Unit 8- 20th Century Global Conflicts

Long term causes of WW1?

• MAIN

• Militarism- After industrial rev, places have all types of new tech and weapons they want to test out

• Alliances- Formed between major powers, leading to a complex web of loyalty and obligations that escalated conflicts

• Imperialism- Competition for colonies strained relationships among European nations, heightening tensions.

• Nationalism- Intense pride in one's nation created rivalries and fostered conflict among countries, often leading to militaristic and imperialistic ambitions.

What was the immediate cause of WW1?

• the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 by a Serbian Nationalist

  • Now conflict between Serbia and Austria

What happened after the Austrian Arch Duke was killed?

• Austria declares war on Serbia w the help of Germany

• Russia allies with Serbia

  • Germany declares war on Russia

Who are the two opposing sides in WW1?

The Allies and the Central Powers. The Allies included countries like France, Britain, and Russia, while the Central Powers were primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and the Ottoman Empire.

Central Powers

• Germany

• Austria Hungary

• Italy

Allies

• France

• Britain

• Russia

New Technology in WW1?

• Innovations such as tanks, airplanes, machine guns, and chemical warfare dramatically changed the nature of combat

• Trench Warfare

Why was WW1 a total war?

• WW1 was a total war because it involved significant national mobilization of resources and personnel, affecting not just the military but also civilian life and economies.

True or false, Britain mobilized significantly during ww1?

True, Britain mobilized large numbers of troops and resources, impacting the war effort significantly.

Easter Rebellion?

• Ireland was promised their independence from Britain pre World War 1

  • but when it was clear they weren’t getting it the rebellion in 1916 aimed to achieve this through armed insurrection. The uprising was suppressed, yet it sparked significant political change and a move towards Irish independence.

War Plan from WW1

• Germany planned to attack France first, then Russia (The Schlieffen Plan)

  • by the time German troops made it over to Germany, they realized the French troops at mobilized and secured their borders

• Therefore, Germany goes through Berlin making Britain mad bc Berlin was neutral and then invaded Belgium, leading to Britain's entry into the war.

Trench Warefare

A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from deep ditches, or trenches, to protect themselves from enemy fire, heavily utilized during World War I. This method of warfare resulted in prolonged stalemates, harsh living conditions, and significant casualties, showcasing the brutal realities of WWI.

New allies in WW1?

Countries that joined the Allies during World War I included Italy, Japan, and the United States, all of which shifted the balance of power and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Central Powers.

Battle of the Somme

A major battle of World War I fought between July and November 1916, known for its scale and high casualties. It represented a significant attempt by the Allies to break through German defenses and is remembered for its extensive use of artillery and the first day being one of the bloodiest in British military history.

End of WW1?

• Stalemates in both the Western and Eastern Fronts

• Germany starts engaging in submarine warfare and harms US and neutral ships

• Germany also tries to get Mexico to go to War with the United States (Zimmerman Telegram), but the plan fails

• So the US joins the war and in 1918, Germany surrendered

Problems in Russia during WW1?

• Political Stagnation

  • people mad abt failed Decemberist Rev

  • Tsar Nicholas left everyone to go fight and put Rasputin in charge who was not doing a good job

• Social Inequality

  • poor very poor living conditions, food shortages, and discontent among the working class. The war exacerbated existing inequalities and fueled unrest, leading to strikes and protests.

• Incomplete Industrialization

  • troops did not have adequate supplies during war, no shoes and guns

• Food Shortages

March Revolution

• Factory workers led a massive revolution over food prices

• Tsar Nicholas who left for war told troops to go kill and put down rev

  • however, many of the soliders switched sides and joined rev

• Nicholas was loosing control of the country, leading to his abdication and the end of the Romanov dynasty in March 1917

How is the Duma and what did they do?

• provisional gov that took over after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in March 1917, seeking to establish a democratic government but favored to the middle class causing the Soviets (working class councils to be mad)

What did the Marxist Social Democratic Party Split into?

the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks, with differing views on how to achieve socialism in Russia.

Bolsheviks

• favored a violent overthrow and a communist dictatorship

Mensheviks

• favored a socialist state w democracy

Vladimer Lenin

• leader of the Bolshevik Party and key figure in the Russian Revolution, advocating for Marxism and establishing a communist government in Russia

• November 1917- Lenin and the Bolsheviks overthrew the Duma and established a one-party state, promoting the ideas of Marxism-Leninism.

Treaty of Versailles

• The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany (1919)

Main settlements of the Treaty of Versailles

• War Guilt Cause- Germany accepts all responsibilty for WW1

• Land loss for Germany

  • Alcanve- Lairane went to Germany

• Elimination of the Austria- Hungaraian Empire

• Reperations for Germany and not being able to remililtarize

• Rhineland becomes a demilitarized zone, limiting German military presence

• League of Nations- an international organization established to promote peace and cooperation among countries, though the US did not join.

