Chapter 27: World War I World War I Begins
Feb 23, 2016
Chapter 27: World War IWorld War I Begins
Causes of World War I
Nationalism Idea that your country’s interest supersede all other countries Desire by certain ethnic groups to want to create their own nations Ex: Balkans
Slavic people wanted their own homeland (Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia) Desired to become independent nations
Ireland wanted independence from Great Britain Poland wanted to break away from Russia
Causes of World War I
Imperialism Competition for land abroad Created rivalries between European countries Tensions grew as countries expanded in Africa and Asia
Countries saw territories as an extension of military power
Causes of World War I
Militarism Aggressive preparation of war Conscription
Establishment of a military draft Normal practice in early 1900’s
Russia: 1.3 million soldiers France: 900,000 soldiers Germany: 900,000 soldiers
Enormous supply of weapons Military leaders began creating numerous military plans
Causes of World War I
Alliances Triple Entente (1907)
France, Great Britain, and Russia Triple Alliance (1882)
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Secret Alliances
Would cause numerous countries to be involved in war War is a technique to preserve power
The Outbreak of War
Sarajevo, Bosnia 1914
Archduke Francis Ferdinand visits city Bosnia going through period of nationalism The Black Hand
Terrorist group wanting Bosnian independence Gavrilo Princip
Shoots the Archduke and his wife
The Outbreak of War
Response to Assassination Austria-Hungary
Responded as though all of Bosnia agreed with the Black Hand Biggest fear was Russia
Russia Created alliance with the Slavic people Backed most actions in the Balkans Russia would intervene on behalf of Serbia
Germany Promised complete backing of Austria-Hungary in war
Outbreak of War
Schlieffen Plan Germany’s War Plan
Designed to fight a two-front war Stage 1 would involve a rapid invasion of France
In order to invade France, Germany had to go through Belgium Once France was defeated, it would go after Russia Declared war on France on August 3rd
Great Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th
Chapter 27: World War IWorld War I
1914-1915: Illusions and Stalemate
Propaganda Ideas that spread influence of public opinion for or against a cause Before 1914, war seen as impractical Diplomacy would reign supreme After 1914, people became more open to use of force
Illusions Many believed the war would be short and sweet Thought it would end in a couple weeks
War began in August, they believed they would be home by Christmas
1914-1915: Illusions and Stalemate
The Western Front The First Battle of the Marne
German offensive stopped by French just short of Paris Troops shuttled out in taxis to the front line Trench Warfare
Troops dug massive holes and fortified them with barbed wire Kept troops from gaining any ground Battles would be fought over gaining a few hundred yards No Man’s Land: Area between the two lines of trenches
1914-1915: Illusions and Stalemate
The Eastern Front Characterized by mobility of troops and no trenches Russia: Quickly moved into Eastern Germany Battle of Tannenburg and Battle of Masurin Lakes
Germans defeated Russians easily both times Russia quickly became a non-factor Lost 2.5 million soldiers in first year of war
Austria Defeated by Russians early on and lost the territory of Serbia
Italy Jumped ship and joined the Allies (Triple Entente)
Trench Warfare
Trenches stood 5 feet high and 30 feet wide
Usually protected by barbed wire and concrete machine gun nests
Only way to defeat trench warfare was attack across No Man’s Land
Bayonets fixed to rifles were only weapons
Millions killed in attempts to cross open land to attack trenches
700,000 French lost in 10 months
Airplane Warfare
First time airplanes have been used in war Located and aimed for ground targets Air to air combat soon followed
Pilots would shoot handheld pistols while flying After machine guns were placed on planes
Zeppelins German blimps would be used to drop bombs on London Became hazardous when Allies realized blimps were filled with flammable gas
Bombing Zeppelins
A World War
More countries get involved in war Ottoman Empire joins the Central Powers
Role was to maintain control in Balkans Forced Allies to withdraw from Constantinople when trying to invade
British Colonies Egyptians, Australians, New Zealanders and Indians all join the fight Lawrence of Arabia
British officer who urged all Arab princes to take up arms against the Ottomans
A World War
United States enters the War German Submarine Warfare
German U-boats were sinking merchant ships Great Britain sets up a naval blockade
Sinking of Lusitania British passenger liner Torpedoed by a German U-boat Over 1,100 killed including 127 Americans
Zimmerman Note Germans secretly try to create treaty with Mexico British break code
US enters war in April of 1917
Sinking of Lusitania
The Impact of Total War
Increased Government Powers Governments did not plan for a long term war Required to create price controls and wage controls Capitalistic markets were shut down with lack of people Regulated import and exports Regulated transportation systems Rationed food supplies
The Impact of Total War
Manipulation of Public Opinion As war dragged on, public opinion of war became more negative Defence of the Realm Act
British Parliament passed law Allowed government to arrest protestors to war as traitors Newspapers became censored
