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Total War:
World War I
1914-1918
Run up to War
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By 1907, most countries had their alliances
set.
There were internal issues
These were secret alliances – Not
in all of these European
everyone knew who was on each side. countries.
There were two major “sides”.
-Fear of foreign invasion
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The Triple Entente
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The Central Powers
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Britain, France, Russia (and their allies)
The “haves”
Germany, Austria, Italy (and their allies)
The “have nots”
- Problems with social
classes
- Women wanting the vote
- Control of colonies
The “haves” had a chance to expand, had a
chance to spread their empires throughout
Europe, and share their influence.
The “have nots” are more recently unified,
and have not yet had a chance to share
their power, or to expand.
One spark
would set it
all off.
The Have Nots: Run up to War
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Germany (have not) believed that Russia had taken
land that rightfully belonged to Germany.
Germany allied with Italy (also recently unified, and
with similar goals), and with Austria (similar cultural
background).
Germany is waiting for a reason to attack Russia, and
to get that land.
HOWEVER
- If Germany invades Russia,
Britain will move in to stop
Germany.
- Britain doesn’t like any
European powers getting too big.
- This leads to an arms race. No
one wants to attack anyone just
yet, but they all want the biggest
and best technology.
The Spark
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Throughout the 1900s, the Ottoman Empire had
been collapsing.
It was retreating out of Europe and back towards
the Middle East.
This leaves a
power vacuum
in the
Balkans.
Austria sees its
opportunity. The
newly formed
countries in the
Balkans are not
strong yet.
1908: Austria
annexes Bosnia.
The Spark
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Serbia saw Austria take over
Bosnia.
Serbia becomes worried that
Austria is going to sweep
through the Balkans and take
over everything.
In response to this fear, a
terrorist organization begins
gaining support.
The Black Hand emerges. Their goal: to maintain
Serbian independence at all costs.
Austria realizes that not everyone is happy about their
control of land in the Balkans.
June 28, 1914: Austria sends the heir to the Austrian
throne on a goodwill mission to Bosnia.
The Spark
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The Black Hand recruits 6 assassins.
None of these assassins know about any of the others. The
Black Hand doesn’t want a risk of one of them being
captured and turning in the others.
All assassins were given the job: Kill Archduke Franz
Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand is the heir to the Austrian throne – on a
goodwill mission to Bosnia.
The hope is that, by killing Franz Ferdinand, Austria will
realize that they should not be
6 Assassins
in the Balkans, and should
-#1-4 lost their nerve, and did
leave Bosnia and Serbia alone.
not try to kill Franz Ferdinand.
All six assassins planned to kill
- #5 threw a small bomb. It
Franz Ferdinand while he was
missed Franz Ferdinand, but
on a motorcade – driving a set
injured one of his bodyguards.
route through Sarajevo, the
- #6 decided to get a
Bosnian capital.
sandwich.
The Spark
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The 6th Assassin was a young college student: Gavrilo
Princip. He got nervous, and decided to get a sandwich.
Meanwhile, Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie,
stopped and had lunch at town hall.
After lunch, they
were supposed to
continue on their
route, but Franz
Ferdinand wanted
to go to the
hospital first.
He wanted to stop
and visit the
bodyguard that
had been injured
by the bomb.
No one informed the driver,
so when they continued on
the route, Franz asked him
to turn around.
-> They ended up stopping in
traffic, reversing, going down
an alternate route and
stopping in front of a cafe…
-> …where Princip was eating
his sandwich.
-> Princip stood up, grabbed
his gun, and shot Franz
Ferdinand and Sophie. They
both died.
 This was the spark that
started WWI.
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The Spark
The Spark
Gavrilo Princip had assassinated Franz Ferdinand. He was
immediately arrested.
 But the damage had
been done.
 Austria quickly found
that the assassination
was the work of the
Black Hand.
 They looked to Serbia.
 However, they knew
not all Serbians were
terrorists.
-> Serbia apologized, and
said that they would try to compensate Austria for their loss.
Serbia asked Austria what they could do to make it up to
them.
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The Balkans Blank Check
Germany saw all of this happening, and when Austria wasn’t
sure what to ask for from Serbia, Germany had a
suggestion: demand Serbia itself.
 Germany said that Austria should tell Serbia that, unless
they gave all of their land to Austria, and unless they gave
up their independence, Austria would declare war.
 Austria thought this was crazy.
They did not want to declare war.
They wanted peaceful relations.
-> However, Germany said that,
it came down to war, Germany
would ally with Austria, and back
it up to defeat Serbia.
-> This is called the Balkans
Blank Check.
 Serbia was small, with a small
army, not really a threat.
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Germany’s Plan
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Germany was banking on a few things:
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Austria will demand Serbia’s land and independence.
Serbia will say no way.
