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WORLD WAR I
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CAUSES
The immediate cause of World War I was
the assassination of Archduke Franz
Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo.
Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian
Black Hand secret society killed Ferdinand.
Conflicts between Austria-Hungary and
Serbia started with a challenge to the 1878
Treaty of Berlin. Under that treaty, AustriaHungary assumed a mandate to occupy and
control Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ottoman
Empire kept its sovereignty, and Serbia was
recognized as a kingdom; however, Serbians
were incensed that Austria-Hungary had
annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina during the
Bosnian crisis of 1908 and 1909.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand (left) and
Gavrilo Princip
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CAUSES
This led to two Balkan Wars, in which Serbia
gained Macedonia and Kosovo from the
Ottoman Empire. Ferdinand had been a
supporter of both federalism and tribalism,
which advocated that Austria-Hungary be
reorganized with the Slavic lands to add a third
kingdom. A Slavic kingdom could have put
tremendous pressure on the Serbians, and
Archduke Franz Ferdinand would have been the
leader of this new kingdom. In the aftermath of
the assassination, Austria-Hungary wanted the
Serbian government to punish those responsible.
Austria-Hungarian leaders made a list of ten
demands for the Serbian government. AustriaHungary declared war on Serbia when the
demands were not met.
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After the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand,
Gavrilo Princip is arrested.
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DECLARATIONS
OF WAR
July 28, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia.
August 3, 1914 – Germany declares war on France.
August 4, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on
Germany.
August 5, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on AustriaHungary.
August 6, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on
Russia; Serbia declares war on
Germany.
August 9, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on Germany.
August 11, 1914 – France declares war on AustriaHungary.
Germany’s Declaration of War
in 1914
August 12, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on
Austria-Hungary.
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DECLARATIONS
OF
WAR
August 22, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on
Belgium.
August 23, 1914 – Japan declares war on Germany.
August 25, 1914 – Japan declares war on AustriaHungary.
November 1, 1914 – Russia declares war on the
Ottoman Empire.
November 3, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on the
Ottoman Empire.
November 5, 1914 – France and United Kingdom
declare war on the Ottoman
Empire.
May 23, 1915 – Italy declares war on AustriaHungary.
October 14, 1915 – Bulgaria declares war on Serbia.
October 15, 1915 – United Kingdom declares war on
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Bulgaria.
The is a diagram of the alliances
before World War I.
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DECLARATIONS
OF WAR
October 16, 1915 – Frances declares war on Bulgaria
October 19, 1915 – Italy and Russia declare war on
Bulgaria.
August 27, 1916 – Italy declares war on Germany.
The diagram represents European
alliances before World War I.
coat of arms of Bulgaria
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LEADERS
OF WORLD WAR I
ALLIED POWERS
CENTRAL POWERS
Woodrow Wilson
Franz Josef I
John J. Pershing
Karl I
David Lloyd George
Wilhelm II
Georges Clemenceau
Mehmed V
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PARTICIPANTS
IN WORLD WAR I
ALLIED POWERS
CENTRAL POWERS
United States
Russian
Empire
British Empire
Kingdom of
Italy
French Third
Republic
Kingdom of
Greece
Kingdom of
Serbia
Kingdom of
Montenegro
Kingdom of
Romania
Belgium
Empire of
Japan
Portugal
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Bulgaria
AustriaHungary
Ottoman
Empire
German
Empire
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WEAPONS
land ship/tank
hand grenade
barbed wire
poison gas
submarine
Maxim machine gun
bi-plane
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STRATEGIES
TRENCH WARFARE
In trench warfare both armies could fight
from fortified positions. It was a slow form
of combat with heavy reliance on defense.
The soldiers built complex trench and dugout
systems and stocked them with weapons.
Barbed wire protected the trenches. The
space between opposing armies’ trenches
was “no man’s land.” Attacks almost always
resulted in injury and death for the attacking
soldiers.
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THE IMPORTANCE
OF TRENCH WARFARE
Trench warfare was an important part of
combat during World War I. The effectiveness
of the new weapons made it impossible to fight
in the open for extended periods of time.
