Jan 03, 2016
Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism
All great powers had large standing military
Generals had detailed plans for mobilization Ex) Germany’s Schlieffen
Plan
General Alfred Graf von Schlieffen
Quickly defeat France then sweep to the east to defeat Russia (difficulty mobilizing)
Go through neutral Belgium
Triple Entente Triple Alliance
Great Britain Germany
France Austria-Hungary
Russia Italy
Assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of A-H (June 28, 1914)
Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Gavrilo Princip – assassin
Germany gave unconditional support – “blank check”
A-H’s harsh ultimatum to Serbia (July 23, 1914)
Serbia agreed to many, wanted to settle by international conference
A-H rejected (July 28, 1914 declared war)
Chain reaction (1914) Austria war on Serbia Russia moving army to A-H & German
borders Aug. 1 – German gov’t war on Russia Aug. 3 – Germany war on France Aug. 4 – Great Britain war on Germany
Brings Great Britain into the war
“Quickly defeat French then sweep to east to defeat Russia…”
Had to move through neutral Belgium – brought England into war Aug. 4, 1914
By mid Aug. 1914 lines were drawn Central Powers –
Germany & A-H Bulgaria & Ottoman Empire (wanted land)
Allies – Great Britain, France & Russia Japan & Italy switched sides
3 Theaters
Western Front – France – trench warfare
Eastern Front – Russia – 19th cent. warfare
Southern Front – Balkans -
Schlieffen Plan worked early but ultimately failed (French intelligence)
Sept. 6-10, Allies attacked NE of Paris (First Battle of Marne)
Sept. 13 – Germans were driven back 60 mi
1 of most imp. Events of the war – defeat of Germans meant the Schlieffen Plan failed
By 1915 both sides dug miles of trenches
Space b/w sides “no man’s land”
New weapons did not mean faster war – only more efficient way to kill more ppl Tanks, poison gas, larger artillery
1916 – Germans attack on French – lost 300,000+ ea.
July 1916, English attacked Germans NW of Verdun - lost 500,000+ ea.
Total land gained: 4 mi(Germans) & 5 mi (British)
Russians defeated Austrians twice in Sept. 1914
Dec. tide turned: Austrians w/ Germans drove Russians Eastward
Along German & Russian border
During 1914, Germans crushed Russians (Battle of Tannenberg)
Russia not industrialized – lacked supplies & ports blocked
Asset for Russians: People 1915: 2mill+ died, wounded, captured STILL ABLE TO REBUILD
Able to force Germany into 2-Front war
Unrestricted submarine warfare Germany attempted counter blockade Sink any ships in water near Britain Lusitania – British passenger ship sunk w/
128 Americans
Zimmerman Note Germany would help Mexico “re-conquer”
lands Keep U.S. distracted
KEEP THE WAR EFFORT GOING!!! Centralization of power
Ex) Censorship
Economic regimentation Ex) Rationing, production
Manipulation of public opinion (aka Propaganda)
2nd Battle of the Marne 30/40 mi outside Paris 140,000 U.S. soldiers
Nov. 9, 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates
Nov. 11, 1918: armistice
Woodrow Wilson United States
Georges Clemenceau France
David Lloyd George Great Britain
Vittorio Orlando Italy
14 Points: outlines plans for achieving just & long-lasting peace
14th point: “general association of nations”
G.B & France limited agreement Concern for national security Wanted to punish Germany
Germany punished “War Guilt” Clause – Germany sole “guilt” &
pay reparations Restriction on German military Lost territory
League of Nations – Germany & Russia excluded
New countries formed Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland,
Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary & Yugoslavia (Serbs, Croats & Slovenes)
COST 8.5 million soldiers dead 21 million wounded $338 billion Destroyed acres of
farmland/cities
Lost Generation Despair can be seen in artwork
Ushered in 1929 depression
New nation-states created
European nations turned to dictatorships Russia, Italy & Germany
Impact on Women Replaced men in factories, changed dress,
suffrage
“A Peace Built on Quicksand” U.S. ultimately rejected it
Bitterness & hatred left in Germany
Ppl in colonies upset not independent
Italy/Japan upset – didn’t gain territory
Sets the stage for WWII