Austria will declare war, knowing that Germany will back it up.
Serbia will ask Russia for help.
Russia and Serbia have similar ethnic groups, and Russia is
likely to defend someone in its area asking for help. Russia is
also still embarrassed from its loss to Japan, and wanted to
prove that it could protect its European allies.
Russia will declare war on Austria.
Germany (Austria’s ally) will declare war on Russia.
-> This is all an elaborate plan to get Russian land.
 Germany wants an excuse to declare war on Russia so that
it can invade, and take over Russian territory.
 Everything went according to Germany’s plan.
Germany’s Plan
-> Germany was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm
II.
-> Wilhelm II fired Otto von Bismarck –
leading to significant instability in
Germany.
 Bismarck had finally gained a fragile
balance between Germany (unified) and
the other European powers.
-> Wilhelm II was not ready to stop
expanding. He fired Bismarck and
decided that Germany deserved Russian
land, and deserved to expand larger and
larger.
 By working with Austria, Wilhelm had
his chance to declare war on Russia.
Start of War
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Everything happened according to Germany’s plan
at first.
Serbia did not give up its independence.
Austria declared war on Serbia.
Serbia asked Russia for help.
Russia saw a chance to redeem itself for its loss
to Japan (Russo-Japanese War).
Austria declares war on Russia.
Germany (Austria’s ally) declares war on Russia.
The Balkans Blank Check meant that Germany
would back Austria up no matter what.
Start of War
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Start of War
-> August 2, 1914: Germany
decides to expand westward as
well.
-> Germany declares war on
neutral Belgium.
 Belgium had not been interested
in war, and had been neutral
(not choosing a side) for a very
long time.
-> Belgium neutrality had been
guaranteed by Britain and
France, during a secret alliance.
 When Germany declares war on
Belgium, France and Britain have
to intervene.
 August 4, 1914: Britain and
France declare war on Germany.
World War 1 has officially begun.
Why War?
-> Most people in Europe, and in European colonies, were
excited about the war.
 There had been so many internal issues, that the pressure
was unbearable.
 War gave people something to do, gave them a team to
cheer for.
-> However, no one realized:
-> How long the war was
going to be. It lasted
5 years.
-> How many countries
would get involved.
-> How many people
would die.
-> People thought the war
would be over by
Christmas – that it
would be an easy
victory for their side.
Why War?
However – the sides were very evenly
matched when it came to technology,
and the war lasted much longer than
anyone thought.
 Still, people were excited about the war
– they wanted to support their country.
 This is Nationalism on the rise.
Everyone believed that their country was
right, and that they had a good reason
to be fighting.
->Parents would bring their teenaged sons
down to the recruiting offices. They
would lie about their kids’ ages, and
send 15 and 16 year olds to the front.
-> These kids were excited – everyone
who was anyone was joining in to defend their country and
protect what they believed was right.
 Again, everyone thought it would be a quick war – over in
months, with few casualties. No one knew it would last for
years.
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Germany’s Plan
-> Von Schlieffen Plan: Germany’s plan to win.
-> Germany realized that, because it had declared war on
Russia, it was going to have to fight a war on two fronts.
-> Front 1: Eastern Front
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Germany vs. Russia
Germany wants a chance for Russian land, and has used the Balkans
Blank Check as a chance to declare war.
-> Front 2: Western Front
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Because of all of the secret alliances, Germany realized that declaring
war on Russia would mean declaring war on its allies – France and
Britain.
Germany wanted to attack France before it had a chance to attack
Germany.
So Germany invaded Belgium (neutral) on the way to France.
The goal was to invade France, take it over, and make sure that
Britain had no safe place to land in Europe.
After taking care of the Western front, Germany planned to
finish taking land from Russia.
Von Schlieffen Plan
-> The Von Schlieffen Plan: Germany would
march through Belgium, and take France. This
would remove France from the war, and would
leave Britain with nowhere to land their troops.
 The Kaiser thought it would take about 6 weeks
for Russia to mobilize its troops. If Germany could
take Paris before those 6 weeks were up,
Germany could avoid fighting on two fronts, and
just focus on Russia.
->They were close – it did take Russia 6 weeks to
get its army organized, however, Germany was not
able to conquer Paris.
 This left a war on two fronts – exactly what
Germany wanted to avoid.
Von Schlieffen Plan
-> Germany attacked France on two fronts – North and South.
-> The Northern Army would come around Paris and surround
it, attacking from the West (where they would not be
expecting to be attacked).
-> The Southern Army would take the rest of France.
 The Northern Army got within 12 miles of Paris, but could
move no further.
-> The German army was
out of supplies - they
couldn’t afford to push
forward.
-> Instead, they dug in:
digging trenches to
protect themselves
from the other army.
-> The French army did
the same, about 30
yards away.
-> This became the Western Front.
