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The Causes of WW1 •Militarism •Alliances •Imperialism •Nationalism Militarism • Germany was competing with the Great Britain to build battleships. • The British feared an attack on their Empire Militarism • Germany was competing with Russia and France to expand their armies 1880 1914 • Germany 1.3m 5.0m • France 0.73m 4.0m • Russia 0.40m 1.2m Alliances • By 1914 all the major powers were linked by a system of alliances. • The alliances made it more likely that a war would start because it made everyone suspicious of each other and paranoid. • Once started, the alliances made it more likely that war would spread. Imperialism • All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory, especially in Africa. • The British feared Germany in Africa. • The AustriaHungarian Empire feared Serbia & Russia in the Balkans Nationalism • This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and independence. • In Europe, Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of AustriaHungarian rule. Serbia’s national flag Significant Individuals Kaiser Wilhelm II • Built up German army and navy • Aggressive foreign policy • Determined to make Germany a top nation. • Distrusted by other powers “Germany must have its place in the sun, the world belongs to the strong.” Significant Individuals Count Berchtold • Austria-Hungarian Prime Minister. • Demanded a very tough ultimatum for Serbia after Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. “Were the Serbs to agree to all the demands, this would not be to my liking” Significant Individuals Bethmann Hollweg • German Prime Minister • Gave complete & strong support to Austria after Franz Ferdinand’s assassination. “The Austrian demands are moderate. Any interference by Britain, France and Russia would be followed by incalculable consequences” The Spark that set off World War One: • On June 28th, 1914 the Heir to the Austrian throne, Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo. • Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed by Austria. • It is a hotbed of Slav nationalism Seal of the Black Hand group The Spark that set off World War One: • “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke • Bomb attempt fails in morning • Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon. • Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists. The Spark that set off World War One: • Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a grave ultimatum. • Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the ultimatum. • Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia • Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down; Russia refuses. • Germany declares war on Russia! “Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …” Why did Britain get involved? • Britain had secret alliances with France and Russia. • Although they were only “friendly agreements”, the French and Russians were given the impression that Great Britain would fight if needed... result? – The Schlieffen Plan Sir Edward Grey British Foreign Secretary … “There’s some devilry going on in Berlin” The Schlieffen Plan • The Schlieffen Plan was Germany’s military plan to defeat France and Russia. • “Knock out blow” aimed at France first. • Avoid French defences by invasion of Belgium. • Germans never dreamed that Britain would not intervene. Britain’s Reaction • In 1838 Great Britain had signed a Treaty to protect Belgium. • Britain was also scared of Germany controlling Channel ports. • Great Britain did not want Germany to defeat France and dominate Europe. • Because if they did, then what? Would Britain be next? • Great Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium immediately. • Germany laughed and ignored the ultimatum. • One week after the war started, all the great powers of Europe had been drawn into it. • Germany and Austria-Hungary formed the Central Powers, while Russia, France, Serbia, and Great Britain were called the Allies. When AustriaHungary declared war on Serbia, the complex alliance system in Europe drew much of the continent into the conflict. The Summer of Six Million • Voluntary enlistment in the war was high in the beginning. • Crowds cheered men who believed that they were on their way to a great adventure. • All sides were confident that it would be a short war. • In August, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany sent the first waves of troops off with the promise that they would “be home before the leaves have fallen from the trees.” Stalemate • By September 1914, the war had reached a stalemate, a situation in which neither side is able to gain an advantage. • When French and British forces stopped a German advance near Paris, both sides holed up in trenches separated by an empty “no man’s land.” • Small gains in land resulted in huge numbers of human casualties. • Both sides continued to add new allies, hoping to gain an advantage. Life in the Trenches • Trench warfare was not new, it had been an occasional