Trenches were constructed for careful and
planned attacks. The trench protected soldiers
from attack. Soldiers also dug temporary
trenches as close to the front lines as possible.
These would protect waves of soldiers
attacking the enemy. Attacking soldiers would
take cover in a forward trench to regroup while
other soldiers followed the first attack.
Trenches kept soldiers out of the line of fire as
much as possible.
British trench design
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OBJECTIVES
ALLIED POWERS
CENTRAL POWERS
The main objective of the Allied Powers
was to stop Germany and the Central
Powers’ attempts to expand their land in
Europe and Asia. The American conflict
with Germany stemmed from Germany’s
violation of a neutrality agreement when
German submarines attacked American
passenger ships.
The main objective of the Central Powers
was to acquire as much land as possible
in Europe and Asia. Germany believed
France, England, and Russia prevented its
expansion. Germany was determined to
expand its borders.
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BATTLES
Battle of Mons
August 23–27, 1914
The Battle of Mons was the first
major action the British
Expeditionary Force took during
World War I. British soldiers were
overwhelmed during the attack. After
the French and Belgian armies
retreated, the British planned to hold
off the advancing German soldiers
although they suffering terrible
losses. The British finally retreated
on August 27, and only two hundred
forty British soldiers survived the
battle. It was still a British victory
because British troops held the
Germans and regrouped.
Battles of Charleroi and Mons
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BATTLES
Battle of Tannenberg
August 23–September 2, 1914
The Germans and the Russians
fought the Battle of Tannenberg in
which the Second Army of Russia
was almost destroyed. Additional
battles continued in Russia. With the
aid of railroad transportation, the
German army fought on both fronts
of the Russian army. The battle ended
in a German victory; Russian soldiers
were captured, killed, or retreated.
Battle of Tannenberg, August 23–26, 1914
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BATTLES
First Battle of Marne
September 5–12, 1914
The First Battle of Marne was along
the Marne River in Paris, France. The
Allied Powers went on the offensive,
constantly attacking the German First
and Second Armies. It seemed as if
by September 9, both armies would
be surrounded. When German
General von Moltke had a nervous
breakdown after seeing what could
happen, the Germans retreated; and
the Allied Powers were victorious.
Battle of Marne
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BATTLES
First Battle of Aisne
September 13–28, 1914
The First Battle of Aisne was
between the German First and
Second Army and the Allied Powers.
The Allies launched an assault on the
Germans, who had halted their retreat
at the Aisne River. However, the
Germans launched a counterattack,
and used a machine gun in their
attack. Nonetheless, the Allied
Powers continued to push back the
German advances. Fighting stopped
on September 28, as it was clear
neither side could win the battle.
During the First Battle of Aisne, French
troops capture an alleged spy.
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BATTLES
Battle of Albert
September 25–29, 1914
During the Battle of Albert, the
French Tenth Army pushed eastward
and attacked the German lines near
Albert. The French Tenth Army was
met with heavy resistance from the
German Sixth Army. The Germans
were attempting to drive westward to
the English Channel, and they
eventually took many agricultural
regions in northern France and cut
supply routes from the British
Expeditionary Force. However,
neither side gained new ground, and
the battle ended in a stalemate.
Battle of Albert
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BATTLES
The First Battle of Arras
October 1–4, 1914
In the First Battle of Arras, the
French prevented the Germans from
advancing to the English Channel.
The French Tenth Army successfully
attacked the Germans, but were
counterattacked in Douai. The French
Tenth Army was forced to retreat.
While the French held Arras, they
lost Lens to the First, Second, and
Seventh Armies of Germany.
symbol of the German Army
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BATTLES
Battle of Ypres
October 19–November 22, 1914
Also known as the Battle of Flanders,
the British Expeditionary Force
moved north and stopped the
Germans at Passchendaele Ridge in
this battle. At the same time, the
Belgians opened the gates of the Yser
River to flood low-lying land to
prevent a German advance. Trench
warfare continued. The Germans lost
many young soldiers in this battle,
which the Germans called the
“Massacre of the Innocents.”
Battle of Ypres
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BATTLES
Battle of Neuve Chapelle and Artois
March 10–13, 1915
These wounded British soldiers are
prisoners in German trenches.