Battle of the Marne
When Germany moved through France, at first it looked like
they were going to win, and take Paris.
 However, they suffered one major defeat, which stopped the
advance.
-> This is the Battle of the Marne. (Also known as the Miracle
of the Marne).
-> Date: September 5-12 1914
 Germany advanced on France, and went to take Paris,
planning to attack from the opposite side.
 French troops advanced, but the German armies enveloped
the troops and continued towards Paris.
-> However, there was one minor flaw. One German regiment
(the First Army) turned quickly to move on Paris. This left a
significant gap (30 miles wide) between the armies.
-> Allied scouts, in fighter planes, noticed the gap.
-> French and British troops were able to rush in and break the
Germany army apart.
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Battle of the Marne
-> The Allies saw their chance to break up the German armies.
French troops mobilized instantly.
-> The French army mobilized so quickly that there were not
enough trucks to transport them all to the front. Instead,
6,000 troops hopped into 600 taxis and the taxis drove them
to the Marne.
 These taxis, and their
drivers became a
symbol for French
nationalism and French
patriotism.
-> By September 9, it
looked like Germany
was going to lose. French
troops had surrounded
the German army, and
they could not go any
further.
Battle of the Marne
-> This retreat was the end of the Von Schlieffen plan – it had
failed. The German armies had not taken Paris.
 They ended up retreating almost 40 miles. The German army
outpaced the Allies, and dug in: forming trenches that they
would hold for the next four years.
-> One of the German Generals wrote a letter to Kaiser Wilhelm
II, saying: “Your Majesty, we have lost the war.”
 The Allied troops (French
and British) dug in about
30 yards
away.
-> These trenches moved no
more than 30 yards over
the course of the next four
years.
-> This led to a stalemate –
there was fighting, but
virtually no more major
battles for years.
Trench Warfare
-> The Western Front ended up being two long trenches – one
filled with Germans and their allies (Central Powers) one filled
with French and their allies (Allies).
 Trench Warfare was slightly different down the line. Some
trenches were very narrow, some wider, and “nicer”.
 Daily life was dirty and boring. Most soldiers didn’t dare attack
the enemy until nightfall.
 Rise in technology made
the trenches deadly.
 Snipers picked off people
who looked over the edge
of the trench.
 Explosive shells could
collapse whole trenches –
leaving the enemy
exposed or buried alive.
Trench Warfare
Other daily problems included rats – which could grow to the
size of a cat – flooding, lice, disease, and poor hygiene.
-> While in the trenches, you did not spend the whole time on
the ‘front line’. People were rotated to different parts of the
trenches.
 This rotation helped with some
of the boredom, and also
meant that those on the
front line got some rest.
 An example: You might spend
70 days in the front line, 30
days in nearby support
trenches, 120 in reserve
(further away, but still
entrenched).
 If you got any leave at all, it
was maximum, 2 weeks.
->Most got no leave. Many stayed
on the front for 4 years.
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The Christmas Peace
-> At the beginning of the war, everyone had said “it will be
over by Christmas”.
 However, on December 25th, 1914, people were still in the
trenches.
 They were depressed, and homesick.
 On the German side, someone
started singing.
 On the other side, the Allies joined
in. The sides took turns sharing
carols with each other.
 Both sides were lacking in supplies,
and so both helped each other.
 The British gave sandbags to the
Germans, so that they could
reinforce their trenches. The
Germans shared barbed wire
with the British/French.
The Christmas Peace
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“[The Germans] finished their carol and we thought
that we ought to retaliate in some way, so we sang
‘The first Noël’, and when we finished that they all
began clapping; and then they struck up another
favourite of theirs, ‘O Tannenbaum’. And so it went
on. First the Germans would sing one of their carols
and then we would sing one of ours, until when we
started up ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ the Germans
immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the
Latin words ‘Adeste Fidéles’. And I thought, well, this
was really a most extraordinary thing – two nations
both singing the same carol in the middle of a war”
A British Soldier’s account of the Christmas Peace,
from: The Great War: And the Shaping of the 20th
Century (New York: Penguin Books, 1996)
The Christmas Peace
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Both sides had also been given “bonuses” by their respective
government. The British had been given “Princess Mary
Boxes”, which included
cookies and other
sweets. The Germans
received tobacco and
cigars from the Kaiser.
Both sides shared the
wealth, bringing gifts
one another to show
that, just for the
holiday season, they
were not going to be
aggressive.
At one place in the
front, a British soldier
had a soccer ball. He
broke it out, and the
two sides formed two
soccer teams.
The Christmas Peace
During the Christmas Peace (aka Christmas Truce), both sides
agreed on rules to follow for the rest of the war.
1. No shooting anyone using the latrines.
2. Cease fires after skirmishes, so that the dead can be buried.
3. Aiming high.
 The third point is
especially important. It was hard
to aim to kill
someone that you
knew.
