World War I

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World War I
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Why do people go to War?

• Write one reason why people go to war and hand it
  in on a scrap piece of paper.
• What are some fundamental reasons for World War I?

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I. Taking Sides- The Power of Alliances

• A. Germany wanted to protect itself from being
  isolated by France and Russia.
• B. Otto von Bismarck worked out alliances to make
  sure Germany was safe from France.
• He made deals with Russia and Austria-Hungary.
  When they could not get along, Russia pulled out,
  but still said they would be neutral if Germany
  went to war with France.

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C. Germany builds the Triple Alliance

1. Germany
2. Italy
3. Austria-Hungary

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More Alliances

• Trying to avoid being isolated, France bails out
  Russia financially and forms a military alliance
  with them.
• Germany is concerned facing enemies on two fronts
  and builds up military.
• Great Britain is concerned about Germanys naval
  build up.

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A. Mostly out of Fear of the Triple Alliance
another alliance forms

• B. The Triple Entente
• France
• Great Britain
• Russia

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Serbia

• Gained independence from the Ottoman Empire
  (Turkey)
• Wanted Bosnia-Herzegovina so they could have
  access to the Adriatic Sea
• These two territories were protectorates of
  Austria-Hungary
• Austria-Hungary then annexed BH and this really
  upset Serbia

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Russia

• Is a Slavic nation and supports other Slav
  nations like Serbia
• There was a nationalist movement to combine all
  Slavic nations under Russia
• This gave Britain concernRussia would have
  access to the Balkan Peninsula and therefore the
  Mediterranean Sea.

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Germany

• Instead of fueling the British/Russia argument,
  Germany tries to bring the Ottoman Empire into
  the Triple Alliance.
• Both Great Britain and Russia think this is a bad
  idea. Instead of being rivals, the two countries
  become more united.

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III. Immediate Cause of War

1. The Assassination of Austria-Hungarys heir, the
   Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in
   Sarajevo- capital of BH
2. Gavrilo Princip a Serbian nationalist shoots them
   as they drive in an open car.
3. Austria-Hungary vows to make Serbia pay and
   issues an ultimatum
4. Serbian government rejects it and Europe
   mobilizes towards war.

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• 6 July, 1914The 'Blank Check'
• After Sarajevo, Count Leopold von Berchtold, the
  Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, drew up a
  letter for the Emperor Francis Joseph to sign and
  send to Wilhelm II to try and convince both of
  Serbia's responsibility.On July 6th, Wilhelm II
  and his Imperial Chancellor, Theobald von
  Bethmann-Hollweg, telegrammed Berchtold that
  Austria-Hungary could rely that Germany would
  support whatever action was necessary to deal
  with Serbia -- in effect offering von Berchtold a
  'blank check.' Telegram from the Imperial
  Chancellor, von Bethmann-Hollweg, to the German
  Ambassador at Vienna. Tschirschky, July 6, 1914
• Berlin, July 6, 1914
• Confidential. For Your Excellency's personal
  information and guidance
• The Austro-Hungarian Ambassador yesterday
  delivered to the Emperor a confidential personal
  letter from the Emperor Francis Joseph, which
  depicts the present situation from the
  Austro-Hungarian point of view, and describes the
  measures which Vienna has in view. A copy is now
  being forwarded to Your Excellency.
• I replied to Count Szagyeny today on behalf of
  His Majesty that His Majesty sends his thanks to
  the Emperor Francis Joseph for his letter and
  would soon answer it personally. In the meantime
  His Majesty desires to say that he is not blind
  to the danger which threatens Austria-Hungary and
  thus the Triple Alliance as a result of the
  Russian and Serbian Pan-Slavic agitation. Even
  though His Majesty is known to feel no
  unqualified confidence in Bulgaria and her ruler,
  and naturally inclines more to ward our old ally
  Rumania and her Hohenzollern prince, yet he quite
  understands that the Emperor Francis Joseph, in
  view of the attitude of Rumania and of the danger
  of a new Balkan alliance aimed directly at the
  Danube Monarchy, is anxious to bring about an
  understanding between Bulgaria and the Triple
  alliance .... His Majesty will, further more,
  make an effort at Bucharest, according to the
  wishes of the Emperor Francis Joseph, to
  influence King Carol to the fulfilment of the
  duties of his alliance, to the renunciation of
  Serbia, and to the suppression of the Rumanian
  agitations directed against Austria-Hungary.
• Finally, as far as concerns Serbia, His Majesty,
  of course, cannot interfere in the dispute now
  going on between Austria-Hungary and that
  country, as it is a matter not within his
  competence. The Emperor Francis Joseph may,
  however, rest assured that His Majesty will
  faithfully stand by Austria-Hungary, as is
  required by the obligations of his alliance and
  of his ancient friendship.
• BETHMANN-HOLLWEG