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In the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and
Artois, British troops attacked. The
British goal was to break the German
lines and the French were to attack
the Vimy Ridge. This was the first
battle that utilized aerial photography,
and the Allies mapped all of the
German lines in the region. The
Germans launched a counterattack
that halted the Allies’ advancement.
The British captured little ground
during this battle.
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BATTLES
Battle of Isonzo
June 23–July 7, 1915
The Battle of Isonzo was contested
between the Italians, fighting with the
Allies, and the Austro-Hungarians,
who sided with the Central Powers.
The Italians wanted to move the
Austrians from their defensive
positions. Even though the Italian
army was twice the size of the
Austrian army, the Austrians fought
from an uphill position. The Austrian
army received reinforcements, and
the Italians were defeated.
one of the many trenches used during
the Battle of Isonzo
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BATTLES
Battle of Verdun
February 21–December 18, 1916
Violence took place in all areas of Verdun.
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The French and Germans fought the
Battle of Verdun. It resulted in deaths
of approximately 250,000 soldiers,
and at least one million were
wounded. The Battle of Verdun was
one of the longest battles of World
War I. The French and German
armies launched constant attacks
against each other. The French
mounted the final offensive on
December 11. The Germans retreated
to their position before the battle after
the last French offensive.
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BATTLES
Battle of Jutland
May 31–June 1, 1916
The Battle of Jutland was the largest
naval battle of World War I. The
battle pitted the German navy against
the British navy. It was the only time
during World War I that battleships
were used. The German navy wanted
to lure the British Grand Fleet into a
trap and defeat it. The battle
continued for a little over one month.
Fourteen British and eleven German
ships were sunk. Both sides claimed
victory, but there was not clear victor
in the Battle of Jutland.
Battle of Jutland
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BATTLES
Battle of Somme
July 1–November 18t 1916
Also known as the Somme Offensive,
the Battle of the Somme was one of
history’s bloodiest battles. During the
conflict, the Allies attempted to fight
their way through the German lines
to draw Germans away from the
Battle of Verdun. The Allied and
Central Powers suffered 1.4 million
casualties. The British and French
armies only captured approximately
five miles of territory.
Soldiers of the 11th Cheshire Regiment are
stationed in their trenches.
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BATTLES
Battle of Gorizia
August 6–17, 1916
Also known as the Sixth Battle of the
Isonzo, the Italian Army used the
railroads to transport troops between
Isonzo and Trentino. The Austrian
forces were weakened as the Italian
troops continued their attack. The
Austrians retreated to the Gorizia
sector, signifying a victory for the
Italians. This victory boosted the
Italians’ morale, and Italy declared
war on Germany on August 28, 1916.
Italian soldiers are stationed in their
trenches along the Isonzo River during the
Battle of Gorizia.
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BATTLES
Battle of Flers-Courcelette
September 15, 1916
The tank was first used in the Battle
of Flers-Courcelette. The British
army attempted to break through the
German lines and utilized tank
warfare in their attack. Although the
British, New Zealand, and Canadian
armies gained territory in the attack,
they could not break the German
lines. The German Army stopped the
British before they advanced to
Morval.
soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Auckland
Regiment after the Battle of Flers-Courcelette
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BATTLES
Battle of Gaza
March 26, 1917
In the Battle of Gaza, the British
drove back Turkish forces on the
Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamia.
The Turkish forces had been trying to
cut the Allied Powers’ supply route
through the Suez Canal. When the
Turkish forces were about to be
expelled from Gaza, however, the
British called for a retreat, stating
there was a threat of Turkish
reinforcements. However, the Allies
had defeated the reinforcements.
coat of Arms of the Ottoman Empire
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BATTLES
Second Battle of Arras
April 9–May 16, 1917
Australian, British, and Canadian
soldiers fought the Germans in the
Second Battle of Arras. The Allied
Powers’ objective was to move the
German soldiers from territory so the
French Army could attack and
capture the higher German ground on
the Douai Plain. Although the Allied
Powers did not win this battle, they
made significant advances in military
tactics such as counter-battery fire
and the creeping barrage.