 Both sides still had
to fire on the
other, but they
agreed to aim
high, to avoid
fatalities.
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The Christmas Peace
The Christmas Peace
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In some areas, the Christmas Peace only lasted until the day
after Christmas (Boxing Day). In other areas (reserve
trenches), the peace lasted through March.
The Generals didn’t like this – there needed to be some sort
of progress, even if it was gaining 30 yards.
Some threatened to shoot their own troops if they didn’t go
up and over the trench wall and try to take the enemy trench.
However, what was ultimately done was to rotate the troops.
Now, with the troops rotated, both sides now see the other
side as “the enemy”, instead of “that guy I played soccer
with”.
In all areas, the war started to resume – artillery barges were
fired, shells were dropped, people were sniped.
However, almost everywhere along the Front, people followed
the Christmas Peace rules.
Technology
Technology was advancing as the war progressed. Each side
though that their new weapons would make a difference and
win the war.
 Germans began using zeppelins to bomb major allied cities.
 This represents the first time that civilian cities had been
attacked during war.
-> Both sides began using airplanes for warfare as well.
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This was new technology, and very dangerous.
At first, pilots would fire pistols at one another, or try to throw
grenades.
However, soon, pilots mounted machine guns on their planes.
The first machine guns on airplanes didn’t quite work, and the
British pilot crashed behind enemy lines.
When German and Austrian engineers found the plane, they
perfected the technology – timing the machine gun to fire
through the moving propeller.
Technology
Also invented by the
Germans was the
flamethrower.
 British invented the
armored tank.
-> It was Germans,
however, who first
started using poison
gas.
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Prior to WWI, there had been a meeting called the Hague
Convention – which stated what types of warfare were
considered inhumane.
Poison gas was in direct violation of the Hague Convention,
but the Germans were desperate.
Second Battle of Ypres
-> The German army first used chlorine gas during the Second
battle of Ypres.
 The First Battle of Ypres was when Germany took over
Belgium. Ypres is a major town in Belgium, and having
control of it was a huge advantage.
 In Spring of 1915, the Second
Battle of Ypres began.
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Central Powers:
 Germany
Allies/Triple Entente:
 Britain
 Canada
 British India
 France/French Africa
Second Battle of Ypres
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In September 1914, Canada had joined the war – joining the
Allied powers, and providing
needed reinforcements.
The Second Battle of Ypres
(April, 1915) was the first
time Canadian troops
had fought in Europe.
The battlefield was quiet when
the Canadians arrived. They
were immediately moved to
the very front lines.
To the left of the Canadians
were Moroccan and Algerian
troops, from French colonies
in Africa.
To the right of the Canadians
were British troops.
Second Battle of Ypres
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One morning, the Germans set canisters of chlorine gas in
front of their own trenches, allowing the wind to blow the gas
toward the enemy troops.
“…From the German trenches in front of the French line rose that
strange green cloud of death. The light north-easterly breeze
wafted it toward them, and in a moment death had them by the
throat. One cannot blame them that they broke and fled. In the
gathering dark of that awful night they fought with the terror,
running blindly in the gas-cloud, and dropping … and the slow
poison of suffocation mantling their dark faces. Hundreds of them
fell and died; others lay helpless, froth upon their agonized lips
and their racked bodies powerfully sick, with tearing nausea at
short intervals. They too would die later – a slow and lingering
death of agony unspeakable. The whole air was tainted with the
acrid smell of chlorine that caught at the back of men's throats
and filled their mouths with its metallic taste…”
Second Battle of Ypres
The gas rolled right toward the Moroccan and Algerian troops.
They fell back, receiving the full brunt of the gas attack.
-> Chlorine gas was extremely effective when it came to these
kind of attacks.
-> It is heavier than air, but will be pushed by wind, so it tends to
sink, especially into trenches, and into other divots where the
enemy troops might be taking cover.
 The Moroccan and Algerian troops were forced to abandon their
trench, and retreat, or else be poisoned by the gas.
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Poison Gas During WWI
Chlorine Gas - Greenish yellow gas, that has a chemical reaction with water.
Causes vomiting, burning in eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, watering of the eyes.
In severe cases, causes loss of consciousness, suffocation, and death.
Phosgene - Colorless, odorless, gas. Highly poisonous. Replaces oxygen in
the cells, which causes unconsciousness and death.
Mustard Gas – A yellow gas with a mustard smell. Causes blistering and sores
on any exposed tissue. The most used gas during the war.
Second Battle of Ypres
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With the French African (Moroccan, Algerian) troops
incapacitated, the Canadians had to fill in the gap.
The Canadian soldiers manages to move in, and prevent the
Germans from advancing.
