Download World History notes 3-19-13 Intro to WW I

World History
Johnson
Aº
3/19-20/13
HS
Page 1
Ellaine Chou, Max Tripolsky
 Map activity -- of Europe before World War I. Label the following and color in or outline.
For small nations, make a key.
 Great Britain – included England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
 France
 Belgium
 Netherlands (Holland)
 Germany
 Switzerland
 Italy
 Austro-Hungarian Empire (Austria-Hungary)
 Serbia
 Russia: includes Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
 Ottoman Empire

Turkey; lands east and south (Syria, Palestine, Iraq); Cyprus; and a small portion west
of the Bosporus.

This empire has shrunk in recent decades; used to cover most of southeast Europe and
Greece. It lost control of northern Africa to France, Britain, and Italy.
 City of Sarajevo; place a dotted line between Belgrade and the coast to outline Bosnia.
This is where World War I started: one time, one place, and one gunshot (actually two;
the first one missed).
 During 1914-1918, nations of the world were divided among:
 Those fighting during the entire four-year period
 Those that came into the war after 1914 or were associated with either side before the war
began
 Those that were neutral
 Europe in 1914 [lecture – this material is not in textbook] – groundwork for WW I. A destructive war with over 20 million deaths, half of which were civilians.
 Peak of European civilization

Anything considered “civilized” was European

Europe set the standard for society, innovations, etc.

Europe was most technologically advanced area of the world

Europe was the wealthiest part of the world

Examples of European dominance
o Steel (Germany) – great growth in last half of 19th century
World History
Johnson
Aº
3/19-20/13
HS
Page 2
Ellaine Chou, Max Tripolsky
o Coal (Britain) - great growth in last half of 19th century
o Railroads (France) – major expansion in last half of 19th century
o Medicine
o Food production
o Housing
o Standard of living was highest in the world.
o Life expectancy increased dramatically
o 25% of world’s population lived in Europe in 1914; also another 25% lived in areas controlled by European nations
o All this made Europeans feel superior to everyone else.
 Tensions – stress accompanied all this success. Britain, France, Germany competed for
control as the most “superior” of all European nations.

Imperialism – build great national pride but also gave them something else to worry
about – grabbing colonies before other nations do. There was some paranoia among
these nations.
o Morocco crisis, 1905, between France and Germany; issue was free trade there,
since Morocco was near the entrance to the Mediterranean. A conference was
convened to supposedly reduce tensions but it avoided war.
o Nearly every European home had a world map to show colonies and their ownership -- show off to visiting guests – bragging rights.

Militarism
o To accompany economic growth, develop armed forces to protect the investment
o Glorification of armed strength and ideals of war. Military becomes part of the
national culture and is fashionable. Examples: uniforms and fancy accessories.
Schools become places for grooming children for military service.
o Take latest technology and apply it to military: electric gun turrets, chemical
weapons, etc.
o Leads to arms race – adds to tensions along with colonies and most profits – it’s
prestige. Create something bigger than other nations, so eventually they can be
taken over.
o Britain still had the most powerful navy – to help in control its numerous colonies
all over the world. Area of its colonies plus other controlled lands = 140% of
Britain’s land area.
 Two- power rule for navy: one nation’s navy = larger that the next two naval
powers
 But Germany had some sailing tradition; Kaiser Wilhelm admired sailors and
he wanted to have a navy equal to Britain’s.
World History
Johnson
Aº
3/19-20/13
HS
Page 3
Ellaine Chou, Max Tripolsky
 Remember: Kaiser Wilhelm, Czar Nicholas II, and George V were all first
cousins; they played war together as children. Now, they’re playing war for
real.
o As a response to German naval buildup, Britain decides to supersize: they
launched the HMS Dreadnought, the most advanced battleship to date: ten 12inch guns, electrically-powered; heavily armored – all steel; steam-powered by oil
(not coal); fast – 21 knots (about 24 miles/hour); about 527 ft long, 82 ft wide.
Was built in 366 days! Much faster than previous construction. It was so innovative that it defined a new class of naval ship: “Dreadnought class”.
o After hearing about the Dreadnought, Germans wanted one too.
o Speed of military mobilization was also an important factor. The Russian Army
was about 6 million and readily available. Germans expanded their army, too.

