WWI THE GREAT WAR

Canada and the World 1914 - 1918

WWI THE GREAT WAR

The Real Face of War...

M – Militarism: the policy of the government making the military very strong.

A – Alliances system: where countries make agreements that if they are attacked the friendly country will help them.

N – Nationalism: patriotic feeling towards your country. The desire for people to protect their own language, religion, traditions etc.

I – Imperialism: extending the rule of your country over another country. This was called empire building.

A – Assassination: 28 June 1914 a Serbian nationalist assassinated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, the man who was to be the King of Austria – Hungary.

The Causes of WWI – M.A.N.I.A

1. Countries like Germany were trying to build up their military, especially their navy.

2. Germany was competing with Britain for the largest navy, building dreadnoughts/ battleships and U-boats/submarines.

3. This created an ARMS RACE – competing for the most military weapons.

M - Militarism

The new war boats were called Dreadnoughts. Battle ships with massive guns.

Submarines or U-boats, as the Germans called them, were used to blockade Britain from getting supplies from Canada and other countries.

Aircraft Carriers were also invented in WWI.

Navy

The Airplane was used to drop grenades and small bombs on soldiers in trenches.

There was air to air fighting called DOG FIGHTS.

ACE - anyone who shot down more than 5 planes

Famous ACES – Canadian BILLY BISHOP– 72 kills

Germany’s Manfred von Richthofen - The RED BARON - 80 kills

Biplanes – a rarity in the war

Biplanes – a rarity in the war

Machine guns – a new technology first used by the Germans

Artillery – new word for cannons

Tanks – a new technology 1916Tanks were invented because it gave soldiers

protection from bullets when trying to attack the enemy.

Tanks could also drive over trenches.

The gas made a chemical reaction when it came in contact with moisture (nose, mouth, lungs) and burned the victim.

Poison gas like this led to the invention of gas masks.

Chlorine Gas

Repeating Rifle – It is a gun that doesn’t have to be re-loaded after every shot.

Flamethrower – a special gun that shoots flaming liquid out of it to burn out troops from trenches and dugouts/bunkers

Cavalry – some horses with riders who had swords and charged at the enemy were still used in the Great War.

Other Weapons

Europe in 1914 – map

There were two major alliances in Europe:1. The Triple Entente – the Allies:

Britain (including Canada)

FranceRussiaItaly (used to be part of Triple Alliance but switched sides)

2. The Triple Alliance – the Central Powers: GermanyAustria-Hungary

A – Alliances System

A Comic Look at how Alliances work...

When Archduke Franz Ferdinand was killed in Serbia, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia 28 July 1914.

Since Russia was Serbia’s ally, Russia declared war on Austria-Hungary 29 July 1914.

Since Germany was an ally of Austria-Hungary they declared war on Russia 1 August 1914.

THEN, since France and Britain where allies of Russia they declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary 3 -4 August 1914.

CANADA? Declared war on Germany because Britain did. That is because Britain had control over our foreign policy.

How the Alliance System led to World War