feature of many wars, most notably the American Civil War and the Russo-Japanese wars. • Never before, however, had an entire theatre of war been dominated by trenches. • The typical main line trench was slightly deeper than the average height of a man. • A fire-step was built into the forward wall so that soldiers could gain sufficient height to fire at the enemy. • Even the best trenches were nothing more or less than elaborate ditches. • They were filthy and poorly drained. • They bred misery, depression, and disease, including frostbite from constant exposure to freezing water, ice, or snow. • Trench foot, a condition resembling frostbite was caused by constant immersion in water – if untreated, it could result in gangrene, amputation, and even death. • Trench mouth, a sever bacterial infection of the throat and the mouth was also common. • Dysentery and typhus, both of which were extremely debilitating and often fatal, were common to the soldiers. • Soldiers shared the trenches with rats, fleas, garbage, human waste, and the remains of decaying corpses. • At night, supplies would be brought up through the access trench. • Food was generally canned and entirely tasteless. • Dawn brought the greatest danger of enemy attack, which might take the form of a trench raid, as enemy infantry swarmed over the trench. • For these occasions, soldiers depended on weapons of hand-to-hand combat: knives, billy clubs, brass knuckles, and even the medieval-style mace, a club bristling with spikes. No Man’s Land • No Man’s Land was the territory that divided the trenches of the two opposing armies. • This is where the phrase originated. • It was typically a space anywhere from 50 to 3,000 yards between the opposing trench lines. • Getting close enough to attack the enemy’s trench was not easy; no man’s land was littered with tangles of barbed wire, thickly strewn all over, and shell holes to prevent or slow down the advance of the enemy. Modern Warfare • Neither soldiers nor officers were prepared for the new, highly efficient killing machines used in World War I. • Machine guns, hand grenades, artillery shells, and poison gas killed thousands of soldiers who left their trenches to attack the enemy. • As morale fell, the lines between soldiers and civilians began to blur. • The armies began to burn fields, kill livestock, and poison wells. The American Response • Because many Americans were European immigrants or the children of European immigrants, many felt personally involved in the escalating war. • Although some had sympathies for the Central Powers, most Americans supported the Allies. • Support for the Allies was partially caused by Germany’s rule by an autocrat, a ruler with unlimited power. • In addition, anti-German propaganda, or information intended to sway public opinion, turned many Americans against the Central Powers. • To protect American investments overseas, President Wilson officially proclaimed the United States a neutral country on August 4, 1914. The Preparedness Movement • Americans with business ties to Great Britain wanted their country to be prepared to come to Britain’s aid if necessary. • In an effort to promote “preparedness,” the movement’s leaders persuaded the government to set up military training camps and increase funding for the armed forces. The Peace Movement • Other Americans, including women, former Populists, Midwest progressives, and social reformers, advocated peace. • Peace activists in Congress insisted on paying for preparedness by increasing taxes. • Although they had hoped that a tax increase would decrease support for preparedness, the movement remained strong. German Submarine Warfare • To break a stalemate at sea, Germany began to employ U-boats, short for Unterseeboot, the German word for submarine. • U-boats, traveling under water, could sink British supply ships with no warning. • When the British cut the transatlantic cable, which connected Germany and the United States, only news with a pro-Allied bias was able to reach America. German Submarine Warfare • American public opinion was therefore swayed against Germany’s U-boat tactics. The Sinking of the Lusitania • On May 7,1915, a German U-boat sank the British passenger liner Lusitania, which had been carrying both passengers and weapons for the Allies! • Since 128 American passengers had been on board, the sinking of the Lusitania brought the United States closer to involvement in the war. The Sussex Pledge • More Americans were killed when Germany sank the Sussex, a French passenger steamship, on March 24,1916. • In what came to be known as the Sussex pledge, the German government promised that U-boats would warn ships before attacking, a promise it had made and broken before. