WWI Consumes Europe

Assassination in Sarajevo Austria Hungary blamed

Serbia for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

A/H gave Serbia an Ultimatum—final set of demands

A/H wanted to end all nationalist activities in Serbia

Alliance System Collapses Serbia agreed to most of the demands, but

not all July 28, 1914 — A/H declared war on

Serbia Russia mobilized troops – allies with

Serbia Germany – allies with Austria-Hungary -

responds to Russian troop mobilization & declares war with Russia

(Aug 3) Germany also declares war on France because France is allied with Russia

Two Front WarEastern Front

Russia vs. Germany and A/HWestern Front

France vs. Germany and A/H

Schlieffen Plan German plan German Army would defeat France first

and then return to fight Russia in the East This required going through Belgium (illegal -

Neutral Country) England was allied with Belgium England declares war on Germany (Aug 4,

1914)

Phase I of the Schlieffen Plan – Germany to Attack France through

Belgium (neutral)

European Nations Take Sides

Central Powers Germany A/H Bulgaria Ottoman Empire

Allied Powers England Russia / Serbia France Italy Japan 1917 - USA

Neutral

Albania Spain Denmark Sweden Netherlands Switzerland USA (Until 1917)

By October 1914 – Stalemate on Western Front

Neither side victorious Battle of the Marne (Sept 1914) Allied attack on Germans in Marne Valley N/E of

Paris Germans driven back Schlieffen Plan had failed to prevent Germany

from fighting a 2-front war – German generals fear the worst

Russia had invaded Germany from the East

Eastern Front – Russia attacks Area from Baltic Sea to Black Sea Russians and Serbs vs. Germans, A/H,

and Turks Russia was not industrialized – no

modern military technology Russian Soldiers lacked essential

supplies; Russia did not have enough RR to move troops quickly

However, Russia had more manpower than the Central Powers

Eastern Front – WWI

Trench Warfare (Early 1915) On Western Front Armies from both sides dug miles of

parallel trenches to protect themselves from enemy fire

Stretched 500 miles from North Sea to Swiss Border

DRAW trench system in your notesNo Man’s LandBarbed Wire

“Over the top” after a shot of vodka

New Weaponry

Poison Gas Tanks Machine Guns Aircraft (used mainly for spying first) Larger Artillery

Tanks

Machine Guns

Poison Gas

Large Artillery

Flamethrowers

Airplanes

Submarines -- German U-boat

1915-1916

Soldier death rates increase Battle of Verdun 1916 — 300,000 French

and German Deaths Germans gained about 4 miles Battle of the Somme — 1916 — 500,000

French and German Deaths Allied troops gained about 5 miles

Shell Shock – post traumatic stress disorder from trench bombardments