Download World War I

World War I
Technology + institutions + weapons = European Dominance
Imperialism The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial conquest or by
establishing economic or political dominance over a weaker nation.
OLD IMPERIALISM - seizing land and settling it with native peoples or establishing
trading centers to exploit resources of conquered areas. (Old World Powers of
Spain Portugal and the Netherlands - see p 892)
NEW IMPERIALISM •European nations invested money in “less industrialized countries to develop
roads, mines, agriculture, harbors, railroads and telegraph systems
•Employed large numbers of natives in the process - transformed local economy
and culture
•To safeguard investments, European nations make arrangements with local
governments to loan rulers money or intimidate them with power (economic +
political takeovers)
•If this fails, dominant nations exercise more direct political control by annexing the
territory or making the area a protectorate so the local leader is a figurehead. This
is achieved with military power) SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
•Included old and new nation-states: England, France, Russia, Germany, Italy,
Japan
It all began with Imperialism
WHY?
•
HOW?
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•
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Superior Technology in
industry and agriculture
Nation-States combined
the resources of the state
behind one common goal •
Weapons
Better systems of
communication and
transportation
Superiority of empires:
•
Scramble for Africa,
spheres of influence in
Asia
•
Economics
a. More markets, raw materials, workers and investments
b. Hobson and Lenin - Imperialism is mono - dying stage of capitalism
Social - Our Duty
a. Social Darwinism - “survival of the fittest” “White Man’s Burden”
b. Religious conversion - Boxer Rebellion - needed pol + mil support
c. Deflect concern over domestic policies
Politically - Protect holdings, larger empires increased military
and economy
a. England in Egypt (Suez), Sudan (to protect E), Fashoda, Boer Wars
b. France in Algiers, Tunisia, Morocco, West Africa, Congo
c. Belgians in the Congo - We didn’t start the fire
Strategic Locations
Germany is “Stuck in the Middle with You” (GEA GSWA, Cameroon)
“My map of Africa is in Europe” (Here is Russia, there is France)
Power
“ Boys and their Toys” Japan, Russia, France, Germany = ENGLAND
England: Sun Never Sets
on the English Empire
Egypt
Sudan
Fashoda
France: Looking for
friends in all the right
places:
Fashoda
Morocco
Tunisia
Germany:
The Honest Broker
Our place in the Sun
Italy:
Irredente
Russo-Japanese War - Under Witte, Russia was building the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
With France and Germany, forced Japan out of Port Arthur.
Open Door Policy - Supported by All But Russia
Alliances played a key role
Otto Von Bismarck
Wanted to decrease French
Resentment with friendly
Gestures. If that failed
Goals:
1. Isolate France
2. Avoid a war on two fronts
Three Emperors League
Austria, Germany, and Russia
1873
Germany
 Balancing act to keep Austria and Russia
together because of rivalries in the Balkans. It
collapsed with 
 Russo-Turkish War 1875 - 1878
(MRS. B) v. Ottomans taking Bosnia/Herzegovina
Russia got involved for (1) control of Dardanelles,
(2)conflicted with Austrian demands for control of
Slavs in Balkans. Serbia is the KEY
Treaty of San Stefano - freed slavs and gave
Russia territory and money but alarmed other
nations - Jingoism “
Congress of Berlin 1878 - Bismarck as
the Honest Broker - Eastern Question
Bulgaria was reduced, Austria gets Bosnia,
Britain gets Cypress and France Tunisia
Russia is mad, Bulgaria wants land back,
Romania wanted Bessarabia (Russia got it)
Austria
This won’t be easy
Russia
Balkans after San Stefano
Dual Alliance and The Return of
the Three Emperors
Three Emperors Renewed 1881
Dual Alliance 1879
 Russia felt isolated, approached
 Austria and Germany sign a
Germany
defense pact. There is a horse and  Austria gets Bosnia & Russia closes
a rider. Germany is the horse
Dardanelles if attacked
 Allayed German fears of FrancoMistake or Genius
Russian pact
 “Balkan Question” can never be
 Allayed Russian fears of uniting
a motive for war”
Austria & Britain or German and
 Republican v. Cossack would never
Austrian Pact
happen
 Lapsed after 5 Years
 Russia would be frightened
and return to Germany
Triple Alliance and Reinsurance
Treaty
Germany
Bismarck the Genius
Triple Alliance 1882
 Italy joins over Tunisia
1887
 France is isolated
 Russia restored after 1886 lapse
[Reinsurance Treaty] 1887
Renewal of 3 Emperors
 Germany is friends with
everyone, including England
Austria
Italy
Russia
Bismarck is Fired!
