Causes of the War
Unstable balance of power SUPER nationalism (inspired Princip) Alliance system German Kaiser gave AH a "blank check" of support = international tension
Imperialism
colonization of foreign countries
Triple Alliance
Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary
Triple Entente
France, Great Britain, Russia
Balkan Wars effects
Increase in production of war materiel = upset in balance of power
Great Britain plans to send army onto European continent, alarms Germany into producing Schlieffen Plan
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Gavrilo Princip - June 28 1914 in Bosnia
Gave AH “permission” to invade Serbia
Germany declares war
Russia - August 1, 1914
France - August 3, 1914
Response to Assassination
Russia mobilizes in response to AH
Germany gives both Russia & France ultimatum to stop mobilization/declare neutrality
Advantages to Triple Alliance
- intensely industrialized
- troops from AH
- strong military power from Germany
Disadvantages to Triple Alliance
- two fronts - Russia east, FRance/Britain west
- cut off from colonies
- Italy switches sides
Advantages to Triple Entente
- Britain = best navy
- US as trading power
- lots of colonies
Disadvantages to Triple Entente
- divided/can’t communicate
- German u-boats = huge threat to British navy
- Russia lacks weapons
Where ARE the Balkans?
Between Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian empire
Ethnic and political instabilities of Balkans
Nationalism to ethnic groups instead of government, no strong government
War of Attrition
wear down the enemy by getting them to use as much war material as possible. Not to gain territory, but kill as many men as possible
Lusitania
May 7, 1915
German u-boats sunk American cargo ship, killing 127 Americans and causing Germany to suspend unrestricted sub warfare
Zimmerman Telegram
January 9, 1917
Released to America by Britain in March, causing Wilson to visit Congress
America declares war
April 4, 1917 - provide 12 million untrained men (can’t fight until end of 1917)
Wilson’s 14 points
- No more secret agreements
- Free navigation of all seas
- End to economic barriers
- Countries to reduce weapon numbers
- Decisions regarding colonies should be impartial
- -13. Deals with specific countries
- League of Nations to guarantee political/territorial independence
End of the War
Spring 1918 Germany runs out of resources
AH Empire dissolves into successor states
Kaiser abdicates
Armistice signed at 11 am, 11/11/18
10 million dead, 20 million wounded, $330 billion = cost
Alan Seeger
American poet in French Foreign Legion
Armenian Massacre
April 24, 1915
Battle of the Somme
June 1-November 13, 1916
British offensive but no weapons??
Bombed German lines and expected them all to be dead, but they were alive and waiting to slaughter the British
Siegfried Sassoon
British officer and poet - wrote Memoirs of George Sherston and The Old Huntsman