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare • On January 31, 1917, Germany announced its intent to end the Sussex pledge and return to unrestricted submarine warfare. • This action caused the United States to break off diplomatic relations with Germany. • Despite this announcement, the German navy did not attack any American ships in February, causing the United States to continue to hope for peace. The Zimmermann Note • During this time, Britain revealed an intercepted telegram to the government of Mexico from Germany’s foreign minister, Arthur Zimmermann. • In this telegram, known as the Zimmermann note, Germany offered to return American lands to Mexico if Mexico declared war on the United States. The Zimmermann Note • Neither Mexico nor President Wilson took the Zimmermann note seriously, but it brought America closer to entering the war. The War Resolution • When the Russian Revolution replaced Russia’s autocratic czar with a republican government in March 1917, the United States no longer needed to be concerned about allying itself with an autocratic nation. • This removed one more stumbling block to an American declaration of war. • As Germany continued to sink American ships in March, President Wilson’s patience for neutrality wore out. The Russians Leave • A second revolution in Russia made things much harder for the Allies. • A Communist government was ushered into Russia and it quickly made a separate peace with Germany. • The war in the east ended, and a million German troops were now available for combat in the west. • It was a new war. The Americans Arrive! • But, in their darkest hour, the Allies gained a whole new army! • On April 6, 1917, the President signed Congress’s war resolution, officially bringing the United States into the war. • The Allies were ecstatic to have the Americans on their side! Building an Army • Despite the preparedness movement, the United States lacked a large and available military force. • Congress therefore passed a Selective Service Act in May 1917, drafting many young men into the military. • Draftees, volunteers, and National Guardsmen made up what was called the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), led by General John J. Pershing. Photo courtesy of www.nwwone.org • Energetic American soldiers, nicknamed doughboys, helped replace the tired fighters of Europe. Training for War • New recruits were trained in the weapons and tactics of the war by American and British lecturers at new and expanded training camps around the country. • Ideally, the Military planned to give new soldiers several months of training. • However, the need to send forces to Europe right away sometimes cut training time short. The Convoy System • To transport troops across the Atlantic, the United States employed convoys, or groups of unarmed ships surrounded by armed naval vessels equipped to track and destroy submarines. • Due to the convoy system, German submarines did not sink a single ship carrying American troops. African American Soldiers in Europe • Many African Americans volunteered or were drafted for service. • However, these men served in segregated units and were often relegated to non-combat roles. Photo courtesy of www.americanphotoarchive.photoshelter.com Military Transportation • New methods of military transportation, including tanks, airplanes, and German zeppelins, or floating airships, influenced the manner in which the war was fought. • General Pershing’s troops, however, pushed back the Germans in a series of attacks. • Finally, the German army was driven to full retreat in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive begun on September 26, 1918. • In the face of Allied attacks and domestic revolutions, the Central Powers collapsed one by one. • Austria-Hungary splintered into smaller nations of ethnic groups, and German soldiers mutinied, feeling that defeat was inevitable. • When the Kaiser of Germany fled to Holland, a civilian representative of the new German republic signed an armistice, or cease-fire, in a French railroad car at 5:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918. • Although guns fell silent six hours later, many more deaths were to follow. • The influenza epidemic of 1918 killed more people, both in the United States and Europe, than all of the wartime battles. Results of the War Dead and The estimated death toll of World War I was 8 million Wounded soldiers and civilians, including tens of thousands of Americans. Many more had lost limbs or been blinded by poison gas. However, the efforts of the Red Cross and other agencies had helped save many lives. Loss of Young Men Many sensed that the war had destroyed an entire generation of young men and grieved for the loss of their talents and abilities. Genocide In an act of genocide, or organized killing of an entire people, the Ottoman Empire had murdered hundreds of thousands of Armenians suspected of disloyalty to the government. The Treaty of Versailles • In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson from the U.S. met to discuss how Germany was going to pay for the damage world war one had caused. The Treaty of Versailles • After prolonged discussion, agreement was eventually reached. • The Germans were summoned to Versailles to sign the treaty on