1. World War 1
Lecture 1

2. Causes of the War What do you see here?
What do the different colors represent?
Who is allied to whom?
Why might these countries make these alliances?
Which countries might have the greatest or least need to join an alliance?

3. Europe at its Peak
Industrial Revolution made Western European Nations the most wealthy and technologically advanced on earth
Western Europe Dominated the global economy
All aspects of life were affected by modernization
Standard of living and life expectancy were at an all time high in the early 20th century

4. Cause #1: Imperial Tensions
European nations had competing colonies
Colonies served as sources of inexpensive raw materials, pools of cheap labor, and markets for finished products
Many colonial conflicts nearly turned into full fledged wars between their mother countries

5. Economic & Imperial Rivalries

6. Cause #2: Militarism
Glorification of war and increase in military spending
Germany competed with England’s naval superiority
England responded by producing new military technology and increasing its size to double that of the next biggest navy
Russian mobilized 6 million troops, so Germany greatly expanded the size of its standing army

7. 1910-1914 Increase in Defense Expenditures
Militarism & Arms Race
Total Defense Expenditures for the Great Powers [Ger., A-H, It., Fr., Br., Rus.] in millions of £s.
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1914 94
130
154
268
289
398
Increase in Defense Expenditures
France
10%
Britain
13%
Russia
39%
Germany
73%

8. Cause #3: Nationalism
Great pride in one’s country or aspiring to become one’s own country
Germany (1871) and Italy (1870) had only recently became united, independent countries
Many countries torn by tensions of different nationalist groups
Combined with militarism and imperial competition, this increased tensions in Europe

9. Cause #4: The System of Alliances
Countries formed a web of treaties to protect themselves
Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain
Treaty system began by German Chancellor – Otto von Bismarck – wanted to accomplish 2 goals
1. keep Germany out of a 2 front war
2. diplomatically isolate France

10. 1. The Alliance System
Triple Entente:
Triple Alliance:

11. Two Armed Camps!
Allied Powers:
Central Powers:

12. Victor Emmanuel II [It]
The Major Players:
Allied Powers:
Central Powers:
Nicholas II [Rus]
Wilhelm II [Ger]
George V [Br]
Victor Emmanuel II [It]
Enver Pasha [Turkey]
Pres. Poincare [Fr]
Franz Josef [A-H]

13. The War Breaks Out Nationalism in the Balkans (Pan-Slavism)
Considered the powder-keg of Europe
People with diverse religions, ethnic backgrounds, and languages
People of the Balkans were very proud of their heritage and greatly desired independence
As the Ottoman Empire’s control of the Balkans receded, new nations were born (i.e. Serbia, Bosnia, Romania, etc…)
Russia and Austria competed for control of new nations in the Balkans
Austria-Hungary annexes Bosnia in 1908 and Serbia resents this

14. Pan-Slavism: The Balkans, 1914 The “Powder Keg” of Europe

15. War Breaks Out: The Assassination of the Archduke
Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria visited the Bosnian Capital of Sarajevo on June 28, 1914
7 assassin from the Black Hand, a Serbian nationalist group, plot against him
19 year old Gavrilo Princip (the 7th and final assassin) shot the Archduke (in the neck) and his wife (in the stomach)

16. The Assassin:
Gavrilo Princip

17. War Breaks Out: Austria-Hungary’s Ultimatum
Germany gave “blank check” of military support to Austria-Hungary
1. The suppression of all anti-Austrian activity in Serbia
2. Called for the dismissal of all Serbian officials to whom Austria-Hungary objected
Demanded the right for Austrian officials to enter Serbia to investigate Serbian state complicity in the crime and carry out suppression of anti-Austrian organizations

18. War Breaks Out: Serbia Responds
Knowing that they have the backing and support of Russia, Serbia accepts the first 2 ultimatums, but not the 3rd
Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia on July 28, 1914

19. War Breaks Out: The Alliance System Leads to War
Russia supported Serbia and Germany supported Austria-Hungary
Within one week, almost all of Europe plunged into war
Germany declares war on Russia (and France
Britain declares war on Germany

20. World War 1: The Fighting Begins
Lecture 2

21. A Multi-Front War

22. The Schlieffen Plan

23. The Western Front
The Western Front was a 475 mile long stretch of land along Frances border with Belgium and Germany
Germany tried to take France quickly in the Western Front and then turn to fight Russia
This was called the Schlieffen Plan - a quick all-out attack on France through the lowlands of Belgium
Germans wanted to avoid fighting on 2 fronts (France and Russia)
Within weeks the Germans were within 50 miles of Paris
Germans made some tactical errors allowing the French and the Allied armies to regroup and push the Germans back
The two sides settled into a war of attrition

24. The Western Front

25. Battles Along the Western Front
Fighting summarized by long battles that took hundreds of thousands of lives
Almost no ground was gained by either side
Battle of Verdun (1916) – German initiated, lasted 6 months, 500,000 casualties for each side
Battle of Somme (1916) – French initiated, lasted 6 months, over 1 million casualties

