Europe and the First World War

Great Britain- Great Power

• most liberal (giving political rights for more people) and wealthiest

• industrial powerhouse

• massive colonial holdings

• largest navy in the world

• small volunteer army (bc huge navy and an island)

Gerrmany- Great Power

• new country at the time (unified in 1871 used to be Prussia)

• large population, industrially modern, strong army, growing navy

• defeated France in Franco- Prussian war- makes everyone feel threatened

• Entered into Dual- Alliance with Austria- Hungry

• holdings in Africa and East Asia

France- Great Power

• industrialized with 2nd largest Empire

• defeated by Germany in Franc- Prussian war

• smaller population, slower growth

• Dual entente with Russia- becasue of German threat

Russia- Great Power

• largest power by land and population

• industrially underdeveloped

• autocratic government challenged by liberal movements

• ethnically diverse

Austria- Hungary- Great Power

• weakest of Great powers

• ethnically diverse with challenges from nationalist movements, especially Serbs in Bosnia- Herzegovina

Ottoman Empire

• losing territory “sick man” of Europe

• Great Powers pushing for influence in empire

• reform movements attempted to liberalize and nationalize the empire

Serbia

• new

• landlaocked

• used to be part of Ottoman Empire, but now independent

• many serbs living in Bosnia want to unite

Belgium

• treaty agreement that promised protection for Belgium

Italy

• border disputes with France and Austria -Hungary

• joined the Triple Alliance with Germany and AH against France

long term causes of WW1

M- militarism

A- alliances
I- imperialism
N- nationalism

militarism

• putting a nations focus behind its military

• major expansion in Europe years prior

• military values desirable

• compulsory military service

• militarization of civil society

• boy scouts

Imperialism

• Britain, France, Germany mostly

• economic factors

• industrial revolution

• drive for self- sufficiency

• political/military

• extension of rivalries

• strategic locations of colonies (steamships big, places to refuel)

• increased manpower for armies

• also a part of Nationalism

Alliances

Nationalism

• dominant ideology

• 1. Country that already exists (Britain)

• 2. People that dont have a nation (Balkans)

• War was a method to demonstrate national power

• demonstration of social Darwinism on a national scale

The Moroccan Crises

• claimed by France

• agreement between France and Britain in 1904 allowed France to control Morocco

• Germany REALLY wants Morocco- tries to convince them to go against france and be independed

• Germany and France are beefing

• no war, but each side prepared

The Arms Race

• Increased communications/ transport

• improved weapons of war

• larger armies

• dreadnought, self loading machine guns

War Plans

• Germanys Schlieffen Plan- attack France through Belgium

• France’s Plan 17- attack Germany to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine

Alliances

Dual Alliance- Germany and AH

Tripple Alliance- Germany AH, Italy

Dual Entente- France and Russia

Anglo- French Entente- Britain and France

Anglo- Russian Entente- Britain and Russia

Triple Entente- Britain, France, Russia

Short term causes of WW1

• Balkan Unrest

• Bosnian Crisis

• Balkan wars

• assassination of Franz Ferdinand

Balkan Unrest

• strategically important to AH and Russia

Bosnian Crisis

• AH and Russia debates over Bosnia ultimately resulted in the annexation of Bosnia by AH

• Russia has access to black sea

• Serbs are not happy as they wanted Bosnia for themselves

Balkan Wars

• a unit of Balkan people against Ottoman Empire

• Serbia grows

• AH is threatened

• AH supports serbs by supports the creation of independent Albania

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

• ethnic diversity in AH

• he was archduke, heir to thrown

• big ideas for AH- creation of more federal system like USA

• Serbia doesnt want Serbs to be happy in AH

The Black Hand

• use violence to push AH and gain independence for the Creation of Greater Serbia- all Serbs together

• initial bombing attempt failed

• Gavrilo Princip murdered the archdule and his wife shot them

July Crisis

• AH demands Serbia to allow investigation

• AH demands were unmet

• AH goes to Germany (Dual Alliance)