What was Wilhelm Thinking?
Wilhelm II
 “place in the sun”
Bismarck




Clear and limited idea of nation goals
Resisted expansion
Used diplomacy over war (alliances)
Understood needs and hopes of other
countries
Real Reasons
Whenever I wrote to Otto I kept forgetting to insert the “C” in his last name
I’m still miffed that he tricked me into thinking the Junkers were the guys on Sanford & Son
 Cause I’m the King and I can do whatever I want
nyeh,nyeh
 I swear my grandpappy’s last words were “Screw up everything I’ve worked for
 It’s time to prove that England is not the only country that can survive in-bred crazy
monarchs
 He giggled every time I said Schleswig or Holstein
 I want you to listen to me very carefully “I did not have political relations with that man Bismarck
Road to the Triple Entente
Franco-Russian Pact 1894
Reinsurance not renewed (Caprivi wanted England & Germany)
Britain remained in “Splendid Isolation”
Reactionary and Revolutionary join as France financing Russia
Entente Cordiale 1904
Germany stops “Capetown to Cairo” and congratulates Boers
German navy increased to #2 under Tirpritz
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Alliance with Japan to stop Russia in Asia
England gave France free reign in Morocco in return for control in Egypt settled colonial problems.
First Moroccan Crisis - French in control
Anglo-Russian Alliance 1907
England
Brits worried over “Berlin to Baghdad” and German naval power
Felt closer to France
Settled Russo-British troubles in Asia
the Triple Entente
France
1907
Russia
England
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Balkans Pave the Road
Bosnian Crisis 1908

Austria & Russia move in before Young Turks can revive the Ottoman Empire.
Austria takes Bosnia, Russia to get Dardanelles but allies make Russia back off under
pressure from England and France. Serbia is angered when Austria gets Bosnia.
GERMANY NOT HAPPY WITH THE RIDER
Second Moroccan Crisis 1911

French move to end revolt in Morocco when Germany sent gunboat Panther to
protect German citizens. Britain was upset over naval race with Germany because
they had to raise taxes to pay for it and they assumed Germans would stay in
Morocco. France took some land in Congo and Germany recognized French
sovereignty in Morocco. Solidified Entente Cordiale
First Balkan War 1911



Italy takes Libya from Turks -BGMS beat Turks but argue over Macedonia
Austria moved to block Serbian power but S is protected by Russia
Albania is created
Second Balkan War 1913
 Austria and Russia both pressured to go to war
 Bulgaria v. Balkans over Macedonia

Serbia moved back into Albania but forced to withdraw under Austrian pressure
P
O
W
D
E
R
K
E
G
The Spark
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
and Duchess Sophie in Sarajevo (1914)
A 19 year old tubercular Bosnian
Serb student. A member of
("Young Bosnia"), a movement
dedicated to a Bosnia free of
Hapsburg rule. He and his six
fellow assassins were equipped
with pistols and bombs by a
Serbian terrorist organization
known as the Black Hand.
Alliances resulted
in dominos
July 28th
Austria declared war on Serbia
Germany issued a “Blank Check”
July 30th
Russia mobilized its army
August 1st
Germany declared war on Russia
August 3rd
Germany declared War on France
Germany violated Belgian neutrality
August 4th
England declared war on Germany
Plan XVII
The aim of Plan XVII, devised by
Ferdinand Foch in the wake of the
humiliation of the Franco-Prussian
War, was the recapture of the
territory of Alsace and Lorraine.
