WWI

The World at War (1914-1918)

Costs of WWI

  • Human Costs

    • Approximately 13 million soldiers died.

    • Roughly 13 million civilians died.

    • 20 million soldiers were wounded, with 3 million taken as prisoners of war.

    • Caused about 5 million war widows and 10 million war refugees.

    • Equivalent to twice the deaths from all major wars between 1790 and 1913 combined.

  • Financial Costs

    • Total cost estimated at $300 billion in 1919 (equivalent to about $5 trillion today).

    • If allocated, could have provided:

      • Furnished homes for every family in England, France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, U.S., and Canada.

      • Established a public library and university for every community of 200,000 in the aforementioned countries.

      • Funded the schooling of 125,000 teachers and nurses indefinitely.

      • Purchased every piece of property in France and Belgium at fair market prices.

Causes of the War

1. Imperialism

  • Natural tensions arose as countries sought territories for colonial expansion, particularly with new imperial players like Germany, Italy, and the U.S.

2. Economic & Imperial Rivalries

  • The competition for overseas territories contributed to conflicts among great powers, with a map illustrating relationships between Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, and neutral states.

3. The Alliance System

  • Triple Entente: Comprised of France, Britain, and Russia.

  • Triple Alliance: Consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

4. Militarism & Arms Race

  • Significant increases in defense spending were observed across major powers:

    • France: 10% increase.

    • Britain: 13% increase.

    • Russia: 39% increase.

    • Germany: 73% increase.

  • New weapon technologies demonstrated in earlier conflicts, raising fears and expectations of war.

5. Aggressive Nationalism/Racism

  • Nationalism intensified current political tensions.

6. Historical Conflicts

  • Examples:

    • Franco-Prussian War: Resulted in Germany taking Alsace-Lorraine.

    • Crimean War: Prevented Russian access to the Black Sea.

7. Industrial Revolution Frustrations

  • Led to social unrest, spawning ideologies like communism and anarchism.

The Spark that Ignited the War

The Assassination

  • The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip of The Black Hand on June 28, 1914.

Buildup to War

  • Various crises leading up to the assassination:

    • Morrocan Crisis (1905) - Tensions rise as Germany opposes French expansion.

    • Balkan Crises - Rise of nationalism and regional conflicts, including Austro-Hungarian territorial ambitions.

The Path to War

  • Austria-Hungary lays down an ultimatum to Serbia post-assassination, while Russia mobilizes to support Serbia, leading to declarations of war starting July 28, 1914.

Major Players (1914-1917)

  • Allied Powers: Nicholas II [Russia], George V [Britain], Poincaré [France].

  • Central Powers: Franz Joseph [Austria-Hungary], Wilhelm II [Germany].

The Major Battles

1. The Battle of the Marne (1914)

  • Stalling of the German advance, resulting in trench warfare along the Western Front.

2. The Battle of Verdun (1916)

  • A focal point of the conflict, aimed at bleeding France dry, ended with massive casualties but no territorial gains.

3. The Battle of the Somme (1916)

  • Launched by Britain to relieve pressure from Verdun, resulted in 1 million casualties.

4. The Gallipoli Campaign (1915)

  • A failed attempt to gain control over the Dardanelles by British forces.

Trench Warfare

  • Characterized by long, fortified ditches, leading to stalemates and horrific living conditions for soldiers.

Key Aspects:

  • No Man's Land: The treacherous area between opposing trenches, often resulting in high casualty rates during attempts to cross.

America Joins the Allies

Key Events Leading to U.S. Involvement:

  • The sinking of the Lusitania (May 7, 1915), resulting in American casualties.

  • The Zimmerman Telegram (February 1917) incites public outrage as Germany seeks an alliance with Mexico against the U.S.

July 1917

  • After repeated provocations and loss of life, President Wilson asks Congress to declare war on April 2, 1917, emphasizing the need to make the world safe for democracy.

The End of the War

Allied Diplomacy & Treaty of Versailles

  • The end of WWI sees massive shifts in territorial boundaries and the establishment of new nations due to the collapse of empires like the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian.

  • The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) imposes reparations on Germany and establishes the League of Nations, though the U.S. Senate fails to ratify it.

Conclusion

  • WWI's staggering human and financial costs had lasting impacts on future international relations and conflicts.