World War I 1914 -1918

Intro: Europe Before the War• Germany – Strongest Army; Allied to Austria-

Hungary (AH); Wanting to establish itself as a European/World power

• Russia – Large/not as strong; allied to France and Serbia; fairly unstable population; people unhappy; Protective of Slavic nations

• France - Fairly strong power; Also loosely allied with Great Britain; Lost to Germany in 1871 war; Looking to get back at Germany for that loss and regain lost lands

• Great Britain – Best navy in world; competing with Germany for colonies; allied to Belgium; wanting to maintain its position as a strong world power through naval superiority

• Austria-Hungary – Big military but not too strong; does not like Serbia; aging empire looking for a boost in pride

1. The Great War Begins• Following the assassination of Ferdinand, AH attacked

Serbia (July, 1914)

• Russia promised to help Serbia – declared war on AH• France promised to help Russia – declared war on AH• Germany promised to help AH – declared war on

France and Russia• GB said they would stay neutral• Ger. now faced Russia and France – 2 front war difficult

• Attack France first through Belgium - Schlieffen Plan• Russia slow to mobilize – 6 weeks to get ready

• Mobilization – the process of getting troops ready to fight in a war

• Eliminate France before Russia can enter the war• GB ordered Germany out of Belgium – Ger. Ignored GB• GB declared war on Germany and her allies

Great Britain

France

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Serbia

Russia

Great Britain

2. The War Expands• Germany was unable to quickly defeat France• Russia entered the war in the east• Germany had to fight on two sides (2-Front War)• A stalemate started, Both sides dug trenches• Both tried attacking the trenches - failed• “Over the Top” offensives resulted in Thousands

of casualties • Neither side had the offensive power to break the

stalemate (defeat the trench)• Defensive weapon – Machine gun too powerful• No Man’s Land –area between trenches =

wasteland• Battle lines “stayed the same” for the next 3

years• But both sides still kept attacking each other

Trench Warfare

• Central Powers• Germany• Austria-Hungary• Ottoman Empire (turkey)

• Bulgaria

• Allied Powers• Russia• France• Great Britain• Belgium• Serbia• Later joined by Italy, Japan

• Where will the United States end up???

3. Taking Sides

European Alliances during WWI

4. America Favors the Allies

• The US wanted to remain neutral during the war but favored the allies over Germany for three reasons

1 Germany attacking Belgium upset many Americans (attack a Neutral? US is Neutral too!)

2 Unrestricted Submarine Warfare• USW = Germany’s version of a blockade• Sink anyone trading with the Allies (non-military

ships too – including American ships)• Wilson warned Germany = “You’ll be responsible

for any loss of American life”3 Stronger connection to British culture• US favored the Allies but vowed to remain Neutral• But the US traded war supplies to the Allies• Germany viewed America’s decision as not being

neutral – viewed them as the enemy

5. German Subs Anger the U.S.

• German subs continued to hunt Allied ships• May 7, 1915 – British passenger ship the Lusitania

was sunk by a German sub• 1,200 died including 128 Americans• Other ships sunk too – some were American ships• President Woodrow Wilson threatened Germany with

war unless they stopped their USW• Germany promised to follow the rules of Sub warfare

(the promise was known as the Sussex Pledge)

• By 1917, Germany was losing the war• Returned to using USW as a way to win (“our only

chance”)

• Germany was hoping to win the war before the U.S. could mobilize and get to Europe

6. The Final Straw against Germany(Feb. 24, 1917)

• GB intelligence intercepted a coded message between Germany and Mexico

• The Zimmerman Telegram• Germany offered TX, AZ, NM to

Mexico if they attacked the US• Germany hoped a war with Mexico

would keep US troops out of Europe• America would be forced to defend

their home territory• Mexico never agreed to the offer,

but the damage was done• Wilson was upset that Germany was trying to line up

countries against them• Went to Congress to ask them to declare war