AP Euro Chapter 25 Reading Guide

1. Devastation of WWI

• Unprecedented destruction due to new weapons, trench warfare, and massive casualties.

2. Causes of WWI (MANIA)

• Militarism: Arms race, large standing armies, war plans.

• Alliances: Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy) vs. Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia).

• Nationalism: German unification, Austro-Hungarian ethnic tensions, Balkan independence movements.

• Imperialism: Competition for colonies, economic rivalries, territorial disputes.

• Assassination: Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination sparked war.

3. Internal Dissent and WWI

• Social unrest, labor strikes, nationalist movements destabilized Europe.

4. Balkan Crisis Before WWI

• Serbia sought expansion, Austria-Hungary opposed, Russia backed Serbia, Ottoman Empire weakened.

5. “Blank Check” & Ultimatum

• Germany gave Austria-Hungary unconditional support, Austria sent harsh demands to Serbia, Serbia refused key points.

6. Mobilization & Germany’s Response

• Russia mobilized against Austria-Hungary, Germany declared war on Russia and France.

7. Schlieffen Plan

• Germany’s strategy to avoid a two-front war by attacking France first via Belgium.

8. Early War Enthusiasm

• People expected a quick, glorious war; underestimated modern warfare’s brutality.

9. Schlieffen Plan Failure

• Belgium resistance, British involvement, Russian mobilization disrupted Germany’s timeline.

10. Battle of the Marne (1914)

• Stopped German advance into France, led to trench warfare.

11. Eastern vs. Western Front

• Eastern Front: More mobile, larger territory. Western Front: Stalemate, trench warfare.

12. Hindenburg & Ludendorff

• German military leaders, won key victories on the Eastern Front.

13. Italy at War’s Start

• Initially neutral, joined Allies in 1915 for territorial promises.

14. Russia’s Early War

• Poorly equipped, suffered major defeats against Germany.

15. Western Front (1916-17)

• Horrific trench conditions, high casualties, little territorial gain.

16. Battle of Verdun (1916)

• Longest battle, heavy losses, symbol of French resilience.

17. Battle of the Somme (1916)

• Massive British-led offensive, high casualties, minimal gains.

18. Life in the Trenches

• Disease, mud, constant shelling, low morale.

19. Ottoman Empire & Gallipoli

• Joined Central Powers, Gallipoli Campaign aimed to knock them out but failed.

20. Lawrence of Arabia & Middle East

• Led Arab revolts against Ottoman rule, Allies promised independence.

21. Africa in WWI

• Colonial troops fought for European powers, battles in Africa.

22. Japan’s Role

• Joined Allies, took German Pacific territories.

23. US & Britain’s Naval Blockade

• US stayed neutral at first, Britain’s blockade hurt Germany’s economy.

24. Lusitania & U-Boats

• German subs sank Lusitania (1915), angered US, led to war in 1917.

25. WWI Warfare Innovations

• Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, planes changed combat.

26. Total War Impacts

• Government: Increased control, propaganda.

• Economy: Rationing, war production.

• Public Order: Censorship, political unrest.

• Social Changes: Women in workforce, class tensions.

27. Homefront Morale Shift

• From patriotic enthusiasm to exhaustion, disillusionment.

28. Economic Effects of WWI

• Europe in debt, uneven destruction, US economy strengthened.

29. Causes of Russian Revolution

• War failures, economic crisis, poor leadership, peasant unrest.

30. March Revolution (1917)

• Soviets formed, Tsar abdicated, Provisional Government established.

31. Bolsheviks vs. Mensheviks

• Bolsheviks: Radical, led by Lenin, immediate revolution.

• Mensheviks: Moderate, gradual socialism.

32. Vladimir Lenin

• Led Bolsheviks, adapted Marxism for a vanguard-led revolution.

33. April Theses & Duma

• Lenin called for Soviet power; Duma was Russia’s weak parliament.

34. October Revolution (1917)

• Bolsheviks overthrew Provisional Government, seized Winter Palace.

35. Early Bolshevik Reforms

• Land redistribution, worker control, peace negotiations.

36. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918)

• Russia exited WWI, lost territory to Germany.

37. Russian Civil War (1918-21)

• Reds (Bolsheviks) vs. Whites (anti-Bolsheviks), Lenin’s side won.

38. Fate of the Romanovs

• Executed by Bolsheviks in 1918.

39. Why the Whites Lost

• Disorganized, lacked unity, foreign support ineffective.

40. War Communism

• State control of economy, led to famine, unrest.

41. Cheka & Red Terror

• Secret police, executed enemies of the revolution.

42. Second Battle of the Marne (1918)

• Germany’s last offensive, Allies counterattacked, war turned.

43. Wilhelm II & November 11th

• Kaiser abdicated, armistice signed on 11/11/1918.

44. WWI Casualties

• Millions dead, wounded, entire generation affected.

45. German Revolutions (1918-19)

• Workers’ uprisings, establishment of Weimar Republic.

46. German vs. Russian Revolutions

• Russia had full revolution, Germany transitioned to democracy.

47. Austria-Hungary’s Fate

• Empire dissolved, split into several nations.

48. Big 4 Peace Differences

• US wanted peace, France/Britain wanted punishment, Italy wanted land.

49. Self-Determination & Wilson’s 14 Points

• Ethnic groups should govern themselves, influenced peace talks.

50. Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• War guilt: Germany blamed.

• Reparations: Huge German payments.

• Territorial losses: Germany lost land.

• League of Nations: US didn’t join.

• Irony: Treaty fueled future conflict.