the 28th day of June in 1919. • The final treaty bore little resemblance to Wilson's fourteen points: Wilson had devised a 14 point plan that he believed would bring stability to Europe: 1. Open Diplomacy - There should be no secret treaties between nations 2. Freedom of Navigation - Seas will be free in both peacetime and wartime 3. Free Trade - The barriers to trade between countries such as custom duties must be removed 4. Multilateral Disarmament - All countries must reduce their armed forces/military to the lowest possible levels 5. Colonies - People in European colonies should have a say in their own future 6. Russia - Russia should be allowed to operate whatever government it wants and that government should be accepted, supported and welcomed 7. Belgium - Belgium should be evacuated and restored to the situation before the war 8. France – France should have Alsace-Lorraine and any other lands that were taken away during the war, back and restored. 9. Italy - The Italian border should be readjusted according to nationality 10. National Self -Determination - The national groups in Europe should, whenever possible, be given their independence 11. Romania, Montenegro and Serbia - Should be evacuated and Serbia should have an outlet to the sea 12. Turkey - The people of Turkey should have a say in their future 13. Poland - Poland should become an independent state with an outlet to the sea 14. League of Nations - An assembly of all nations should be formed to protect world peace in the future. • Germany expected a treaty based on these fourteen points. • However, negotiations between the 'big four' Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of America did not go smoothly. • Wilson believed that his fourteen points was the only way to secure everlasting peace. • The French however, wanted the defeated nations to be punished severely and believed that Wilson's plan was way too lenient. • Privately, Lloyd George sided with Wilson. • Still, he was concerned about the threat from Communism. • Plus, the British people, like Clemenceau of France, wanted Germany punished severely. • Lloyd George knew that if he sided with Wilson he would lose the next election. Although Germany was not happy with the Treaty they had little choice but to sign it. This cartoon clearly shows the situation Germany was in: Terms of the Treaty of Versailles • There were a total of 440 clauses in the final treaty! • The first 26 clauses dealt with the establishment of the League of Nations. • The remaining 414 clauses spelled out Germany's punishment. General Clauses The establishment of the League of Nations War Guilt clause - Germany had to officially accept ALL blame for starting the war. Financial Clauses Reparations - Germany was to pay for ALL damage caused by the war. The figure of $6,600 million was set some time after the signing of the treaty. Military Clauses Army – Germany’s army was to be reduced to 100,000 men and no tanks were allowed Navy - Germany was only allowed 6 ships and no submarines Air force - Germany was not allowed an air force Rhineland - The Rhineland area was to be kept free of German military personnel and weapons Territorial Clauses • Anschluss - Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria. • Land - Germany lost land to a number of other countries: – Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium, North Schleswig was given to Denmark. – Land was also taken from Germany and given to Czechoslovakia and Poland. – The League of Nations took control of Germany's colonies This map shows the areas (yellow) that Germany lost following the Treaty of Versailles: The Other Defeated Nations • The Treaty of Versailles determined the punishment that Germany should face. • Other treaties determined the fate of those countries that had fought with Germany - Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. • Austria and Hungary were divided and therefore signed separate treaties Austria - The Treaty of St Germain September 10th, 1919 • Land - Austria lost land to Italy, Czechoslovakia and Serbia (Yugoslavia). • Army - To be reduced to 30,000 men. • Anschluss - Union with Germany was forbidden • Reparations - Austria was to pay reparations but went bankrupt before the rate could be set. Hungary - The Treaty of Trianon June 4th, 1920 • Land - Hungary lost land to Austria, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Serbia (Yugoslavia) reducing its size substantially. – Population was reduced from 18.2 million to 7.6 million. • Army - To be reduced to 35,000 men • Reparations - Hungary was to pay reparations but the amount was never set Bulgaria - The Treaty of Neuilly November 27th, 1919 • Land - Bulgaria lost land to Greece, Romania and Serbia (Yugoslavia). • Reparations - Bulgaria had to pay millions in reparations • Army - restrictions were made on the size of Bulgaria's army Turkey - The Treaty of Sevres August 20th, 1920 • Land - Turkey lost land to Greece. • The League of Nations took control of Turkey's colonies.