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WWII History
Chapter 1
Notes
The 3-isms Leading to WWI
1. Militarism
2. Nationalism
3. Imperialism
Militarism
Defined: The glorification of armed strength
Common across the European continent in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Also seen in American History during this same
time period-Teddy Roosevelt’s “Great White
Fleet”
Militarism
Some examples of militarism from the turn of
the 19th into the 20th centuries…..
1. The build-up of armies across Europe.
2. The creation of alliances.
3. The new weaponry of the time period.
Militarism
These two alliances dominated affairs in Europe
prior to the outbreak of WWI
1. Triple Entente-Great Britain, France, and
Russia
2. Triple Alliance-Germany, Austria-Hungary,
and Italy (Bismarck/France)
Nationalism
Nationalism was particularly strong in northern, central,
and eastern Europe by the turn of the 19th century into
the 20th century.
1. Pan-Germanic Movement-A movement to unite all
German-speaking peoples under one flag.
2. Pan-Slavic Movement-Unite all Slavs of central and
eastern Europe under one flag.
*Both movements were destined to come into conflict in
both Austria-Hungary and the Balkans as man Slavs
and people of German decent lived in both areas.
Imperialism
Imperialism is the quest for a colonial empire.
European nations, large and small, coveted land
held by their neighbors.
A-H wanted to annex lands in the Balkans,
Russia eyed German ports along the Baltic
Sea. (See map on page 7)
The 3-ism Combined
All 3-isms could be considered the “long range”
causes of WWI.
Tensions built between the Triple Alliance and the
Triple Entente over a long period of time.
(Franco-Prussian War of the 1860’s and 1870’s)
The immediate cause of the WWI is considered the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand (A-H)in Bosnia.
Review From 1/25
3-isms
Immediate Causes of the War
Examples of the 3-isms
Dominant Political and Military Alliances in
Europe Prior to the War
Otto Von Bismarck
Background
• Prussian Leader the unified all of Germany
into one nation (Map, p.7)
• Became the 1st German chancellor in 1871
• Built the “new” Germany into an economic
power
• Made enemies during the unification processmost notably France (Alsace-Lorraine)
Bismarck’s Triple Alliance
• OVB’s goal was to protect Germany from
France through an alliance system.
• Created the Triple Alliance and kept close
relations with Russia.
• Following the death of OVB, German leaders
neglected their relationship with Russia,
allowing France to open relations with Russia.
Triple Entente
• Russian/French relationship formed following
Bismarck’s death. (Russia needed $$$)
• Britain would establish separate agreements
with and France in 1904 and Russia in 1907.
• Britain would tighten it’s alliance with France
as leaders grew more fearful of Germany.
• The Triple Entente was diametrically opposed
to the Triple Alliance.
Effects of Both Alliances on the
People/Governments of Europe
• Germany would continue increasing the size of
it’s navy under Kaiser Wilhelm II.
• Germany would challenge the landholdings of
members of the Triple Entente in Africa
(Imperialism)
• In response, England and Russia began to discuss
a consolidation of their respective Navies.
• Armies were increased in size and strength, new
weapons developed, and battle plans were drawn
un in preparation for a war.
Nationalism/Imperialism
“Seeds of Conflict”
Austria-Hungary and Russia competed for influence in the Balkan
Region
Why:
Control of the region provided easier access to the sea for Russia
An independent Serbia had allied itself with Russia as both were made
up of Slavic people, despite the fact that many people of German
decent lived in this nation as well.
Nationalism/Imperialism
The “Serbian Menace”
Austria-Hungary’s view of the Serbian/Russian
Relationship
A-H attitude presented a threat to the Serbs
“Black Hand”-terrorist group that would assassinate
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to A-H throne in
June, 1914.
Nationalism/Imperialism
Germany pledges her allegiance to Austria-Hungary
following the assassination.
Armed with a blank check from Germany, AustriaHungary would issue an ultimatum to Serbia.
Serbia felt that parts of the ultimatum conflicted
with their independence and refused to comply
with all points.
World War I
The secret alliances (militarism) as well as the
nationalistic rivalries led to WWI.
WWI begins in July, 1914 with A-H declaring war
on Serbia
Germany’s (Wilhelm II) promise to come to the
aid of A-H gave them (A-H) a blank check to
take action vs. Serbia
World War I
Leaders on all sides believed the war would end
quickly.
Kaiser Wilhelm told German troops headed to
the western front that they will return,
“before the leaves have fallen from the trees”.
The Schlieffen Plan
World War I
Belgium did not fall as easily as Germany had hoped.
Gave France time to mobilize, giving leaders time to
transport 90,000 soldiers to it’s eastern border.
Germany pushes both British and French troops back to
Marne River
The First Battle of the Marne sent the message to both
alliances that war would be a long, brutal, struggle.
World War I
The Brutality of WWI
The First Battle of the Marne (9/5/14 through
9/12/14)
500,000 Killed/Wounded (x5 Rochester)
Comparison: Pop. Of Minneapolis (200)382,000
World War I
The Battle of the Somme
Lasted 4 Months (July-November, 1916)
British lost as many as 60,000 in one day.
Britain’s casualties in the battle-420,000
Russia in WWI
Russia was still very agrarian despite the rapid
industrialization of many European nations in
during the early 19th century.
Russian industry was inadequate in supplying
both the army and the civilian population with
their needs during the war.
Russia in WWI
Tsar Nicholas was an ineffective leader.
The war weary Russians would revolt against the
czar in March of 1917.
Demonstrations were staged against food
shortages and mass strikes spread across
Russia.
Russia in WWI
Czar Nicholas would be out of power within
three weeks from the time of the revolutions
start.
Lenin promised to secure a peace with
Germany-led to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Outraged the Allies on the western front as
Germany could concentrate on the war there.
Russia in WWI
Terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
1. Russia needed to give up the Baltics (p. 7)
2. Russia needed to give up it’s rights to Poland.
3. Russia needed to give up the Ukraine
America in WWI
Started the war as a neutral nation.
Neutrality presented it’s own challenges.
The Zimmerman Note, Lusitania, and
unrestricted submarine warfare would draw
America into the war
America in WWI
Woodrow Wilson
Promised in the 1916 election to “keep our boys off
European soil”
WWI would eventually be the war to end all wars.
WWI was fought to preserve democracy.
FDR would serve as Wilson’s Secretary of the Navy.
America in WWI
America is split on the issue of war………..
1. Progressivism
2. Immigrants-Not very far removed from relatives
that still lived in Europe
Example: Irish-Fighting with the Allies?
Slavs-Fighting with the Central
Powers?
3. Lack of military preparedness