Entirely offensive in nature, Plan
XVII made extensive use of the belief
in the mystical élan vital assumed to
be instilled within every Frenchman
- a fighting spirit capable of turning
back any enemy by its sheer power.
It assumed the average French
soldier to be more than a match for
its German counterpart.
Plan XVII called for an advance by
four French Armies into AlsaceLorraine by the southern wing of the
invasion forces whilst the northern
wing would advance into Germany
via the southern Ardennes forests
Schlieffen Plan
To deal with a potential two front war against France and Russia the plan focused on
weaknesses - the slow mobilization of Russia, and the determination to attack at all cost
the French army. The initial attack was to be made in the west, while small holding forces
gave way slowly against the Russians. It was confidently expected that on the outbreak of
war the French would launch an invasion of Germany through Alsace-Lorraine, the best
invasion route on the Franco-German border. The German plan was simply to mass 90%
of their troops - some 35 corps - to the north, and march them through neutral Belgium
and Holland, sweeping round to the west of Paris, enveloping the French army, who
would have been allowed to make some progress into Germany. The French army would
then find itself attacked from the rear, with Paris threatened or lost. The Germans came
within 12 miles of Paris in the First Battle of the Marne.
Stalemate on the Western Front
German forces stormed into Belgium who mounted an inspired defense. Frustrated the
Germans treated the Belgians with great brutality. These actions were widely reported in
the press; a body of anti-German sentiment began to grow in the United States. The
Germans were further thrown off stride by the Russians' ability to put armies quickly
into the field. The Battle of Tannenburg while a costly defeat for Russia, did force
Germany to withdraw western soldiers for the campaign in East Prussia. The result was
a stalemate and series of trenches stretching 475 miles from Switzerland to the North Sea.
War in the East
1914 - German officer Ludendorff (under the command of Paul von Hindenburg)
destroyed or captured an entire Russian army at Tannenbu rg and Masurian Lake.
1915 Π Central Powers drove into Baltic States and Russian Poland. Turke y and
Bulgaria joined the Central Powers
Allied Powers offered Italy Italia Irredenta (South Tyrol, Trieste and Dalm atian
Islands plus new colonies in Africa and a share of the Turkish Empire
Gallipoli
1916 Π Rumania joined the Alli es but was defeated and exited the war
Japan, alli ed with England, entered the war and overran German colonies in
China and the Pacifi c
Germany tried to support Irish, Poles, Ukrainians and Turks to lead a Muslim
uprising against the British in Egypt and India and the French in North Africa.
Allies supported independence of Czechs, Slovaks, Slavs, and Poles, even Arab
independence from the Turks (Lawrence of Arabia)
War resumes in the West
Battle of Verdun – Germans sought to inflict heavy casualties on French.
French held off Germans and inflicted as many casualties on
Germans
Henri Petain becomes national hero “hey Shall Not Pass”
Battle of the Somme – Allies tried major offense joined by Russians in East but
German defense was superior
Battle at Sea – Britain blockaded North Sea to starve out Germans
Germans responded with submarine warfare by declaring waters
around British Isles a war zone
1917 – America Enters the War on April 6th
Russian Revolution
Causes:
1. War put too many demands on Russian resources.
2. Government was too slow to respond to soldiers’ needs especially with trains and
shipments. (Russian army was ill equipped to fight because Russia was an agrarian
based economy with underdeveloped industry, transportation, and communication.)
3. Nicholas II was not exactly brilliant; after all, he left his wife home alone with
Rasputin and dismissed the Duma.
4. Large war losses led to hunger, strikes, and disorganization in the army.
Political Parties
1. Constitutional Democrats (Cadets)
2. Social Revolutionaries (Populists) Socialists
3. Social Democrats (Bolsheviks and Lenin)
Provisional Government Established When Tsar Abdicates
1. As a result of many strikes and demonstrations and the desertion of his troops,
Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne on March 15th.