Canadians also were ordered to take Kitchener’s Wood (a
tactical vantage point that had been taken over by the
Germans).
By April 23rd, the Canadians had taken the Wood, held the
line, and prevented the Germans from advancing.
This was hugely successful for the Allies.
Though they gained very little ground, it was a moral victory.
This was also the first time that a “colonial” power (the
Canadians) proved that they could hold their own in a
European battle.
Second Battle of Ypres
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With the French African (Moroccan, Algerian) troops
incapacitated, the Canadians had to fill in the gap.
The Canadian soldiers manages to move in, and prevent the
Germans from advancing.
Canadians also were ordered to take Kitchener’s Wood (a
tactical vantage point that had been taken over by the
Germans).
By April 23rd, the Canadians had taken the Wood, held the
line, and prevented the Germans from advancing.
This was hugely successful for the Allies.
Though they gained very little ground, it was a moral victory.
This was also the first time that a “colonial” power (the
Canadians) proved that they could hold their own in a
European battle.
From this point on, the other Allied troops were thrilled when
they heard they were getting Canadian support.
Battle of the Somme
-> The Battle of the Somme was the bloodiest battle in WWI…
 It is also one of the bloodiest battles in history.
-> It began on July 1, 1916, and lasted for five months.
-> It was an Allied offensive – the goal was to really push forward,
and force German troops out of France, once and for all.
 By the end of the five
month battle, the
British and their allies
gained six miles of
land. They took no
strategic positions.
They won no towns.
They failed in every
objective.
-> They also lost half a
million people.
Battle of the Somme
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The sides:
-For a week before the battle began, the Allied
 Central Powers
forces bombed the German trench, hoping to
cause enough damage that they could move
 Germany
across the no mans land.
 Allies
- British soldiers also tunneled under the German
 Britain
trench, and planted bombs.
 France
- When they set off the bombs, however, the
 Australia
Germans were not hurt, and just occupied the
new crater.
 New Zealand
 Canada
 South Africa
By this point in the war,
it is really becoming a
global conflict.
This is caused by
alliances, and
wanting to support
former colonizers.
Battle of the Somme
-> The Allied troops advanced across No Man’s Land, and were
decimated.
-> Their initial artillery barge had done nothing. The German
troops were fully functional, and used machine guns and shells
to mow down any person in No Man’s Land.
 This made it impossible to gain any ground, to send
reinforcements into the
field, or to send
reconnaissance –
everyone who set foot
in the field was
attacked.
-> In the first day alone,
the Allies lost 60,000
men.
Battle of the Somme
-> There was virtually no gain during the 5 month battle.
 The British/French and Allied troops continued to advance,
and were shot down again and again.
-> The British side also had a strange mix of technology. The
Battle of the Somme was the debut of the tank, but the British
also had cavalry ready to go.
 At the end of the battle,
the British gained
virtually nothing.
-> It turned out that the
Central Powers side
had an advantage all
along – they could see
the whole battlefield,
the whole no mans
land.
Battle of the Somme
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Gains: The Allies gained 6 miles of land.
Losses:
 British: 420,000 dead (60,000 on the first day)
 French: 200,000 dead
[On the barbed wire], hundreds
 German: 500,000 dead
of dead were strung out like
wreckage washed up to a high
water-mark. Quite as many died
on the enemy wire as on the
ground, like fish caught in the
net. They hung there in grotesque
postures. Some looked as if they
were praying; they had died on
their knees and the wire had
prevented their fall. Machine gun
fire had done its terrible work.
The Eastern Front
While the Western Front was in stalemate – with hundreds of
thousands of troops entrenched along the line, the war raged
on the Eastern Front.
-> The Eastern Front was where Germany was attempting to
push into Russia.
-> Unlike the Western Front, at first there seemed to be
progress on the Eastern Front.
 In 1914, Germany
planned to push into
Russian territory and
to claim land.
 This was Germany’s
original goal - the
Eastern Front was
the one that they
actually wanted to
fight.

The Eastern Front
While Germany was occupied at the Battle of the Marne (in
France), Russian troops were mobilizing.
-> The Russian army began an offensive – pushing into Austria
and German territory, to keep them from attacking.
-> This (in tandem with the French/British troops’ success at the
Marne) forced Germany to fight a war on two fronts.
 Russian forces invaded German controlled Poland.
-> However, at the Battle of Tannenberg (August 1914), the
Russian troops were stopped short.
-> Over the next few years, Russia tried to push into German
territory, and to mount an offensive.
 However, Russia was unable to move the German line.
-> By mid 1915, Russian troops had been pushed back into their
own territory, and Germany was starting to take Russian land.
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Problems in Russia
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Russia was under a huge amount of internal stress.
Russia was divided into a very large lower class, and a small
elite upper class.