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Mobilization

• Read pgs 702-703 on Who enters War vs. Who.

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IV. Who is at War

• Central Powers
• Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman
  Empire
• Strengths German Army and land stretching from
  N to S.
• Allied Powers
• Great Britain, France, Russia?, Italy, Japan,
  Serbia, Romania, Belgium, Eventually the U.S.
• More Soldiers, British Navy, Greater industry

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V. Industrialized War

• Thanks to mass production and the Industrial
  Revolution, we have many new advancements in
  weaponry.
• U-Boats, Long Range Artillery, Machine Guns,
  Tanks, Airplanes, Poison Gas
• Prior to WWI, most soldiers were professional.
  For WWI, Men were drafted.

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B. Western Front

1. German was to execute The Schlieffen Plan.
   Schlieffen argued that if war took place it was
   vital that France was speedily defeated. If this
   happened, Britain and Russia would be unwilling
   to carry on fighting. Schlieffen calculated that
   it would take Russia six weeks to organize its
   large army for an attack on Germany. Therefore,
   it was vitally important to force France to
   surrender before Russia was ready to use all its
   forces. Germany wanted to end the war quickly by
   attacking though Belgium and taking out France.

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Western Front Continued

1. When Germany attacked in the West, they were held
   up by the Belgium army and were shocked by how
   quickly Britain came to aid France.

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Western Front Continued

• 3. France won at the Battle of the Marne and it
  changed the nature of the war.
• 4. War on the Western Front became an entrenched
  war.
• Realities_of_War__The_Trenches__Weapons__and_Death
  .asf
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vJlf---13Q0g

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C. Eastern Front

• 1. Eastern Front was more wide open
• 2. Germany attacked into Russia and defeated the
  Russians at the Battle of Tannenberg.
• 3. Russia lost half its men and Germany moved
  into Russian Poland.
• By the time the battle ended on 30 August,
  Samsonov's Second Army was destroyed, with 95,000
  Russian troops captured, another 30,000 killed or
  wounded, and only 10,000 (mostly from the
  retreating flanks) escaping. The Germans suffered
  fewer than 20,000 casualties and captured over
  500 guns. Sixty trains were required to transport
  captured Russian equipment to Germany.
• Rather than report the loss of his army to Tsar
  Nicholas II, Samsonov committed suicide by
  shooting himself in the head on 29 August 1914.

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VI. U.S. enters the War

1. US traded with both sides
2. Sinking of the Lusitania
3. Zimmerman Telegram
4. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
5. Russia overthrows the Czar becoming a more
   appealing ally

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F. Propaganda

• Selected pieces of information (both true and
  false) used by the government to support the war
  effort.
• http//www.authentichistory.com
• http//www.authentichistory.com/ww1/music/Nora_Bay
  es-Over_There.html
• WW1throughPostersAndCartoons.pptx
• US declares War April 6th, 1917 against Germany.

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See Russian Revolution PPT

• Russian Revolution

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VII. Defeat of Central Powers

1. With Russia out, Germany can focus all troops on
   the Western Front
2. Germans again reached the Marne River, but by
   this time, US soldiers were arriving in France.
3. The Allies stop the Germans at Chateau-Thierry
   and push Germans back to their own border.
4. On November 11th, 1918, Germany signed an
   armistice to stop the fighting.

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Wilsons 14 Points

• Hand out worksheet. Use pages 714- 723 to answer
  questions.