26. Verdun – February, 1916 German offensive.
Each side had 500,000 casualties.

27. The Somme – July, 1916 60,000 British soldiers killed in one day.
Over 1,000,000 killed in 5 months.

28. The Eastern Front
Lack of supplies and modern technology caused Russia enormous defeats to the Germans and Austrians
25% of Russian troops were without weapons and instructed to take them from dead comrades
By 1917, morale of troops and country were at an all time low – Russia was ripe for a revolution
Vladimir Lenin led the Bolsheviks in overthrowing Tsar Nicholas as ruler of Russia
Brest-Litovsk Treaty signed with revolutionary government in Russia (1917) – lost ¼ of country

29. The Balkan Front
The Allied Powers decided that the key to victory was to defeat the Ottoman Empire by attacking near Istanbul
This would allow the allies to supply the Russians, free the Balkans, and attack Austria from the south
April 1915 – British troops land on the Gallipoli Peninsula in an attempt to capture Dardanelles
The campaign failed and British were driven out

30. The Gallipoli Disaster, 1915

31. New Weapons and Technology
The industrial revolution changed the face of war – war became faster, more efficient, and amazingly accurate

32. The Machine Gun
Modern industry replaced the single-fire, short-range rifle
British machine guns held 250 rounds of ammunition and fired 8 rounds per-second at a distance of 2,900 yards

33. Artillery
Artillery also modernized to become more effective in warfare
Changes were made to make them able to carry greater and deadlier payloads to further and more accurate destinations
Became more destructive
24 million shells used in the Battle of Verdun alone

34. Krupp’s “Big Bertha” Gun

35. Weapons of the Industrial Age
75 different types of poison-gas bombs used
Flame throwers
Tanks
Airplanes
U-Boats/submarines
New Weaponry accounted for more than 10 million deaths in World War 1

36. Sacrifices in War

37. Poison Gas
Machine Gun

38. Flame Throwers
Grenade Launchers

39. “Squadron Over the Brenta” Max Edler von Poosch, 1917
The Airplane
“Squadron Over the Brenta” Max Edler von Poosch, 1917

40. Allied Ships Sunk by U-Boats

41. U-Boats

42. British Tank at Ypres

43. French Renault Tank

44. Trench Warfare
Modern technology ruined the military strategy of massive charges of soldiers
475 miles of trenches were dug across northern France
British troops used over 10 million shovels during the war
Charging “over the top”, crossing no man’s land to overtake enemy trenches
Boring, terrifying, and caused shell shock
Horrible living conditions

45. Trench Warfare
“No Man’s Land”

46. Trench Warfare

47. War Is HELL !!

48. World War 1: The Effects of War
Lecture 3

49. Total War Civilians back home made huge sacrifices
Governments controlled industries and rationing
“victory is only possible if all the treasures of our soil that agriculture and industry can produce are used exclusively for the war effort”
Germans 17 to 60 not at war worked wherever the government told them to

50. Women and the War
Worked in jobs traditionally held only by men, who were at the front
Number in paid employment rose by over one million
Worked in paramilitary organizations to support soldiers at front
Paid less than men for same work
Industrial and civil work provided better pay and working hours than traditional jobs
Women discovered the benefits of financial autonomy and greater mobility
Some refused to return to domestic service
Women won the right to vote throughout Europe

51. Munitions Workers

52. French Women Factory Workers

53. German Women Factory Workers

54. Russian Women Soldiers

55. Red Cross Nurses

56. Patriotic Fervor Many Europeans looked forward to war at the start
Most believed that the war would end with in months not years
In each country, the wartime government took control of the economy. Governments told factories what to produce and how much. Numerous factories were converted to munitions factories. Nearly every able-body civilian was put to work in the war effort.

57. Patriotic Fervor
Many goods were in short supply that governments turned to rationing
Governments also suppressed anti-war activity – sometimes forcibly
Governments also used propaganda to keep up morale and support for the war effort

58. Propaganda
The spreading of ideas, information or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause or a person
Ideas, facts or allegations spread deliberately to further one’s cause or to damage an opposing cause
One of the main instruments of propaganda was the war poster

59. Attitudes Change
Soldiers changed European’s optimistic Fervor through letters about the horrors of war
No crowds or heroes’ Welcome after the war

60. Recruitment Posters

65. A German Boy Pretends to Be a Soldier

66. New French Recruits

67. Recruits of the Central Powers
A German Soldier Says Farewell to His Mother
Austro-Hungarians

68. A Young Australian Recruit

69. Homework: Propaganda Posters
Create a poster that could be used by one of the combatants for propaganda purposes during WWI
Poster should be as authentic as possible to the period
Due Tuesday, January 18

