World War I World War I

““The Great War”The Great War”

““The War to End All Wars”The War to End All Wars”

1914-19181914-1918

APWH – Unit 6APWH – Unit 6

Militarism Militarism ““The glorification of war and increase The glorification of war and increase

in military spending”.in military spending”. Germany competed against Germany competed against

England’s naval superiority.England’s naval superiority. European nations were competing for European nations were competing for

colonies.colonies.• Creating imperial tensionsCreating imperial tensions

The System of Alliances The System of Alliances

Triple Alliance: Triple Alliance: • Germany, Austria-Hungary, and ItalyGermany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

Triple Entente: Triple Entente: • France, Russia, and Great BritainFrance, Russia, and Great Britain

Nationalism in the BalkansNationalism in the BalkansPath to WarPath to War

People with diverse religions, ethnic People with diverse religions, ethnic backgrounds, languages.backgrounds, languages.

As Ottoman Empire receded, new As Ottoman Empire receded, new nations were born.nations were born.

Russian and Austrian competed for Russian and Austrian competed for control of new nations.control of new nations.

Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia in Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia in 1908 and Serbia resents this.1908 and Serbia resents this.

Nationalism Nationalism

““Great pride in one’s country or Great pride in one’s country or aspiring to become one’s country”. aspiring to become one’s country”.

Germany and Italy had recently Germany and Italy had recently become independent countries.become independent countries.

Many countries had fighting between Many countries had fighting between different nationalist groups.different nationalist groups.

Combination of militarism and Combination of militarism and imperial competition, created tension imperial competition, created tension in Europe.in Europe.

Reasons for WarReasons for War

Long TermLong Term

1.1. Alliance SystemAlliance System

2.2. Imperial CompetitionImperial Competition

3.3. Stockpiling of Stockpiling of WeaponsWeapons

4.4. NationalismNationalism

Short TermShort Term Assassination of Assassination of

Archduke Ferdinand of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria by a Serbian Austria by a Serbian radical group.radical group.• This was the spark that This was the spark that

started World War I.started World War I.

The Alliance System Leads to War The Alliance System Leads to War

After the assassination, Austria-After the assassination, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Russia supported Serbia and Germany Russia supported Serbia and Germany supported Austria-Hungary.supported Austria-Hungary.

Within one week, almost all of Europe Within one week, almost all of Europe was at war:was at war:• Germany declares war on Russia and Germany declares war on Russia and

FranceFrance• Britain declares war on GermanyBritain declares war on Germany

Alliances of the WarAlliances of the War

Triple Entente (Allies)Triple Entente (Allies)• Britain, France, Russia, BelgiumBritain, France, Russia, Belgium

United States joined in 1917, Russia drops United States joined in 1917, Russia drops out.out.

Central PowersCentral Powers• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria,

Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire

Fronts of the WarFronts of the War

Western FrontWestern Front• Northeastern FranceNortheastern France• Major BattlesMajor Battles

Verdun and SommeVerdun and Somme

Eastern FrontEastern Front• Russian borderRussian border

Balkan FrontBalkan Front• Allies gave up after major defeat at GallipoliAllies gave up after major defeat at Gallipoli

Italian FrontItalian Front• Italy joined the Triple Entente in 1915.Italy joined the Triple Entente in 1915.

Western Front had over 400 miles of trenches across Belgium and France

Most offenses resulted in heavy casualties but gained little territory.

Weapons of the Industrial Age Weapons of the Industrial Age Machine GunMachine Gun

• Replaced the single-fire, short-range rifleReplaced the single-fire, short-range rifle Flame ThrowersFlame Throwers TanksTanks AirplanesAirplanes Poison-Gas BombsPoison-Gas Bombs

Artillery Artillery

Greater power and carried much Greater power and carried much further.further.

24 million shells used in the Battle of 24 million shells used in the Battle of Verdun alone.Verdun alone.

Casualties of Modern Weaponry Casualties of Modern Weaponry

Tactics of sending masses of men Tactics of sending masses of men toward enemy didn’t work against toward enemy didn’t work against modern weapons.modern weapons.

Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on Britain suffered 57,470 casualties on the first day of the Battle of the the first day of the Battle of the Somme.Somme.

Total losses for World War I Total losses for World War I exceeded 10 million.exceeded 10 million.

