German Unification + WW1

(GU) Who and where was Prussia defeated?

Prussia was defeated by Napoleon at the battle of Jena and Auerstedt.

(GU) Kaiser William III runs to _________ and meets with ___________.

Runs to Poland; Meets with Tsar Alexander I.

(GU) What does Kaiser William ask for?

Protection

(GU) What does Napoleon negotiate when he comes?

The future of the German States and Prussia.

(GU) What is the deal they make?

All German states are ruled by France EXCEPT for Prussia. Prussia has to pay 120 million Francs and French army stays in Prussia until they pay. Prussia pays, French army leaves, Prussia starts to rebuild a new army

(GU) Why does King William want to rebuild Prussian army?

To establish Germany as a major power again.

(GU) What job was Scharnhorst given?

The job of reforming Prussian army.

(GU) How does Scharnhorst do this?

Looks towards French army for ideas. Connects Prussian people to the army and institutes a draft. Starts a officer training school where exams must be passed to become an officer.

(GU) What did the officer training schools end?

The "Junker" era of officers. "Junker" being the Prussian Aristocracy which Scharnhorst ended where officer roles were passed down to unqualified relatives.

(GU) Who was Clausewitz?

Teacher in officer training school. Wrote that war is "continuation of politics by different means."

(GU) Who was Von Moltke and what did he do?

Studied under Clausewitz. Rose through ranks to lead Prussian army. Created war games and contingency plans; Encirclement tactics. Worked with industries to make up to date weapons and got Prussian army control of railroads during war.

(GU) Who was Otto Von Bismarck to King William the 5th?

Chancellor

(GU) What is Bismarck going to do?

Use the Prussian army to unify Germany (Austria and France won't let Prussia unify Germany without a war. Bismarck has to defeat both of them.)

(GU) How does Bismarck defeat Austria?

Tells Austria to join Prussia in a war to take Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark. Claims that they will share the territory after the war. Austria agrees, they defeat Denmark, and Bismarck goes back on the deal and won't share the territory. Austria declare war on Prussia.

(GU) Seven Weeks War

Bavaria, Saxony, and Hanover join Austria. Prussia wins, sign treaty of Prague. Gave Prussia control of Northern German States.

(GU) What is Bismarck's plan with the Spain monarchy?

Wants Prince Leopold Hohenzollern (King William the 5th's cousin) to take Spain's throne

(GU) What does Napoleon III do in response to Bismarck's plan?

Sends Ambassador Benedetti to Ems to meet with William the 5th and wants him to withdraw Leopold's name from consideration.

(GU) What happens when Ambassador Benedetti is on his way to Ems?

Leopold withdraws his own name from consideration. Benedetti meets with King William and asks to never put a Prussian prince under rule of Spain. King declines.

(GU) What happens when King William the 5th sends a telegram to Bismarck?

Bismarck rewrites telegram and releases it to the public to make it look like France was insulted. France declares war on Prussia leading to the FrancoPrussian war..

(GU) FrancoPrussian War 1870/71

Decided at the battle of Sedan where a French army was surrounded and forced to surrender (100,000 soldiers and Emperor Napoleon III).

(GU) Treaty of Frankfurt

France gives up Alsace-Lorrain. Pay Germany 5 billion Francs and soldiers stay in France until they pay. Prussia gained control of southern German states and now had northern and southern.

(GU) January, 1871

King William 5th of Prussia is announced Kaiser William I of Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles

(WW1) What does Bismarck want to prevent?

Another European war

(WW1) How does Bismarck plan to prevent another war?

Wants to isolate France so France has no allies. Makes the Triple Alliance between Germany, Italy, and Austria. Germany then signs a reassurance treaty with Russia.

(WW1) How does Kaiser William II ruin everything?

Fires Bismarck and builds a navy that rivals Britain's. Cancels reassurance treaty with Russia. This all causes Russia and Great Britain to ally with France making peace impossible

(WW1) What was the French war plan?

Charge into Alsace-Lorrain with bright blue uniforms and red pants and long bayonets and "Elan".

(WW1) What was the significance of the bright red pants?

Very visible out in nature causing the French to have very little camouflage.

(WW1) What was Elan?

The belief in a large fighting spirit and high morality to win battle.

(WW1) What was the German war plan called?

Schlieffen Plan. Defeat France first then attack Russia.

(WW1) What was the Schlieffen Plan?

Let France invade Alsace-Lorrain, move the bulk of the German army through Belgium and into France, surround the French and defeat them. Then move onto Russia.

(WW1) What was Serbia's goal?

To create a Slavic Nation, Yugoslavia, by taking Bosnia from Austria.

(WW1) How does Serbia plan to do this?

Assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand (next emperor of Austria).

(WW1) What was the name of the Serbian terrorist group sponsored by the government? Where did they go to assassinate him? Who ends up shooting the Archduke?

The Black Hand; Goes to Sarajavo; 19 year old Gavrilo Princip shoots Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie.

(WW1) Who will back Austria up if they go to war?

Germany and Kaiser William II will back them up.

(WW1) Order of events

1. Austria declares war on Serbia
2. Russia declares war on Austria
3. Germany declares war on Russia
4. Britian declares war on Austria and Germany

(WW1) Sides of the War

Allies: France, Britain, Russia, Italy
Central Power: Germany, Austria

(WW1) Why did Italy leave its alliance with Austria?

Austria controlled ethically Italian parts that Italy wanted.

(WW1) What happens at the start of the war?

-France charges into Alsace-Lorrain and gets pushed back by Germans
-German army moves through Belgium and into France
-Forces French and British troops to retreat while threatening Paris

(WW1) How does the French Army counterattack at the battle of the Marne?

Created a gap between the German army and was able to push them back.

(WW1) What do both sides do?

Dig trenches and the line doesn't move for four years; STALEMATE.

(WW1) What happens in the East?

Russia invades Germany, gets pushed back, dig trenches, is a STALEMATE.