Militarism

Alliances

Imperialism

Nationalism

All great powers had large standing military

Generals had detailed plans for mobilization Ex) Germany’s Schlieffen

Plan

General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen

Quickly defeat France then sweep to the east to defeat Russia (difficulty mobilizing)

Go through neutral Belgium

Triple Entente Triple Alliance

Great Britain Germany

France Austria-Hungary

Russia Italy

Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of A-H (June 28, 1914)

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Gavrilo Princip – assassin

Germany gave unconditional support – “blank check”

A-H’s harsh ultimatum to Serbia (July 23, 1914)

Serbia agreed to many, wanted to settle by international conference

A-H rejected (July 28, 1914 declared war)

Chain reaction (1914) Austria war on Serbia Russia moving army to A-H & German

borders Aug. 1 – German gov’t war on Russia Aug. 3 – Germany war on France Aug. 4 – Great Britain war on Germany

Brings Great Britain into the war

“Quickly defeat French then sweep to east to defeat Russia…”

Had to move through neutral Belgium – brought England into war Aug. 4, 1914

By mid Aug. 1914 lines were drawn Central Powers –

Germany & A-H Bulgaria & Ottoman Empire (wanted land)

Allies – Great Britain, France & Russia Japan & Italy switched sides

3 Theaters

Western Front – France – trench warfare

Eastern Front – Russia – 19th cent. warfare

Southern Front – Balkans -

Schlieffen Plan worked early but ultimately failed (French intelligence)

Sept. 6-10, Allies attacked NE of Paris (First Battle of Marne)

Sept. 13 – Germans were driven back 60 mi

1 of most imp. Events of the war – defeat of Germans meant the Schlieffen Plan failed

By 1915 both sides dug miles of trenches

Space b/w sides “no man’s land”

New weapons did not mean faster war – only more efficient way to kill more ppl Tanks, poison gas, larger artillery

1916 – Germans attack on French – lost 300,000+ ea.

July 1916, English attacked Germans NW of Verdun - lost 500,000+ ea.

Total land gained: 4 mi(Germans) & 5 mi (British)

Russians defeated Austrians twice in Sept. 1914

Dec. tide turned: Austrians w/ Germans drove Russians Eastward

Along German & Russian border

During 1914, Germans crushed Russians (Battle of Tannenberg)

Russia not industrialized – lacked supplies & ports blocked

Asset for Russians: People 1915: 2mill+ died, wounded, captured STILL ABLE TO REBUILD

Able to force Germany into 2-Front war

Unrestricted submarine warfare Germany attempted counter blockade Sink any ships in water near Britain Lusitania – British passenger ship sunk w/

128 Americans

Zimmerman Note Germany would help Mexico “re-conquer”

lands Keep U.S. distracted

KEEP THE WAR EFFORT GOING!!! Centralization of power

Ex) Censorship

Economic regimentation Ex) Rationing, production

Manipulation of public opinion (aka Propaganda)

2nd Battle of the Marne 30/40 mi outside Paris 140,000 U.S. soldiers

Nov. 9, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates

Nov. 11, 1918: armistice

Woodrow Wilson United States

Georges Clemenceau France

David Lloyd George Great Britain

Vittorio Orlando Italy

14 Points: outlines plans for achieving just & long-lasting peace

14th point: “general association of nations”

G.B & France limited agreement Concern for national security Wanted to punish Germany

Germany punished “War Guilt” Clause – Germany sole “guilt” &

pay reparations Restriction on German military Lost territory

League of Nations – Germany & Russia excluded

New countries formed Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland,

Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary & Yugoslavia (Serbs, Croats & Slovenes)

COST 8.5 million soldiers dead 21 million wounded $338 billion Destroyed acres of

farmland/cities

Lost Generation Despair can be seen in artwork

Ushered in 1929 depression

New nation-states created

European nations turned to dictatorships Russia, Italy & Germany

Impact on Women Replaced men in factories, changed dress,

suffrage

“A Peace Built on Quicksand” U.S. ultimately rejected it

Bitterness & hatred left in Germany

Ppl in colonies upset not independent

Italy/Japan upset – didn’t gain territory

Sets the stage for WWII