70. World War 1: The Americans and the End of the War
Lecture 4

71. The Americans April 1917 – The Americans enter into the war
Germans focus all their efforts on the Western front in 1917 with Russia’s exit from the war
The Americans offset the loss of the Russians
The Americans provided money, materials, and troops

72. 2 events drew the Americans into the war
The sinking of the Lusitania
An American Ship sunk off the coast of Ireland by the Germans
Over 1200 dead including a member of the influential Vanderbilt family
The Zimmerman Telegram
Secretly sent to the Mexicans requesting an Alliance having them attack the United States
Promised the return of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona
Also requests an alliance with Japan

73. The Sinking of the Lusitania

74. The Zimmerman Telegram

75. The Yanks Are Coming!

76. Americans in the Trenches

77. “Paths of Glory” C. R. W. Nevinson, 1917

78. The Allied Advantage
The Allies effectively implement a naval blockade of the Central Powers
Blockade creates shortages of food and raw materials in Germany and Austria
Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire were greatly weakened by the Allied effort

79. The War Ends The war was questionable until the very end
1918 brought a quick end
Bulgaria surrenders first when a British-French force defeated the Bulgarians in Greece
Turks surrendered next in October 1918
Austria-Hungary gave in November 4, 1918 after increased attacks by the Italians and civil unrest with in its own country
Independence was promised to the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Croats if they agreed to revolt against the Central Powers
Germany then stood alone when on Nov. 9, 1918 Berlin revolted and the Kaiser was overthrown and a new Government (a republic) was put into place

80. 1918 Flu Pandemic: Depletes All Armies
50,000,000 – 100,000,000 died

81. Surrender
On November 11, at 11 am, the new German government signed and agreed to an armistice ending all fighting

82. 11 a.m., November 11, 1918

83. 9,000,000 Dead

84. The Somme American Cemetary, France
116,516 Americans Died

85. World War I Casualties

86. The Paris Peace Conference (Versailles Peace Treaty)
Allies met in Paris on Jan. 18, 1919 to negotiate the terms of peace
Conference aimed at the “Big Four”
Britain – Prime Minister David Lloyd George
France – President Georges Clemenceau
Italy – President Vittorio Orlando
United States – President Woodrow Wilson

87. Wilson’s 14 Points
President Woodrow Wilson offered a framework for a peace of justice
Hoped he could prevent future international crisis
Presented ideas of self determination and promised to choose their style of government and national independence
Promised new nations based on ethnic homogeneity throughout Europe
Wanted to create an international body of representatives from all the world’s countries to handle conflicts diplomatically

88. Italy, France, and Britain’s Plan
Italy demanded that the allies honor secret treaties signed at the beginning of war that promised territory in the eastern Mediterranean
Britain wanted to protect their overseas empire and increased influence in the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia
France wanted to punish Germany for their role in the war

89. Contrasting Ideas
Italy, France, and Britain’s plans for peace were in direct conflict to the United States
Britain supported France’s idea for a peace of vengeance
France and Britain felt they had more pull because they had the most sacrifices
Americans only lost approximately 330,000 soldiers
As the arguing amongst the Big Four intensified, Italy abandoned the conference and Wilson returned home without accomplishing anything

90. Vengeance is Served
France and Britain wanted Germany to pay heavily as well as humiliate and cripple them

91. The Conditions
France demanded security against future German aggression
Germany forced to turn over its navy
Germany could keep an army no larger than 100,000 soldiers
Return the region of Alsace-Lorraine to France
Disarm the Rhineland (the region between the Rhine River and the French border

92. More Conditions
France was to receive all coal produced in the Saar Valley for 15 years
Germany was forced to turn over all of its overseas colonies to the allies
Germany was forced to pay war reparations (handing over a blank check)
Reparations eventually equaled nearly 32 million
Agreed to the “Guilt Clause” – stated that Germany was responsible for all losses and damages incurred by the Allies during the war
Wilson agreed to treaty in exchange for the inclusion of the League of Nations

93. What about the other Central Powers?
Treaties similar to Germany’s signed with the other Central Powers
Many countries experienced a change in their borders
Bulgaria, Austria-Hungary, and Russia lost territory
Many new countries were created.

94. Turkish Genocide Against Armenians
A Portent of Future Horrors to Come!

95. Turkish Genocide Against Armenians
Turkish Genocide of Armenians ( )
Turkish Genocide Against Armenians
Districts & Vilayets of Western Armenia in Turkey
1914
1922
Erzerum
215,000
1,500
Van
197,000
500
Kharbert
204,000
35,000
Diarbekir
124,000
3,000
Bitlis
220,000
56,000
Sivas
225,000
16,800
Other Armenian-populated Sites in Turkey
Western Anatolia
371,800
27,000
Cilicia and Northern Syria
309,000
70,000
European Turkey
194,000
163,000
Trapizond District
73,390
15,000
Total
2,133,190
387,800