WWI: The Great War?

The Start of the War

WWI started with the advance of the

Germans into Belgium.

The alliance system kicked into full

steam.

Confident that the Schlieffen Plan would

lead to a quick takeover of France, the

Germans hoped that they would beat

the British to the French border.

The Alliance System

Pre-WWI

During WWI

CENTRAL POWERS

Austria-Hungary

Germany

Ottoman Empire (Turkey)

Bulgaria

Great Britain

US

Canada

ENTENTE

Russia

Serbia

France

ALLIANCE

Austria-Hungary

Germany

Italy

Great Britain

US

Canada

ALLIED POWERS

Russia

Serbia

France

Italy

The Parties at War

The Allied Powers , led by France: the Russian Empire, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Kingdom of Italy, and later the United States, defeated the Central Powers, led by Austria-Hungary, the German Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.

Most of the war was fought along manned trenches and fortifications from the North Sea to Switzerland.

WWI TRENCHES(Trench Warfare)

WWI TRENCHES

(Trench Warfare)

WWI TRENCHES

(Trench Warfare)

WWI TRENCHES

WWI TRENCHES

Eastern Front

Austria-Hungary fought against the Serbs and Russians.

Serbs put up very stiff resistance-took more off A-H than anticipated.

Germans would eventually support

A-H.

Russian effort would turn sour. The Russians were effective due to sheer numbers but they suffered heavily from a lack of supplies .

Western Front

As the Germans advanced, one of the most significant early battles turned out to be the Battle of the Marne .

Allied forces counter-attacked the Germans along the Marne River. Until that time the allies were in retreat mode.

This is signifcant because it marked the biggest advance eastward during the war for the allied forces.

Establishing the Western Front

Many battles were fought along the western front between Sept. and Oct.

In April of 1915 the Germans used chlorine gas as a weapon for the first time.

It left a hole in the line as French forces retreated.

The battle to fill the line involved Canadians.

Battles on the Western Front

This 2nd Battle of Ypres led to the gassing death of 5000 Canadian soldiers in. April of 1915

The 3rd Battle of Ypres was fought in Nov. 1917 where Canadians led allied forces to the control of a German Sub base in Belgium.

Battles on the Western Front

Battle of Somme of July 1916 led to over

one million casualties.

Purpose of Battle was to draw German

forces away from the Battle of Verdun.

Took place between July and November of

1916.

Battles on the Western Front

Battle of Verdun Feb.-Dec. 1916.

Longest Battle and 2nd bloodiest.

Significant battle because it is historic and symbolic.

Germans planned to destroy the French Army by forcing them to an area where there was no retreat.

Germans would allow for replacements to arrive where they too would find no place to retreat.

The Western Front

When the front had been solidified there was over 6000 miles of trenches (9000 km)

Most significant Battle for Canadians was Vimy Ridge .

Impossible fortress in Northern France.

Started with a massive shelling of German forces.

Soldiers then crept just behind shelling- smoke and shelling kept enemy troops in trenches

Ridge was taken in a few hours. Huge Moral Victory!!!!!

The Naval War

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare threatened to cut allies off from war material being transported from North America.

German U-Boats (Unterseeboot) even sank Lusitania in 1915.

Lusitania is a British Ocean Liner; Killed 1,198 people, 761 survivors

Naval battles did occur between Germany and Britain (even off of coast Argentina)as well as Battle of Jutland

U-Boats (Unterseeboot)

U-Boats (Unterseeboot)

Lusitania

Changes in the War

In June 1916, many people were very unhappy

with the state of the Russian war effort; 3.6

Million Dead.

Spring of 1917- Revolution leads to abdication of

Tsar Nicholas II.

Instability in Russia leads to German advances on

Ukraine.

Changes in the War

Eventually Soviets sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

A peace treaty between Russia and the Central

Powers

Ended Russia’s participation in WWI

Renounced all claim to Finland, the Baltic states

(Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Poland, Belarus,

Ukraine, and all claims to the land Russia had

captured from the Ottoman Empire in the Russo-

Turkish War, 1877–1878.

USA Enters the War

When WWI started, the U.S. had the role of

supplier to the Allied lines.

It was Europe’s war and not a concern of the U.S.

The sinking of the Lusitania further pushed the U.S.

Public opinion against the Germans.

The final straw was the Zimmerman Telegram

where the Germans offered Mexico former

territories of Texas if they took up conflict against

the US.

US Entry

More U-Boat attack occurs, despite promises

that they would not happen, angered the U.S.

even more…declared war in April 1917.

10 000 troops a day would arrive in Europe by

summer of 1918.

Tide of war changed with the US Arrival.

Hundred Days Offensive

In August, 1918 a huge Allied offensive began which would result in the final collapse of the Central Powers.

End of October to early November: The Ottoman Empire and Austria Hungary looked for peace and offered an Armistice.

Armistice with Germany was signed on Nov 11th, 1918.

Eventually the Treaty of Versailles is signed on June 28th, 1919.

WWI: Recap

65 000 000 Forces mobilized

8 538 315 war deaths/21 000 000 wounded

Casualty rate of 25 000/day

Cost of war $186 333 637 000

Works out to $125 000 000/day

Total War that brought new destructive weapons into

human conflict- gas, tanks, airplanes, fire, etc

War of Attrition- Had to outlast opponent. Every

possible obstacle had to be overcome.

WWI: Recap

Legacy of destruction, crazy amount used of

poison gas, flamethrowers, and the

introduction of Aircraft carriers.

Clear display of the ugly side of nationalism -

directed people to internationalism and the

creation of a Supra-nationalist organization…

Canada

Prime Minister of Canada Robert Borden (1911-1920) had to make some very tough decisions during the war.

Conscription - 1917-

Introduced Income tax (Temporary??) to help finance the War effort.

War effort propelled Canada towards independence from Britain.(Statute of Westminster 1931)

Gained independent seat as minor power at Paris Peace Conference.