Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918

Canada & WW 1, 1914 - 1918War Breaks Out!

Flashpoint: SarajevoJune 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated while visiting SarajevoAssassin Gavrilo Princip belonged to Serbian terrorist group Black HandSerbian nationalists resented Austrian control of Sarajevo

Causes of WW 1Militarism – strong armies & navies settle disputesAlliances – countries band together for support during warImperialism – gaining colonies to develop empire for raw materials & marketsNationalism – feeling of deep loyalty to one’s people & homelandGavrilo Princip

Serbian TerroristBlack Hand

Alliance SystemTriple Entente (France, Russia, Britain)Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy)Triple Entente Allied Powers (gain Italy)Triple Alliance Central Powers (gain Ottoman Empire i.e., Turkey / Bulgaria)

WW 1 Alliance Map

Final Steps to WarAustria-Hungary sends Serbia an ultimatumSerbia agrees to 2 of the 3 conditions, but will not allow Austrian officials into SerbiaAustria declares war on SerbiaRussia mobilizes army to support Serbia & France mobilizes army to support Russia

Final Steps to War (cont’d)

Threatened Germany orders France & Russia to stop mobilizing, but they refuseGermany declares war on Russia & France Aug. 1 & 2, 1914 Germany invades France through neutral Belgium to bypass French fortifications (Schlieffen Plan)Aug. 4 Britain declares war against Germany in support of treaty with Belgium

Schlieffen Plan

Canada Goes to WarCanada was not a fully independent nation in 1914, but was part of the British EmpireWhen Britain was at war, Canada was automatically at war alsoEnglish & French Cdns strongly supported the war against GermanyCdn PM Borden offered to train & equip 25,000 men two days after war declared

PM Borden

Canada Goes to War (cont’d)

Aug. 1914 Canadian Armed Forces 2 old navy cruisers, 3000 soldiers, 60,000 militiaMinister of Militia Sam Hughes organized massive recruiting campaignNationalism & high unemployment led to a flood of volunteers

Colonel Sam HughesMinister of Militia

Mobilizing the TroopsHughes set up a military training camp at Valcartier, Quebec for 30,000 volunteersCdn made Ross rifle jammed in the mud of trench warfare causing Hughes to be firedCdn troops clashed with their British commanding officers who demanded unquestioning respect despite mistakes