• Germany offers Blank Check- “you do you AH, we got you”

• AH gives Serbia ultimatum

• Serbia says no

• Russia mobilizes to support Serbia

• Germany declared Russia and France with Schefflin Plan

• Germany invaded Belgium on their way to France

• Britain declared war on Germany

Main Events of WW1

• the western front

The Western Front

• The Schliefen Plan

• slowed in Belgium (couldn’t stick to strict time schedule)

• Ultimate Failure

• trenches

• Stalemate

Battle of the Marne

• The French Plan 17 also failed

• French counterattacked at the German flank at the Marne River

• stopped german advanced

• started trenches

Battle of Verdun and the Somme River

• so much death

• becamesymbols of the horrors of trench warfare, representing the immense casualties suffered on both sides during World War I.

German Spring Offensive

• Germanys last hope

• failed attempt to break through allied lines

Eastern Front

• more moblie

• huge loses for Russia at tennenberg and mausarian lakes

Ottoman Empire during the war

• joined Central powers during World War I, contributing to the conflict in the Middle Eastern theater and facing significant territorial losses after the war.

Russian Revolution

• helped Russia out of the war

• happened at the same time as Spring German Offensive

• a series of events in 1917 that led to the overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the rise of the Bolsheviks, resulting in Russia's withdrawal from World War I.

the Middle east

• British desires ro keep Suez canal open and acquire territory in Mesopotamia

• multiple promises

• Arab revolt- fighting against ottoman forces

Italian front

• joined allies

• fought AH along the border

• so many deaths

outside of europe

• colonial troops fought in all fronts of war

• allies seized germans colonies in Africa and pacific

• japan moved against german holdings in east Asia

end of war

• enthusiasm was gone

• russian revolution removed eastern front

• us entered war

• german defeat was inevitable

why it ended the way it ended

• Central power advantages

  • geographic connection of allies

  • more developed industry and tech

  • superior army; U- boats

• allied advantages

  • greater material resources

  • access to supplies

  • manpower

why did Germany lose

• Shlieffen Plan failed

• Allied access to colonies and ovverseas resources

• British blockade- germans couldn’t get goods overseas

• German allies were less useful

• addition of the US at critical point

economic consequences

• financial costs

• allies financed by US

• destroyed lands, farms, industries

• decline in agriculture and industry

• rise of US as international, economic, and insudtrial power

political consequences

• Britain and France stable

• increased role of central governments

• loss of empire

  • revolution in Germany, abdication of the Kaiser

  • Russian Revolutions

  • collapse of AH

  • collapse of OE

social consequences

• huge loss of life

• declining birthrates

• rise in status of women

• changes in social structures

• widespread trauma and PTSD

• displacement of populations

• impact on family structures and traditional roles

The Paris Peace Conferene

• place for all treaties after war

• The big four

  • David Lloyd George- Britain

  • georges Celeneau- France

  • Woodrow wilson- US

  • Vittorio Orlando - Italy

• 3 major treaties- Treaty of versailles (germany), st. germain (austria), trianon (hingary), sevra (OE)

aims of participants of ppc

• France- wanted to be the powerhouse in europe and push heavy reparations

• Britain- fewer reparations

• US- based on wilsons 14 points, fewer reparations, sees germany as future trade partner

• Common aims- end german militarism, restore stability to eruope, redraw the map of europe

• create new world order so this doesnt happen again

Treaty of Versailles

T- treaty of versailles

R- reparations to france and Belgium

A- army (demilitarized Rhineland, 100,000 men in army, navy is surendered, no submarines, no airforce)

W- war guilt- Blamed for war
L- loss of territory

League of Nations

An intergovernmental organization established after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries, aimed at preventing future conflicts.

• USA did not join

• Central powers and USSR excluded

• no armed forces

St. Germain and Trainon

breaks up AH and created Czechoslovakia and Studentenland.

Sevres

OE gave territories to Britain, France, Greece, and Italy