Nationalism
o People supported militarism because of nationalism; their military power was a
great source of pride. They loved their army/navy.
o A boy’s desire was to be a Prussian/British officer, especially cavalry. Part of the
national fabric and culture.
o Nationalism was fostered by teaching hate of other nations in schools – how evil
others are along with glorification of one’s own rulers.
o Nationalism also flourished in southeast Europe, formerly under Ottoman Empire.
This nationalism helped drive Ottomans out, so they wanted to maintain their
sense of identity, but this time the Austrians were in control. There were many
nationalities within the Austrian Empire. No one other than Austrians were tolerated (except Hungarians).
o Same situation with Russian Empire, who controlled many nationalities. But
Russians could better suppress those nations that could Austria.
o Britain control Ireland, which had its own nationalistic tendencies.
 European politics and diplomacy – the alliance system

Otto von Bismarck in 1879 noted that Germany was located between Russian and
France; so was Austria. To defend themselves, they formed the Triple Alliance -- Italy came later. Those nations were in central Europe, surrounded by potentially hostile powers.

Terms
o Germany and Austria would aid Italians if they were attacked by France
o But Italians were not obligated not fight if Germany and Austria were attacked by
Russia. Italy had no long-term dispute with Russia and had no common border.

1887 Re-insurance Treaty
o Germany and Russia made a separate treaty not to attack one another.
World History
Johnson
Aº
3/19-20/13
HS
Page 4
Ellaine Chou, Max Tripolsky

1890 Kaiser Wilhelm II fires Otto von Bismarck
o Bismarck doesn’t tell Wilhelm that Re-insurance Treaty is due for renewal. This
leads to a Franco-Russian alliance.
o When Britain joins this alliance, and the name is changed to Triple Entente:
France, Russia, and Great Britain.
 The Balkan crisis - Balkan nationalism vs crowned head of Europe

Many Balkan nations have ties to the Russian Empire.

In the Balkans, Germany supports Austria, but Russia supports the nationalities.
Trouble is brewing!

The terrain in the Balkans is mountainous, rocky, in which live many isolated nationalities and which allowed hatred to fester over the centuries.

Wars in that area have always been fought. By early 1900s Serbia had emerged as a
leader. Problem: Austrians were in political control but had no idea of the politics of
the Balkans.

Serbia wanted to annex Bosnia, but Austrians grab it first.

June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo in Bosnia.
o There was a Serbian nationalistic organization supported by Serbian Army – the
Black Hand. It wanted to assert control over the area.
o Archduke Franz Ferdinand will visit Sarajevo to inspect Austria’s new possession. Why that day? That was the anniversary in 1389 when the Turks defeated
the Serbs in Kosovo. Was Franz insensitive or just ignorant?
o Black Hand’s assassins are in Sarajevo; they spread out along route that Archduke
would take. Armed with pistol and bomb.
 Assassin #1 stopped by police
 Assassin #2 tosses bomb but misses
 In response, Archduke’s car speeds by Assassin #3, 4, 5 to his first destination, City Hall.
 Archduke decides to visit hospital; driver takes the wrong route down a narrow street and can’t turn around.
 With car stuck, assassin #6 emerges from a sandwich shop and shoots the
Archduke and his wife at point-blank range.
o Austrians want to know what happened. The next month is spent investigating.
By July, Austria issues an ultimatum: cooperate in the investigation and give up
the members of the Black Hand; otherwise, Austria will declare war on Serbia.
Also, anti-Austrian activity must cease and Austria will take over territory and
fire all Serbian government officials that Austrians didn’t approve of.
World History
Johnson
Aº
3/19-20/13
HS
Page 5
Ellaine Chou, Max Tripolsky
o Austria has unlimited support from Germany – “the Blank Check”; and Serbia has
a powerful ally in Russia.
o Serbians refuses to give in.

July 28, 1914 – Austria declares war on Serbia

Other alliances/ententes then fall into place

Russia mobilizes army and move to Austrian border

Germany: this is an act of war. Puts out its own ultimatum: Russians must stop and
tells France to stay out.

German Schlieffen Plan to take care of France and Russian in six weeks. France is
the weaker of the two. The bulk of German army is stationed along Belgian border to
conquer France. Then, send troops by rail to Russia.

Exchange of telegrams between Wilhelm and Nicholas II trying to defuse the situation. Neither backs down.

Aug 1, 1914, Germany declares war on Russia and on Aug 3, on France

Germans already mobilized and poised on Belgian border

But Belgium had a treaty with Great Britain to assure Belgium’s neutrality. Germans
had “invaded” Belgium, thinking that Britain would not honor treaty. Britain did
honor treaty and Aug 4, Britain declares war on Germany

Aug 6, Austria declares war on Russia.

Italy declares neutrality and declares Triple Alliance null and void. Italy later becomes an ally of Britain and France by 1915.