What was the problems with the Treaty of Versailles

• US never joined the Treaty of Versailles so it wasn’t very effective

• It was to harsh on Germany and they had no say

The Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn that lasted from the late 1920s until the early 1940s, marked by high unemployment, bank failures, and drastic declines in consumer spending and investment.

Causes of the Great Depression?

• US stock market crash of 1929

  • US couldn’t help pay for European debt

• Overproduction after WW1

What was Europe like post WW1?

Europe faced significant political instability, economic hardship, and social unrest due to the consequences of World War I, leading to the rise of various political movements and the eventual conditions for WWII.

Facisim

A far-right authoritarian political system characterized by dictatorial power, extreme nationalism, and the suppression of opposition.

Causes of Facisim?

• post WW1 bitterness

• rise of communism

Facisim in Italy

• Mussolini

  • used modern tech and propogandato establish a totalitarian regime that emphasized state control, militarism, and nationalism.

Fasicim in Germany

• Adolf Hitler

  • and the Nazi Party implemented fascism, promoting anti-Semitism, militarism, and totalitarian rule, leading to World War II.

Spanish Civil War

• testing ground for WW2

  • highlighted the battle between facisim and democracy

  • also showed emerging facist allies

Facism in Russia

• Stalin

  • and the Bolshevik Party established a totalitarian regime that combined state control with a focus on industrialization and collectivization, leading to political repression.

Causes for WW2

• apeasment by France and Britain who didn’t want a new war

• Harsh ounishments on Germany after the Treaty of Versailes led to Hilter being mad and breaking everything in the Treaty

What did Hiltler do that went against the Treaty of Versailes

• remiliterizing the Rhineland

• expanded and regrew military

• annexed Austria

• made the Soviet-Nazi non agression treaty where they spilt Poland

• lied to everyone at the Munich Agreement

Munich Agreement

• Hilter promised that if they give him the Sudentenland, he wouldn’t take any more of Europe and would stop taking Czechlovokia

What started WW2?

• Hilters invasion of Poland where he went against the Munich Agreement which he had just made

What are the two opposing sides of WW2?

• Axis and Allies

Who made up the Axis

• Germany, Italy, and Japan

Who made up the Allies?

• United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union

What was significant about the invasion of Manchuria?

• It marked the beginning of Japanese expansion into China and was a precursor to World War II as it heightened tensions between Japan and the Western powers

• Showed how weak the League of Nations where because China asked for help and the League failed to take effective action against Japan's aggression.

What were the dates of WW2?

1939-1945

What was germany justification for taking land?

• Hilter belived in social darwinsim, and that the Aryan people were superior and need “Lebenstram” or living space

What happened after the invasion of Poland?

• Germany pushed into France and surrounded them at Dunkirk where they barley escaped. Then, Germany launched a blitzkrieg into Western Europe and took over France

Why did the Japense launch an attack on Pearl Harbor

• they wanted to expand but were concerned about US interference in their expansionist policies in Asia

• Thought Pearl Harbor attack would warn US, but the attack was not very dameging and caused the US to officaly join the war

What did the US do before they officialy joined the War?

• supplied weapons and support to Britain

What did Germany focus on after taking over France?

Germany focused on launching operations against the Soviet Union, seeking to expand its territory and resources in Eastern Europe

• had some early wins before having to dig in for winter

Main technological differences between WW1 and WW2?

WW2 saw advancements like tanks, aircraft, and submarines, whereas WW1 relied heavily on trench warfare and limited mechanization.

Where did germany see its first big loss?

• The Battle of Stalingrad

  • after winter in Russia, while the German troops were dug in, the Soviets were getting ready and they won

  • Hilter lost a ton of people

What happened after the battle of Stalingrad

• allies landed in Africa and took over Axis colonies

  • then, they went up through Italy where they fought against Mussolini

    • however, Mussoloni was assasinated and then Badogolio the new ruler awitched Italys side in the war

    • Italy also switched sides in WW1

What was the axis plan of attack from the north?

• D-Day June 6th

  • Allies landed on Normandy and Omaha beach where they pushed through German barricades

How did the European Theater close?

• The Allies came down from the North after the D-Day win, and other ally troops came up from Italy to sandwich the Axis out

• They pushed the Axis to Berlin after loosing at the Battle Of the Buldge and then Hilter commited suicide and the Allies captured Berlin in May 1945, effectively ending the war in Europe.

Battle of the Buldge

• Last major German offensive in World War II, launched through the Ardennes Forest in December 1944. It aimed to split the Allied forces and capture Antwerp but ultimately failed, leading to the Allies' advance into Germany.

How did the Pacific Theater close?

• The US began Island Hoping to take over major strategic islands

• When that didn’t work, thanks to Eisnhower, the Allies dropped two atomic bombs on Japan where they then assembled

Why did the US drop the two atomic bombs

• easiet way of invasions

• saved the most allied lives

What was happening while Hilter was taking over?

• He was transporting Jewish, Romas, and any other groups he deemed "undesirable" to concentration camps, leading to the Holocaust.