germany to pay for the Britain, France and Italy wanted Germany to pay for the

war. They forced Germany to accept war. They forced Germany to accept reparationsreparations, , (payment for war damages,)(payment for war damages,) and and mandatesmandates, (land Germany , (land Germany had to give up to the Allies such as part of their country or had to give up to the Allies such as part of their country or

colonies.) colonies.) US did not sign the Treaty!US did not sign the Treaty!

The idea of President Wilson’s that called for The idea of President Wilson’s that called for nations to act as a world court and stop nations nations to act as a world court and stop nations that are picking on other nations. that are picking on other nations. The United The United

States States nevernever joins the League! joins the League!

The idea of President Wilson’s that called for The idea of President Wilson’s that called for nations to act as a world court and stop nations nations to act as a world court and stop nations that are picking on other nations. that are picking on other nations. The United The United

States States nevernever joins the League! joins the League!

After WWI, the US wanted to be left out ofAfter WWI, the US wanted to be left out ofEuropean affairs. We wanted nothing moreEuropean affairs. We wanted nothing more

to do with Europe… except trade.to do with Europe… except trade.