Military Casualties in World War IMilitary Casualties in World War I

Germany 1,935,000 Germany 1,935,000

Russia 1,700,000Russia 1,700,000

France 1,368,000 France 1,368,000

Austria-Hungary 1,200,000Austria-Hungary 1,200,000

British Empire 942,135British Empire 942,135

Ottoman Empire 725,000Ottoman Empire 725,000

Italy 680,000Italy 680,000

Romania 300,000Romania 300,000

United States 116,516 United States 116,516

Bulgaria 87,495 Bulgaria 87,495

Belgium 45,550Belgium 45,550

Serbia 45,000 Serbia 45,000

Greece 23,098 Greece 23,098

Portugal 8,145 Portugal 8,145

Montenegro 3,000Montenegro 3,000

Japan 1,344 Japan 1,344

““War is Great...oh wait…War is Great...oh wait…IT SUCKS”IT SUCKS”

Many Europeans looked forward to Many Europeans looked forward to the start of war.the start of war.

Attitude Change.Attitude Change. Soldiers changed Europeans’ Soldiers changed Europeans’

optimistic outlook through letters optimistic outlook through letters about the horrors of the war.about the horrors of the war.

Trench WarfareTrench Warfare 475 mile of trenches were dug across 475 mile of trenches were dug across

northern France.northern France. British troops used over ten million British troops used over ten million

shovels during the war.shovels during the war. Charging over the top, crossing no Charging over the top, crossing no

man’s land to reach enemy trenches.man’s land to reach enemy trenches. Boring, terrifying, and caused shell Boring, terrifying, and caused shell

shock.shock. Horrible living conditions.Horrible living conditions.

Trench Warfare was a type of fighting during World War I in which both sides dug trenches protected by mines and barbed wire.

Cross-section of a front-line trench 

British trench, France, July 1916 (during the Battle of the Somme)

French soldiers firing over their own dead

Officers walking through a flooded communication trench.

Soldiers digging trenches while protected against gas attacks

A photograph of a man suffering from trench foot.

Trench RatsTrench Rats Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost

where they fell. where they fell. • The corpses, along with food scraps, attracted rats. The corpses, along with food scraps, attracted rats.

Quotes from soldiers fighting in the trenches:Quotes from soldiers fighting in the trenches:• "The rats were huge. They were so big they would eat a "The rats were huge. They were so big they would eat a

wounded man if he couldn't defend himself." wounded man if he couldn't defend himself."

• "I saw some rats running from under the dead men's "I saw some rats running from under the dead men's greatcoats, enormous rats, fat with human flesh. My heart greatcoats, enormous rats, fat with human flesh. My heart pounded as we edged towards one of the bodies. His helmet pounded as we edged towards one of the bodies. His helmet had rolled off. The man displayed a grimacing face, stripped had rolled off. The man displayed a grimacing face, stripped of flesh; the skull bare, the eyes devoured and from the of flesh; the skull bare, the eyes devoured and from the yawning mouth leapt a rat." yawning mouth leapt a rat."

Women’s Changing Role Women’s Changing Role

Worked in jobs traditionally held only by Worked in jobs traditionally held only by men, who were at war.men, who were at war.

Women worked in paramilitary Women worked in paramilitary organizations to support soldiers at war.organizations to support soldiers at war.

Women discovered the benefits of Women discovered the benefits of financial freedom.financial freedom.• Some refused to return to domestic service.Some refused to return to domestic service.

Women won the right to vote Women won the right to vote throughout Europe.throughout Europe.

The War Ends The War Ends

Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire were first Central Powers to be were first Central Powers to be defeated.defeated.

Revolts inside Austria-Hungary and Revolts inside Austria-Hungary and Germany helped end the war.Germany helped end the war.

The New Europe The New Europe

Treaties similar to the Treaty of Treaties similar to the Treaty of Versailles were signed with the other Versailles were signed with the other Central Powers.Central Powers.

Many countries experienced a Many countries experienced a change in their borders.change in their borders.

Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Russia lost territory.and Russia lost territory.

Many new countries were created.Many new countries were created.

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles Italy and Britain wanted territory.Italy and Britain wanted territory. France wanted to punish Germany.France wanted to punish Germany. Italy and United States left, leaving peace Italy and United States left, leaving peace

settlement to France and Britain .settlement to France and Britain . France and Britain created a severe treaty France and Britain created a severe treaty

that punished Germany.that punished Germany. Germany had to:Germany had to:

• Return land to France.Return land to France.• Keep area near France, called Rhineland, Keep area near France, called Rhineland,

demilitarized (no military).demilitarized (no military).• Pay 32 billion dollars.Pay 32 billion dollars.• Agree to they were guilty for the war.Agree to they were guilty for the war.