Totalitarian governments used force to suppress those opposing the war Propaganda used to increase support for the war
The Impact of Total War
Changes in Society Influenza outbreak kills 50 million in 1918 Role of women
Men go off to war Women begin working in factories
38% of German factory workers were women Over 700,000 women in workforce in Great Britain However, as soon as war was over, men returned to work and women lost
jobs Suffrage
Women gain right to vote in US, Germany, and Austria Women over 30 in Great Britain could vote
Chapter 27: World War IRussian Revolution
Background to the Revolution
Russo-Japanese War (1905) Defeated by Japan Left them unprepared to handle WWI Czar Nicholas II
Determined to lead even though he had no experience
Russian Industry Infrastructure unable to produce the amount of weapons needed for war Soldiers had to share weapons because of lack of production
Grigory Rasputin Advisor to Czar Nicholas Influenced Nicholas’ wife who then influenced Nicholas Assassinated in 1916 to try and save monarchy
Background to Revolution
March 1917 Female workers lead strikes against factories in Petrograd Bread rationing caused prices to sky rocket Revolution out of frustration from sick children and starvation
March 8, 1917 10,000 women march on Petrograd
March 10, 1917 Nicholas orders troops to break up strike Troops join strike
March 12, 1917 Duma meets and establishes provisional government Nicholas forced to step down on March 15
Background to Revolution
Provisional Government Decides to stay in World War I Nobody pleased with the idea Biggest challenge:
Dealing with the Soviets Comprised of workers and soldiers Largest group: Bolsheviks
Lenin and the Bolsheviks
V. I. Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks Believed only violent revolution could bring down capitalism
Requires a small group of revolutionaries to accomplish this April 1917
Returns to Russia Gains control of the soviets and military Promised an end to war Redistribution of land to peasants
Bolsheviks Seize Power
October 1917 240,000 Bolsheviks
November 6, 1917 Bolsheviks seize control of the provisional government Limited bloodshed Lenin promised to give all power to Congress of Soviets In reality he placed it in the council he controlled Bolsheviks are renamed the Communists
March 3, 1918 Signs Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Gave Germany all land outside of Russia it controlled (Balkans, Finland, Ukraine)
Civil War in Russia
1918-1921 Communist (Red Army) vs. loyalists and anti-Lenin followers Allied Troops supported the loyalists Serbians and Ukrainians mounted first offensive against Red Army
Both were put down swiftly The Royal Family
Czar Nichols and his family were eventually executed on July 16, 1918 They were burned and buried near Yekaterinburg
Triumph of the Communists
Reasons the Communists won the Civil War A well disciplined military force led by Leon Trotsky Lack of unity among the Anti-Communist troops War Communism
Government controls all aspects of society and systematically regulates it Revolutionary terror in the form of the Cheka (secret police)
Destroyed anyone opposing the regime Patriotism to protect Russia from foreign armies invading
Chapter 27: World War IWorld War I Ends
The Last Year of the War
1917 Tough year for the Allies
Russia withdraws from the war due to revolution The western front had become a total loss
United States enters war and gives much needed morale boost Germans saw the withdrawal of Russia as a chance to end the war
Assumed one last offensive would end it all
The Last Year of the War
1918 March
Beginning of the final offensive April
Move to within 50 miles of taking Paris July 18
Second Battle of the Marne Germans stopped by American, French, and Moroccans (140,000 troops) Was the beginning of the end of Germany
September 1 million American troops help drive back Germany and Gen. Ludendorff knew it
was a lost cause
Collapse of Germany and Armistice
November 3, 1918 Germany Navy
Mutinied once they found out they were going to lose war Why lose more lives in a lost cause?
November 9, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II
Flees Germany due to pressure from workers and soldiers trying to take over country
November 11, 1918 New German government signs armistice to end the war
Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points” For Peace
Despite the hero’s welcome he received in Europe, Wilson’s plan for peace would be rejected by the Allies
Wilson’s plan was called the “Fourteen points”
Included in his “points” were: No secret treaties Freedom of the Seas More free trade Reduction of armsLess colonialism League of Nations to promote peace
The Paris Peace Conference
The Big Four leaders, Wilson (U.S.), Clemenceau (France), Lloyd George (England), and Orlando (Italy), worked out the Treaty’s details
Wilson conceded on most of his 14 points in return for the establishment of the League of Nations
On June 28, 1919, the Big Four and the leaders of the defeated nations gathered in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty established nine new nations including;
Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia The Treaty broke up the Austro-
Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire empires
The Treaty barred Germany from maintaining an army, required them to give Alsace-Lorraine back to France, and forced them to pay $33 billion in reparations to the Allies