World War I Notes

Ultimatum

  • Given by Austro-Hungarian Empire to Serbia, blaming them for Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination.
  • It's a final demand before consequences.
  • Austria-Hungary was emboldened by its alliance with Germany.
  • Serbia was backed by Russia, a large but less industrialized country.

Map of Europe

  • Post-World War I, the map was redrawn, setting the stage for World War II due to the harsh Treaty of Versailles.
  • Austria and Germany had close ties but were barred from alliance by the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Hitler, an Austrian, favored Germany and fought for them in World War I, even being temporarily blinded by poison gas.
  • He used the pretext of protecting Nazis in Austria to invade, similar to Putin's actions in Ukraine.

Causes of World War I

  • Acronym: M.A.I.N.
    • Militarism: Development and glorification of armies and weapons.
    • Alliances: Countries forming alliances for protection, but it dragged them into war.
    • Imperialism: Tension over colonies in Africa and Japan's desire for colonies in China.
    • Nationalism: National pride, particularly Serbian nationalism in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Western Front

  • Area between France and Germany.
  • Germany planned to attack France first via Belgium, aiming to quickly capture Paris before focusing on Russia.
  • New weaponry led to a stalemate; no significant gains.
  • Key phrase: stalemate, meaning no one is winning.

Technological Advancements

  • Machine guns and devastating artillery.
  • Poisonous gases: chlorine, phosgene, mustard gas caused lung damage.
  • Trenches: Elaborate networks with sleeping quarters, but unpleasant conditions.
    • No Man's Land: Area between trenches, filled with barbed wire, land mines, and sharpshooters.
    • Going Over the Top: Expression for jumping out of the trench, often leading to death.

Airplane Technology

  • Used for scouting enemy positions.
  • Dogfights: Airplane battles, expression originated in World War I.
  • The Red Baron: Famous German pilot.

Tanks and Submarines

  • Tanks: Used to cross no man's land.
  • U-Boats: German submarines (Unterseeboot), played a role in the U.S. joining the war.

US Entry

  • Favored British and French due to their democratic governments.
  • Propaganda: Used to sway public opinion.
  • Unrestricted submarine warfare: Germany's policy of sinking ships, including those with American passengers (e.g., Lusitania).
  • Zimmerman Telegram: Germany proposed alliance with Mexico, offering to return Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California if they attacked the U.S.

Russia and Treaty of Versailles

  • Germany kicked France's butt in the Franco Prussian War, and France had to give up territory called AlsaceAlsace and LorraineLorraine.
  • New countries created after the Treaty of Versailles: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia.

Ceasefire

  • 11/11/1918: Armistice at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
  • Treaty of Versailles: Discussions among Great Britain, France, and the U.S. Germany excluded.