World War I

A Powder-Keg

What started WWI?Explain why each could lead to war…• Militarism

– The build-up of armies and munitions world-wide.

• Alliances:– Agreements designed to bolster each nation’s

security

• Imperialism– Nations dominating foreign lands politically,

economically, and culturally.

• Nationalism– “My country can beat up your country!”

Alliances: The #1 Cause

• The Triple Alliance– 1879, Germany and Austria-Hungary formed a dual

alliance. – This became the “Triple Alliance” when Italy joined in

1882.• The Triple Entente

– 1907, France was concerned with being attacked by the Triple Alliance.

– Britain was concerned with the growth of the German navy.

– Russia was also concerned by the growth of the German army.

– All three formed the Triple Entente in 1907.

The Schlieffen Plan

• Germany borders two major powers: Russia & France– Both in Triple Entente

• Two-front war?

• The Plan..– Germany thought Russia

would take 6 weeks to mobilize.

– Attack France first!• Must go through Belgium

– Avoid two-front war!

The Spark• Nationalism: Slavs vs.

Germans• In Early 1900s, Austro-

Hungary acquired a new territory, Bosnia.– Bosnia = ethnically “slavic”– Austria = ethnically “German”

• AH Archduke Franz Ferdinand set out to visit Bosnia. – Gunned down in Sarajevo– AH suspects the Black Hand

• AH sends Serbia ultimatum…

The UltimatumThe Austrian government sent an ultimatum

to the Serbian government after the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand. – This demanded that the Serbs:

1. Punish members of the Black Hand.2. Seek out and destroy the nationalist movement.3. Allow the Austrians to help with the investigation

of the case in Serbia.

If the Serbians did not meet the Austrian demands, Austria planned on declaring war on Serbia!

You have 15 minutes to try to solve the crisis…

• Breaking any of the following rules for the simulation will result in your entire group losing the 5 points for the simulation!1. All delegates must actively participate in either achieving

their nation’s objectives or talking with delegates from other nations.

2. You may rewrite geographic boundaries for nations or offer money to other countries in your negotiations. If you come to an agreement, that agreement must be approved by Mr. W.

3. You MAY NOT break up any of the pre-existing alliances in which your country is involved or create new ones.

4. You MUST follow the instructions in bold on the bottom of your card, regardless of any agreement you might make with another country during negotiations.

5. You MAY NOT show your “Secret Instructions” note card to anyone outside of your group.

A Chain of Alliances…• Serbia refuses the Austrian demands.

– AH declares war on Serbia (July 28th, 1914)• Russia, Serbia’s ally, mobilizes for war.• Germany, Austro-Hungary’s chief ally,

demands Russia stop mobilizing. – When Russia refuses, Germany mobilizes.

• In response, France mobilizes (Russia’s ally)

• August 1st, Germany declares war on Russia.– Puts “Schlieffen Plan” into action, and attacks

France through neutral Belgium.– Britain's alliance with Belgium brings it into the

conflict.

Picking Sides

“Central Powers”

vs.

“Allies”

Stalemate• Germany…

– Schlieffen Plan concentrated on Western frontier, marched troops within 30 miles of Paris.

– Russians advanced on East.

• Germans take away troops from West to reinforce East

=stalemate

Trench Warfare After the Battle of the Marne in September, 1914, the Germans were forced to retreat. The German commander, General Erich von Falkenhayn, decided that his troops must at all costs hold onto those parts of France and Belgium that Germany still occupied. Falkenhayn ordered his men to dig trenches that would provide them with protection from the advancing French and British troops. The Allies soon realized that they could not break through this line and they also began to dig trenches.

Trenches• Parts of a

Trench– No Man’s

Land– Artillery Line– Dugout

• Trench Life…– “Trenchfoot”– Rats, Lice

Technology• New Technology

– Tanks– Machine Guns– Grenades– Poison Gas– Flame thrower– Land mines– Air plane

The American Response

• What would you do?– The USA is made of 92 million people, 1/3 of which are recent

immigrants from Europe.– Many Americans see German Kaiser Wilhelm as an dictator who

is against democracy.– British propaganda, which is being leaked to and spread by the

“Yellow Press” in the USA is portraying Germans killing civilians, burning libraries, cathedrals, and entire towns in Belgium and France.

– US companies had $3.5 Billion invested in Europe, half of which would be threatened no matter which side they entered they entered the war on.