2. Duma formed provisional government but most members were Cadets
3. Social Revolutionaries and Social Democrats (Mensheviks) organized workers into
Soviets (Councils). Marxists were waiting for bourgeois stage before revolt.
Willing to work with Cadets but …..
4. Provisional government (Cadets) made mistakes. They failed to control the army or
purge conservatives in government BUT they continued to fight the Germans.
Things collapsed when they renewed a Russian offensive and failed. A moderate
socialist, Kerensky took over but he also failed because he did not seize the large
estates of landowners and distribute the land to the peasant.
5. Germans find Lenin (in exile) and ship him back to Russia. Lenin sought an
alliance with workers and peasants (his goal to join both groups for communist
revolution) so he promised them, PEACE, LAND, and BREAD. Lenin also
demanded all political power go to the soviets but when his coup failed, he fled and
his enforcer, Trotsky, was imprisoned. (Summer 1917)
6. Lenin gets another chance. Trotsky, released from jail and in control of the
Petrograd soviet, organized another coup in November and launched an armed
assault on the provisional government. [Jan. 1918] This time they succeed.
Communist Dictatorship
1. Social Revolutionaries held the majority in the new Constituent Assembly so it was
dispersed by the RED army.
2. All other political parties were ended
3. Land was Nationalized and turned over to peasants
4. Factory workers were put in charge of factories
5. Banks were seized for the state and debt of tsar was repudiated
6. Church property went to state
7. Formed a secret police, Cheka, to control opposition
8. Bolsheviks took Russia out of the war when they signed the TREATY OF BRESTLITOVSK
Civil War
1.The Bolshevik Revolution caught opponents by surprise but by 1918 they regrouped
and fought the new Red Army. These opponents of Communism were the White
Russians who lost because
a. Trotsky, Lenin and the Reds were united while the White army was not
b. Trotsky was a strong leader and had no trouble killing any one who disobeyed
c. Trotsky enforced War Communism – seized grain from peasants to feed the
people, rationed, nationalized banks, factories & required every one to work
d. Invasion of foreign armies brought the Russian together through nationalism
Treaty of Versailles Roadmap for the 20th century
GERMANY is punished
Land
oMust surrender Alsace and Lorraine to the French
oSara Valley goes to the League of Nations (France used its coal for 15 years but its population is mostly German
oPolish Corridor is the New Poland but land separates E. Prussia from Germany
oDazing creates a Baltic Seaport for Poland but placed under the control of the League of Nations
oRhineland is occupied for 15 years as a DMZ
oALL COLONIES WERE GIVEN TO ALLIES AS MANDATES (allies entrusted to administer the colony)
Army and Navy were disarmed
oArmy limited to 100,000 volunteers
oNavy limited to Coastal Support
WAR GUILT CLAUSE
oGERMANY must accept ALL blame for the War
oForced to pay reparations that totaled $300 billion at one point
oDawes Plan of 1924 created orderly payments
oYoung Plan of 1929 lowered the payments
And the Victors get the Spoils
England
Palestine, Jordan, and Iraq
Union of South Africa
France
Syria
Lebanon
German colonies in Africa
Italy
Trentino
S. Tyrol
Japan
German colonies in the Pacific and Asia
New Nations
Austria
Hungary
Czechoslovakia from Austria-Hungary
Yugoslavia from Serbia and Montenegro
Finland
Poland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Romania from Transylvania
Bulgaria lost access to Aegean Sea
RESULTS:
Political
•U.S. emerged as a world leader
•Three empires collapsed (RAH)
•New Nation-States were formed
•League of Nations was founded
•Several European Nations turned to Dictators to lead (RIG)
Economic Impact
$350 million
countries had to raise taxes and standard of living fell
International trade declined due to taxes and tariffs
Russia turned to NEP
Depression and Keynesian Economics
Social Impact
•10 million soldiers dead
•20 million civilians dead
DISILLUSIONMENT
HATRED
NATIONALISM