the frontline at Arras before the battle
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BATTLES
Second Battle of Aisne
April 16–May 9, 1917
The Second Battle of Aisne was part
of the Nivelle Offensive, which the
French army had organized. The
attack was successful for the French,
and there were 40,000 French
causalities on the first day. Despite
suffering tremendous losses, French
Commander Robert Nivelle
continued to launch full-scale attacks,
which the Germans repelled. The
French were defeated. The battle
ruined Nivelle’s career, and French
soldiers’ morale plummeted.
the Western Front in 1917
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BATTLES
Battle of Messines
June 7–14, 1917
In the Battle of Messines, General
Herbert Plummer led an attack of the
British Second Army. The battle is
remembered because the British
soldiers detonated nineteen mines
before launching their infantry attack.
This tactic surprised the Germans and
the British were victorious.
The map depicts military action during the Battle
of Messines, from June 7–14.
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BATTLES
Battle of Passchendaele
July 31–November 6, 1917
Also known as the Third Battle of
Ypres, the Allied forces wanted to
breach the German lines and take
control of Passchendaele. This town
contained the Germans’ main
submarine base. The Germans took
cover in trenches and fought off the
Allied Powers’ attack for some time.
Although Canadian forces captured
Passchendaele, the Allies suffered
almost 500,000 casualties.
Allied soldiers move over a duckboard track
in the Chateau Wood.
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BATTLES
Battle of Caporetto
October 24–November 19, 1917
Also known as the Battle of Karfeit,
this was a combined effort of the
German and Austrian-Hungarian
armies. The combined armies routed
the Italians, who had no reserves to
provide assistance to their front lines.
The use of storm troopers and new
infiltration maneuvers Oskar von
Hutier pioneered led to this Central
Powers’ victory.
The map depicts military action during the Battle
of Caporetto and the Italian retreat.
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BATTLES
Battle of Cambrai
November 20–December 6, 1917
In the Battle of Cambrai tanks were
used successfully. Although the
British Army did not defeat the
Germans, they proved the
Hindenburg Line could be broken.
However, the Germans
counterattacked using new infiltration
tactics. Although the British were
maintained control of the ridge, the
Germans advanced in other areas and
won a strong tactical victory.
British soldiers prepare for action in their
trenches, and a tank patrols in the background.
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THE TREATY OF
BREST-LITOVSK
Russians were weary of World War I and the enormous sacrifices
they endured. This discontentment led to popular support of the
Bolshevik Party. Its leader, Vladimir Lenin, promised that if he
were elected to a position of power, he would remove Russian
forces from the war. After winning the election in November
1917, Lenin pursued an armistice with Germany. The Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk was signed, and Russia was no longer a combatant
nation. The treaty granted the Central Powers control of territory
that included Finland and the Baltic provinces.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Vladimir Lenin was the
leader of the Russian
Soviet Socialist Party.
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THE UNITED STATES
ENTERS WORLD WAR I
Originally, the United States pursued a policy of
isolationism. After a German U-boat sank the British
passenger ship Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson
demanded Germany end attacks on passenger ships. The
British Royal Navy then intercepted the Zimmerman
telegram in which a German diplomat encouraged Mexican
officials to ally with German if the United States declared
war on Germany. These events as well as the sinking of
American merchant ships led the United States Congress to
declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917.
an American doughboy
circa 1918
United States President
Woodrow Wilson announces
a break in diplomatic
relations with Germany on
February 3, 1917.
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BATTLES
Third Battle of Aisne
May 27–June 6, 1918
This map depicts the Western Front on
July 15, 1918
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The Third Battle of Aisne featured
the main goal of the Germans to
capture the Chemin des Dames Ridge
before the Americans, who had just
joined the Allies, arrived in Europe.
The German army fought strongly
against the English and French
armies that tried to stop their
offensive. Although close to victory,
German soldiers were fatigued and
they suffered enormous numbers of
casualties. As a result, the Germans
halted their advance and regrouped.
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BATTLES
Battle of Hamel
July 4, 1918
In the Battle of Hamel, Allied forces
under Lieutenant General Josh
Monash’s command utilized new
tactics that enabled them to win the
battle within ninety minutes. This
battle also featured new technology;
soldiers parachuted into enemy
grounds. This took their adversaries
by surprise and disrupted the Central
Powers’ defensive strategy. In
addition, Allied forces coordinated
their attacks to weaken the Central
Powers’ defenses.
