Background to WWI History Notes

Overview

WWI most important event of 20th century - brought a lot of change; destroyed countries, middle east formed, growth of communism/facism, over 30mil casualties, peace treaty caused WWII

Germany & Bismarck

Germany got lot of blame for WWI because someone needed to be blamed and Germany was very militaric aggressive, Bismarck unified Germany in 1871 and becomes first Chancellor until 1890, monarchy with Kaiser still exists, Bismarck hates liberalism, believer of real-politik - ends justify the mean, his goal was to make Germany most powerful, gets into lots of alliances to strengthen Germany and isolate France, when he is kicked out of office alliances are not taken care of and things crumble

Causes

long term causes: alliances, Imperialism, Militarism, Nationalism, Revenge, - these triggered assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Alliances

Three Emperors League (1877, DE, A-H, R) military alliance, 1878 Russo-Turkish War - Balkans go to Russia, was a power shift- Berlin Congress Meeting decides Balkans have to be given back - R leaves the league, Dual Alliance (1879, DE, A-H) military alliance if Russia attacks, Triple Alliance (1882, DE, A-H, It) military alliance if France or at least two powers attack, Three Emperors League comes back 1881, Bismarck tries Russia to forget about Balkans and instead look at Asia also tells France to look at Africa, 1887 Three Emporers League was supposed to be renewed but Russia declines due to other alliances (DA, TA), Reinsurance Treaty (1887, R, DE) - if France attacks Germany Russia will be neutral and if A-H attacks Russia Germany will be neutral, 1890 Bismarck has to resign and alliances fall apart, 1. Franco-Russian Military Alliance (1892, F, R) military alliance in case of attack from Triple Alliance member, 2. Entete Cordiale (1904, GB, F) - diplomatic support for each other also implied military aid, 3. Anglo-Russian Entente (1907, GB, R) - diplomatic support for each other also implied military aid, 3 formed Triple Entente (1907, GB, R, F), DE, A-H, & It (DA, TA) central powers, GB, R, F (TE) were allied powers

Imperialism

Kaiser Wilhelm II was imperialistic - more competition for allied forces so it pushes them together, 1st Moroccan Crisis (1905 - 06) - France wants to annex Morocco but Germany says no wanting to test Entente Cordiale, France speaks out against Germany and GB supports, both DE & GB mobilize troops but GB calls for Algeciras Conference 1906, Morocco got more independence and DE was viewed more suspiciously, this proved strength of Entente Cordiale, Germany announces Berlin-Baghdad Railroad (1903-1914) allied powers do not like this: 1. oil in the area, 2. DE closer to Africa (easier to take it over), 3. GB would lose money at Gibraltar and Suez canal, 2nd Moroccan Crisis (1911) - Morocco becomes French protectorate and Germany gets part of French Congo

Revenge

Franco-Prussian War (1871) - DE gets Alsace-Lorraine which F did not like - leads to a lot of hate and motivation to get land back

Nationalism

A-H & R want Balkans (mostly Slavic people) owned by Ottoman Empire (Turks), 1878 Serbia & Rumania were independent due to Ottoman Empire becoming weak, R & Slavic spread Pan-Slavism - Slavic people are superior especially compared to Germans, wanted to unify and spread pride to form Slavic state (Yugoslavia) - capital would be Constantinople because it would give them Dardanelle Straits, same time Pan-Germanism is spread - same thing, Serbia very aggressive focuses on Bosnia-Herzegovina owned by Ottomans, A-H had spheres of influence in Bosnia, Bosnian Crisis of 1908 - Young Turks cause chaos in Balkans - A-H & R have secret meeting - want to announce simultaneously that A-H will annex Bosnia & Dardanelles will open for R warships, A-H announces early and does not support R part of deal - Serbia & R furious, Tripolitanian War (1911-12) It and Ottomans - It wins showing how weak Ottomans are, First Balkan War (1912) - Balkan League - Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, & Greece vs Ottomans, Balkan League wins splits up land and creates Albania, countries wanted more land leading to 2nd Balkan War - Greece, Rumania, & Serbia backed by R vs Albania, Bulgaria, & Ottomans, backed by A-H - first group wins, Serbia & R hate A-H for involvement in war, yellow press increased as war comes closer increasing hatred against each other, countries build up armies

Militarism

later 1800s Europe has arms & naval race, by 1914 Germany had best army (best; disciplined, trained, equipped), R was behind due to late industrialization, GB had best navy, as militarism increases military leaders became more influential with government leaders, as tension grows military plans develop, Schlieffen Plan (DE) - DE was to quickly send majority of troops to F and rest to R, key was to be quick, R to be slow and go through Belgium & Luxembourg (neutral), Plan XVII (F) - F will quickly send troops to DE capture Alsace-Lorraine and then go for Berlin, Steamroller Offensive (R) - R will very quickly send waves of troops to DE until DE runs out of bullets - was to relief F from German troops, DE hears about this and tells A-H that in this case it should very quickly send troops to R