WWI

German History and Background

German Empire - Hohenzollern

• Wilhelm I – Kaiser – means emperor– Otto Von Bismark – Chancellor –

Foreign Minister• Actually ran the show• Brought Germany into an empire• United Germany as 1 country

– Previously made up of various states– Ex – Bavaria and Prussia

» Prussia – most powerful state» Very Militaristic

Franco – Prussian War 1870-1871

• War between Germany and France

• Germany goes around French and defeats them very quickly

• France signs a humiliating treaty in defeat– France loses Alsace-Lorraine Territory

Wilhelm II – Kaiser and Chancellor

• Takes over for Wilhelm I (Dies)– Gets rid of Otto Von Bismark

Germany’s Path Towards War

• Germany is expanding (Imperialistic)– Trying to compete and match France and England

• Africa and Pacific

• Germany is challenging England in Trade– Germany is very industrial minded

• Germany starts to build a navy– Starts an arms race with Britain

• Germany forms an alliance with Austria and Italy– Triple Alliance

• England forms alliance with France and Russia– Triple Entente

• Entente Cordaile

Alliances

• Triple Alliance– Germany, Austria-Hungary,

and Italy

• Triple Entente– Great Britain, France,

and Russia

Causes• Balance of Power

– Strength of rival is equal– “I got your back if you got mine”

• Nationalism– Pride in ones’ culture, language, and specific nation

• Superior to all others– Threatened stability of some nations

• Ex - Serbia• Imperialism

– Struggle for territory to become world’s single power• Economically, strategically, and religiously

– Europe – Small space – not much room for expansion

• Militarism– Readily available militants– Being able to mobilize quickly

Conflicts

• Assassination– Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary

shot in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip• Serb Nationalist & Part of the black hand• Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina• Serbia was next

Conflicts Cont.

• Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia – July 28, 1914

• Russia mobilizes its army – Russia has Slavic ties

• Germany declares war on Russia – Aug 1, 1914• Germany declares war on France – Aug 3, 1914• Great Britain declares war on Germany – Aug 4,

1914• Great War BEGINS!!!!