It was the upper class (Tzar Nicholas II and the Commanderin-Chief of the army – the Tzar’s cousin, Grand Duke
Nicholas) who controlled the country’s government.
Though people like Tzar Nicholas and Grand Duke Nicholas
ran the army, it was the large lower class that made up the
bulk of the troops.
These peasants were poor and ill-equipped. There was a
huge gap in the population – economically and socially.
Do these conditions remind you of anything we have
learned about already?
What events had similar triggers?
What do you think will happen in Russia?
The
Russian
Revolution
February Revolution
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Russia underwent two revolutions – one in February and one
in October.
February, 1917: Tzar Nicholas II leaves Petrograd (now St.
Petersburg) to visit troops on the front line.
People in Russia were unhappy.
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They were poor, and hungry
Russia seemed to be losing the war against Germany – Russia was
losing land.
People begin protesting and going on strike, trying to start social
change, and get the Tzar to realize that something was wrong with the
country.
February 26: Palace guards fire on unarmed people protesting
around the palace.
February 27: 80,000 troops mutiny and go on strike. They
feel that they are fighting a pointless war.
February Revolution
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Tzar Nicholas II returns to find the country in rebellion.
Workers, peasants, even soldiers are rebelling against what
they believe is an unfair government and a pointless war.
A temporary government is set up.
Tzar Nicholas II
Most people did not hate the
Tzar. They thought that he was
receiving bad information from
his advisers. Their protest at
the palace was to try to tell the
Tzar that they supported him,
but not his government.
The Romanovs
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Nicholas II was the last Tzar of Russia.
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Tzar can also be spelled “Tsar”, “Czar”, and “Csar”, as well as many
others. It is translated from the Cyrillic alphabet.
Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra, were facing stresses at
home. Specifically the health of their only son.
Alexy, the Tzarvitch (heir to the
throne) had hemophilia.
This mean that Alexy was
constantly sick, and was in danger
of serious illness from even the
smallest injury.
Alexandra hired someone who she
thought was a holy man, who she
thought could heal Alexy.
This “holy man” was Rasputin.
The Romanovs
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Nicholas was an Absolute Monarch – he was very distant from
the average citizen of Russia.
Most people loved Nicholas, but hated Rasputin (along with
Nicholas’ other advisers), and thought that they were bad
influences.
By March 2,
1917,
Nicholas
abdicates
the throne.
February Revolution Cont.
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Though communism seemed like a good idea to many
Bolsheviks (including later political leader, Joseph Stalin),
people were worried.
The Bolsheviks feared that the Russian people would not
accept a pure communism.
Instead, they set up a provisional – or temporary government, under
a President.
Alexander Kerensky
became President
of Russia.
Kerensky said that he
would get Russia out
of the war.
America Joins the War
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In May, 1915, a ship was sunk off the coast of Great Britain.
The RMS Lusitania was a British ship, but was a passenger liner – it
carried 128 American passengers too.
When the ship was sunk, many people wanted America to join the
war, however, Woodrow Wilson wanted to avoid war at all costs.
Wilson did persuade the Germans to stop unrestricted
submarine warfare, at least for a while.
This lasted until Wilson’s
re-election in 1917. At this
point, the Germans said
that they could not afford
not to attack any ships in
British waters.
Unrestricted submarine
warfare continued.
America Joins the War
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January 1917: An American cruise ship company runs an ad
for cross-Atlantic travel. The German embassy runs an ad on
the opposite page, which said, “If you take this ship, you
might be sunk!”
Wilson though that Germany,
by using their submarines, was
restricting American trade, and
interfering with their ability to
trade with Europe.
Wilson is starting to think
that war might be a better
idea.
America Joins the War
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The Zimmerman Telegram
The second reason why America joined the war had to do
with the Zimmerman Telegram.
This was (suposadly) a telegram from Robert Zimmerman –
the German Foreign Minister – to Mexico.
The telegram said that, if Mexico
declared war on America, then
Germany would support it.
It also promised a return of
former Mexican land – such as
California, Arizona, and New
Mexico.
Most modern historians now
think that the Zimmerman
telegram might be a hoax.
America Joins the War
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At this point, enough was
enough.
April 6, 1917: America officially
joins WWI – siding with the
allies.
Russia – October Revolution
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Though Alexander Kerensky (now President of Russia)
had promised an end to the war, instead he launched a
new offensive against Germany.
This made the Russian people angry – they had decided
he could lead the country on the promise that the
fighting would stop.
In April, 1917, Lenin returned from his exile, finding a
country in turmoil. He immediately received support from
the Bolsheviks, former soldiers, and the average person.
Even political leader Joseph Stalin supported Lenin.
Vladimir Lenin
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Vladimir Lenin was a Russian
political leader.
He was the head of a group
called the Bolsheviks. The
Bolsheviks supported
communism.
Lenin was forced into exile,
and had to leave the country.