– With around 100,000 enlisted men, the US army ranks 17th in the world, behind most of the major European armies in size and strength. Most of those men are already deployed in Latin America and the Philippines.

The American Response• Neutrality

– Officially proclaimed Aug. 4th, 1914

• Protects business interests.

• Preparedness Movement– “National Security League”

pressured Wilson.– By 1915, camps were being

set up to train American men for combat.

– 1916, Wilson asks Congress for large increase in armed forces.

German Sub Warfare• Winning the War for

Trade– British Navy was

blockading Germany– German U-Boat developed

• Sank blockade ships• Sank Allied supply ships

• Lusitania Sinks! (1915) – 1,200 passengers die, 128

Americans

• Sussex Pledge– After two more Americans killed,

Germans promise U-Boats will warn ships before attacking.

The Zimmerman Note

• 1916, Wilson runs on slogan, “He kept us out of war…”– Despite this, he authorized US

banks to begin aiding the Allies with huge loans

• Jan 31st, 1917, Germans recant Sussex Pledge.– US breaks off diplomatic

relations, arms supply ships.

• British intercept “Zimmerman Note”– Telegram urges Mexico to join

Central Powers, attack the US.

The Russian Revolution

• By early 1917, Russia had already lost 1.5 million troops…

• March, 1917– Russian Czar replaced

by pro-peace republican government.

– Central Powers can concentrate on Western front!

• US investments at risk– Germany sinks 3 US

supply ships…

• “I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German government to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States…

• The world must be made safe for democracy…”

Wilson Asks for War…

USA GOES TO WAR IN 1917!!!

Build-up to US Entry

• Training for War– Troops trained in camps

learning to build a trench, use a bayonet and rifle, put on a gas mask, and throw a grenade.

Problem: How do we safely transport these troops overseas?

• Convoys– A group of unarmed ships

surrounded by a ring of heavily armed ships capable of finding and fighting u-boats.

After the passing of the Selective Service Act in May 1917, 3 million Americans were drafted for military service. Many others volunteered to be part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF)

Turning the Tide

• Americans Make the Difference– Why?

• European Allies used to defensive fighting.

• Positive attitude

– May, 1918• Germans within 50 miles of

Paris.• US Marines arrive and

attack.– Refuse to dig trenches.

– By July, 1918• Germans retreating in large

numbers.

On March 3rd, 1918, Russia signed a treaty with Germany ending their involvement in WWI and ceding lands in resource rich Western Russia.With increased industrial and man-power, the Central Powers quickly broke the stalemate and started to advance on Paris.

Ending the War

• Central Powers Collapse– Ottomans, Bulgaria make

peace in Autumn.– Poles, Hungarians, Czechs,

Slovaks declare independence from AH in Oct.

– Kaiser Wilhelm flees from Germany in Nov.

• Armistice– Nov. 11th, 1918

The Costs of War

Paris Peace Conference

• Jan, 1919– USA, Britain, France, Italy– Wilson has high hopes (14 Points)

• Self-determination• League of Nations

• Topics: 1. What should happen to German

colonies, Alsace-Lorraine, and the Polish Corridor?

2. Should everyone have to disarm, or just Germany, and to what extent?

3. Who is guilty, and should they have to pay reparations?

4. How do we ensure a lasting peace?

Coding the Reading

• SD = Self-determination• C = Colonies• AL = Alsace-Lorraine• PC = Polish Corridor• MD = Military Disarm /Demilitarization• WG = War Guilt• R = Reparations• PK = Peace Keeping (General Label)

The Treaty of Versailles and the German Position

1. What position is taken in the Fourteen Points, the Treaty of Versailles, and the Comments by the German Delegation on the fate of these German territories:

– German colonies– Alsace-Lorraine– The Polish Corridor

2. How did the Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles approach the question of disarmament and demilitarization?

3. What does the Treaty of Versailles say about war guilt and reparations? What is the reaction of the German delegation of these two important points?

The Treaty of Versailles

Did the Treaty of Versailles Cause WWII?• Conference in Paris, 1919

– Germany not invited.• Territories

– Taken away from Germany.• Disarmament

– Only Germany forced to cut size of army.• War Guilt and Reparations

– Blamed Germany, made them pay.• Failure of Peace Keeping

– USA never joins the League of Nations

YES!

Europe Before WWI

Europe After WWI