American and Australian soldiers prepare for
battle in the trenches.
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BATTLES
Second Battle of Marne
July 15–August 5, 1918
The Second Battle of Marne was the
last major offensive along the
Western Front. The French countered
the German advance. More than
168,000 German soldiers were killed.
The Army of the Allied Powers
continued to launch attacks on the
Germans and forced they to retreat.
The German defeat halted a planned
German invasion of Flanders.
The Allied Powers are indicated with green; the
Central Powers are indicated with orange.
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BATTLES
Battle of Amiens
August 8–11, 1918
The Battle of Amiens began the
Hundred Days Offensive, an Allied
Powers’ effort to end World War I
quickly. During this battle, many
German soldiers surrendered. In
addition, the Allied Powers advanced
seven miles on the first day of the
battle. Erich Ludendorff, a Central
Powers commander, stated that this
battle was a “black day of the German
Army.” The battle also ended trench
warfare on the Western Front.
Amiens, 1918
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BATTLES
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive
September 26–November 11, 1918
Also known as the Battle of the
Argonne Forest, this was the final
offensive of World War I. The United
States, along with the Allied Powers,
organized an offensive of three
phases. In each phase the Allies
would push back the German army
until it was decimated. These phases
continued until the Germans
surrendered, and the Allied Powers
were victorious.
Hill 223 was one of the areas the Allied Powers
Army captured during this offensive.
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BATTLES
Battle of Canal du Nord
September 27, 1918
The Battle of Canal du Nord was one
of the battles during the Hundred
Days Offensive. During this battle,
four divisions of the Canadian Corps
attacked the Germans. Their attack
surprised and quickly defeated the
German forces. Many German
defending the Canal du Nord
retreated, were captured, or killed.
The Allied victory at Canal du Nord
created a decisive opening for the
march into Cambrai.
Canadian engineers built a bridge across the
Canal du Nord.
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BATTLES
Battle of Vittorio Veneto
October 23–November 3, 1918
The Italian army was successful in
the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. This
Italian victory caused the collapse of
the Austrian-Hungarian army. With
the Austrian-Hungarians defeated, the
Italian Front of World War I was
closed. The Austro-Hungarian
Empire was also destroyed. With its
greatest ally defeated, Germany had
no military support to open another
front to the south.
Battle of Vittorio Veneto in northeastern Italy
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ARMISTICE ENDS
THE WAR
The armistice was reached on
After a three days of negotiations,
representatives of the Allied Powers and
Germany signed the armistice on a
railway carriage in Compiegne Forest on
November 11, 1918. The expression “the
eleventh of the eleventh of the eleventh”
is derived from this date. The armistice
went into effect at the eleventh hour, on
the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.
According to the armistice, German
troops were to leave Belgium, France,
and the eastern bank of the Rhine. The
remainder of the German fleet was forced
to surrender its weapons and ships to the
Allied Powers. Germany also was forced
to renounce its peace treaties with Russia
and Romania.
November 11, 1918.
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THE TREATY
OF VERSAILLES
The Treaty of Versailles officially ended
World War I. It was signed on June 28,
1919, at the Paris Peace Conference even
though the armistice had been in place
since November 11, 1918. Germany and
its allies were required to accept full
responsibility for World War I. Germany
was required to disarm and concede any
territorial gains made during the war. In
addition, Germany was required to pay
reparations to any countries it damaged
during the war.
David Lloyd George (United Kingdom),
Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges
Clemenceau (France), and Woodrow
Wilson (United States)
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AFTERMATH
OF WORLD WAR I
History Beyond The Textbook
In the aftermath of World War I, other
conflicts that were a direct result of the
war took place. Germans believed the
Treaty of Versailles was unfairly
punitive. Adolf Hitler gained
popularity in Germany when he urged
Germans to fight the injustices
imposed on them after World War I.
The collapse of the Ottoman Empire
caused conflicts as nations sought to
control territory in the Middle East.
These conflict would intensify
throughout the twentieth century and
into the twenty-first century.
future Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler
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