However, Lenin saw that people
were unhappy with the war.
Throughout the war, he had
been publishing communist
propaganda – pamphlets and
articles that were smuggled
into Russia.
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Vladimir Lenin
Lenin returned to Russia – smuggled in on a German train.
The train was sealed: Germans didn’t want Lenin getting out
halfway through the trip and spreading communism to Germany,
instead of Russia.
The German army loved the idea of sending Lenin to Russia.
They figured that if Russia underwent
a revolution, then it would no longer
be strong enough to fight in the
Eastern Front.
Lenin successfully landed in Russia,
and with the help of his Bolshevik
supporters, overthrew the
government.
Nicholas II and his family were put
under house arrest.
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End of Romanovs
For the past few months, Nicholas II and his family (wife, four
daughters, and one son), were placed under house arrest.
The house they stayed in was called, “The House of Special
Purpose.”
After staying there for several months, one day, Bolshevik soldiers
told the Romanovs to go to the house’s basement.
The Romanovs went to the basement,
where they were gunned down.
Lenin and the Bolsheviks did not want
any competition in the government.
Though popular culture says that
one Romanov daughter (Anastasia)
may have survived, this is not true.
Imposters made money pretending
to be Anastasia, though, using
knowledge of the Romanov family
to con remaining family members.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
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Lenin immediately wanted to end the war.
He contacted the German leaders, and said that Russia no longer
wanted to fight in the war.
They signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
This said that Russia would give a large parcel of land to the
Germans, and in return, they would have peace.
This was the end of the Eastern Front.
Now, Germany had what it
wanted in the first place –
a large piece of Russian
land.
Germany now wanted to
end the war in the
Western front as well.
Meanwhile, Lenin was searching
through the Winter Palace – he found
several secret treaties that Nicholas II
had made with other countries, all
talking about secret alliances, and who
would join what side.
Lenin immediately published the
treaties. Now everyone knew the real
reasons why they went to war: land
disputes.
America’s Reaction
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Wilson saw the published treaties – including decisions as to
what country would get what land when the war was over.
One treaty especially bothered him – it said that if Italy
switched sides, it would get a chunk of Austrian territory.
Wilson did not appreciate the fact that he had not been told
about these treaties.
America had just joined the war. Now, though, they saw that
the war had no good reason to be fought – it was about small
bits of territory, and secret alliances.
Wilson though that America had been lied to by France and
Britain.
In response, Wilson wrote his 14 Points.
Wilson’s 14 Points
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Wilson came up with 14 Points.
These points outlined what Wilson though would be key to
keeping a democratic peace.
When Lenin published the secret treaties that Nicholas II had
made, Wilson was shocked.
He was bothered by all of the secret alliances.
Wilson thought that these alliances led to the war escalating
so quickly.
In his 14 Points, Wilson
wanted to ensure that,
from this point on,
everyone would be
aware of alliances and
treaties signed between
countries.
Wilson’s 14 Points
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Wilson first presented his 14 Points during a speech to
Congress. In plain English, they are…
1. No more secret agreements or alliances.
2. Free navigation of all seas.
3. An end to all economic barriers between countries.
4. All countries shall reduce the amount of weapons they own.
5. All decisions regarding colonies should be impartial.
6. The German army is to be removed from Russia. Russia is to be left alone
to develop its own government.
7. Belgium is independent again.
8. France is fully liberated – no German troops.
9. All Italians are allowed to live in Italy. Italy is recognized as a country.
10. Self-determination shall be allowed for people living in Austria-Hungary.
11. Self-determination is guaranteed for people of the Balkans.
12. Turkey should be governed by Turks.
13. An independent Poland shall be created, with access to the sea.
14. A League of Nations shall be set up to guaranteed the political
and territorial independence of all states.
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Wilson’s 14 Points
Perhaps the most important of Wilson’s Points are the ones
that suggest fixing the problems that caused the war in the
first place.
Wilson wanted an end to secret alliances – he figured that if
everyone knew what was on the table, then people would be
less likely to go to war.
Wilson also wanted self-determination – groups to be able
to form independent countries based on their ethnic group,
language etc. It protects smaller countries from being invaded
by larger, more powerful ones.
Poland is created as an independent country for the first time.
 This eliminates the whole reason why Germany went to
war in the first place. Neither Russia nor Germany gets the
debated land – it is made into its own country.
A League of Nations is established – this is the first time
that there has been any international group to discuss
international problems. It is the pre-cursor to the modern
United Nations.
Wilson’s 14 Points
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2.
3.
4.
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There were 4 main issues in Wilson’s 14 Points:
Arms Control: After the war, there will be no more arms
races, and countries will reduce the amount of weapons
they have.
Open Diplomacy: After the war, every country will know
what the others are doing. No more secret treaties.
End of Empires/Self-Determination: No more empires
or empire-building. Everyone who wants their independence
should be given it.
League of Nations: A League of Nations will be created to
deal with international problems before a war happens.
The other leaders in Europe – France, Britain, etc. all liked
Wilson’s points.
Ultimately, the points formed the basis of the eventual
peace treaty between the Central Powers and the Allies.
End of the Western Front
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Once Germany realized that America was joining the war, things
changed.
The Germans were exhausted, and they were sick of fighting.
Thanks to Lenin, they had gotten land from Russia, which was
the original goal of going to war.
They wanted to end the war on the Western Front before the
American reinforcements
had time to make a
difference.
By the Fall of 1918,
Germany asked for an
armistice (a pause on the
war).
Fighting officially stopped at
11:00 AM, November 11,
1918.
Paris Peace Conference
There were four main players at the Paris Peace Conference:
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USA: Woodrow Wilson
Britain: David Lloyd George
France: George Clemenceau
Italy: Vittorio Orlando (dropped out halfway through the conference,
not a part of final proceedings).
There were different points of view as to how peace should be
reached.
Wilson wanted the countries
to use his 14 Points – to focus
on open diplomacy, selfdetermination, and the
creation of a League of
Nations.
Not everyone agreed with
Wilson. Many wanted revenge.
Paris Peace Conference
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Clemenceau (France) said that they would not use the 14 Points.
Instead, they thought that Germany should be punished for
“starting the war”.
The resulting peace treaty was very biased – in favor of the Allies
and not fair toward the Central Powers.
This lead to the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles: Major Points
- Set up a few new countries, but did not embrace self-determination.
The Allies wanted to make sure that any countries created would be big
enough to stand up to Germany.
- Poland is created. Germany no longer even gets the land it wanted in the
first place.
- The Rhineland is demilitarized (former Western Front). France wanted a
buffer between French territory and Germany.
- France takes back land from Germany.
- Austria is made much smaller, and turned into many separate countries. It
is extremely weakened.
- The War Guilt Clause
War Guilt Clause
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In order for peace to be official, Britain and France insisted
that Germany sign the War Guilt Clause of the Treaty of
Versailles.
The War Guilt Clause essentially says this:
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Germany, and Germany alone, is responsible for WWI.
The German representative was reluctant to sign it – many
countries had been involved in the war, and escalated it.
However, Britain and France threatened to invade Germany,
and eventually the clause was signed.
The War Guilt Clause also said that Germany had to pay
for the war, literally. France and Britain said that, to pay for
loss of lives, land, and material, Germany had to pay $33
billion dollars.
It also said Germany couldn’t have a large army, or an air
force, and had to destroy most of its weapons.
War Guilt Clause
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Wilson though the War Guilt Clause was too much – he said
that, if Germany was forced to sign it, it would cause so
much bitterness that there would be another World War
within 20 years.
Britain and France responded by saying that, after owing so
much money, and after losing their military (much smaller
army, no air force, fewer weapons), Germany wouldn’t be a
threat.
Money Issues:
Not only was Germany expected to pay $33 billion to France and Britain,
France and Britain owed $32 billion to the United States.
The US had supplied France and Britain with supplies, and with cash, to help
the war effort.
Britain and France were relying on the war reparations from Germany to pay
back America.
Peace
An agreement of peace was reached in June of 1919.
The results:
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Britain and France agree to found a League of Nations.
Even though it was Wilson’s idea, congress doesn’t agree, and
America does not join the League.
America moves into a period of Isolationism – focusing on rebuilding the American economy, and leaving Europe to Europe.
The German economy is devastated – they did not win the land they
wanted, and now owe $33 billion in war debt.
Troops are removed from France. The former Western Front
(Rhineland) is left as a buffer zone.
Russia is led by Vladimir Lenin, and has become a Communist state.
Communism beings to become popular in other countries –
specifically in former British and French colonies in Asia.
Assignment: Do Now
How do you think these results may have led to later world conflicts?
Is there anything here that could be the seeds for another world war?
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Use the rest of the period to your advantage.
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1. Work on completing make up work. Miss Begin has a list
of missing assignments.
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2. Use the Review Packet, your notes, or the course textbook
to study for the midterm.
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Remember: the midterm is from the WHOLE COURSE so
far.
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You need to know: Age of Enlightenment, Absolutism,
French Revolution, The Terror, Napoleon/Napoleonic Wars,
Industrial Revolution, Nationalism, Imperialism, and WWI.
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The Midterm will be 100 multiple choice questions (50
points total), 5 short answer questions (5 points each), and
1 essay – 3-5 paragraphs, your choice of 3 topics (25
points total).
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3. Come up with any questions, areas of confusion, or issues
that you have with the material. Next class is a review period
– it will be your chance to ask these questions!