1. The First World War The Causes
McKay Chapter 27 ( ) Palmer 17.85

2. Overview of WWI

3. The Road to War German Empire begins Dual Alliance (1879)
Gavrilo Princeps & the Black Hand assasinate Archduke Ferdinand
German Empire begins
-France loses Alsace and Lorraine
Dual Alliance (1879)
Nicholas II crown Tsar of Russia
Bloody Sunday (St. Petersburg
League of the Three Emperors (1872)
Russo-Japanese War
Wilhelm II crowned Kaiser
-Drops the Pilot (1890)
British launch first "dreadnought" class battleship (1906)

4. Three Emperors League (1872)
Treaty between Kaiser William I of Germany, Czar Alexander II of Russia and Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria
Bismarck's aim for forming this League was to isolate France
agreed to
maintain the existing territorial arrangements in Europe
to resist the spread of revolutionary (e.g. socialist) movements
to consult one another if any international difficulties arose
A weak alliance:
rivalry between Austria and Russia over the Balkan Peninsula

5. The Russo-Turkish War (1878)
Rivalry between Austria and Russia in the Balkans came to a head in
In 1875, five Balkan states revolted against the Turkish rule
Russia supported Balkan states and defeated Turkey
On March 8, 1878, Turkey forced to sign the Treaty of San Stefano
created an independent, Big Bulgaria
Bulgaria would be a Russian puppet
Austria intervened, backed up by Britain
Bismarck volunteered to act as an "honest broker"

6. The Congress of Berlin 1878 Germany sided with Austria and Britain
Russia had to give up the Treaty of San Stefano and sign the Treaty of Berlin
Split Bulgaria into three parts
Bulgarian Proper
Eastern Rumelia and Macedonia were to be ruled under Turkish sovereignty
Bosnia and Herzegovina under Austrian military occupation (but not annexation)
Russia felt diplomatically humiliated
turned against Bismarck
Cartoon ridiculing the Congress of Berlin
Let us have piece

7. Cartoon satirizing the Congress of Berlin that led to Turkey’s loss of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria

8. Dual Alliance (1879-1918) Germany sided with Austria
Unable to maintain friendly relations with both Austria and Russia, Bismarck allied with Austria
preferred a weaker partner which could be more easily controlled
would throw open the Danube valley to German trade
had racial ties with Germany
would enable Germany to exercise influence in the Balkans
alliance with Russia would antagonize Britain
terms of the Dual Alliance
support the other militarily until the end of the war if attacked by Russia
agreed to remain neutral if her ally was attacked by a power other than Russia
Later adds Italy (Triple Alliance)

9. Second Three Emperors' League (1881)
Bismarck still wanted to keep Russian friendship after the signing of Dual Alliance (1879) with Austria
Czar Alexander III ascended the Russian throne after the assassination of Alexander II
renewal of the Three Emperors' League of 1872 which promised to suppress the revolutionary movements
terms of the League were
Balkans was to be divided into two spheres of influence
western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina) belonged to Austria
eastern Balkans (Bulgaria) belonged to Russia
the three Emperors agreed to consult one another if there was another Balkan crisis
Yet rivalry of Balkans between Austria and Russia remained

10. Reinsurance Treaty
Bismarck secretly made a treaty with Russia without informing Austria
Russia and Germany would observe neutrality towards each other if either became involved in war with a third power, except if Germany attacked France or if Russia attacked Austria-Hungary
Bismarck’s goal
Prevent two front war
Wilhelm II
refused to renew treaty
Dropped the Pilot (1890)
Began Weltpolitik (World Politics)
Wilhelm’s policy to make Germany a world power
Demanded a “place in the sun”
Announced plan to build large navy (Dreadnought ships)

11. Franco-Russian Alliance (1894)
Wilhelm’s rash decision not to renew Reassurance Treaty pushed Russia into arms of France
France gave loans, arms, and friendship
Military alliance formed to block attack of Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, Italy
Politics makes strange bedfellows

12. End of Splendid Isolation
Who would GB support?
Felt “natural alliance” with Germany (Angles & Saxons)
Yet tensions began to rise b/t GB and Germany after 1890
Wilhelm II = Diplomatic Dope
Kruger Telegram (1896)
"I express to you my sincere congratulations that, without appealing to the help of friendly Powers, you and your people have succeeded in repelling with your own forces the armed bands which had broken into your country, and in maintaining the independence of your country against foreign aggression."
Message sent following Transvaal’s victory against British Jameson Raid (1895)
GB realized that it was becoming isolated and hated (Fashoda, Boer War)

13. Britain turning back on Germany (1904)

14. Triple Entente Anglo-French Entente (1904)
was a close understanding (entente cordiale) in 1904
British and French governments come to terms over differences in 1904
British control of Egypt is recognized by France
French presence in North Africa is recognized by England
Not an alliance (didn’t say what they would do if war came)
Anglo-Russian Agreement (1907)
1907 a humiliated Russia (defeated by Japan) is agreeable to relations with England
British recognized Russian sphere of influence in the north of Persia
Russians recognized a British sphere in the south and east

15. First Moroccan Crisis (1905)
France obtained protectorate control of Morocco in 1904
In 1905, Germany announced its support of independence for Morocco
Tangier Speech
Kaiser William II made a speech from warship in Tangier to Moroccans and supported their independence against the French
Wilhelm wanted to test the Entente
tactic to drive a wedge b/t France and England
Both France and Germany called up reserve troops and began to mobilized
Algeciras Conference (1906)
At conference at Algeria (1906) France backed by Britain, Russia, Italy, Spain, and the United States
Germany’s only friend is Austria

16. Pan-Slav Nationalism Ausgleich
Compromise of 1867 creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Left many minorities embittered (esp. Slavs)
Pan Slavism nationalism was encouraged by Russia
Saw Serbians as their “little brothers”
Shared Slavic language, orthodox religion, cultural traditions
Serbs dreamed of a nation of southern Slavs (Yugoslavia)
Coveted Bosnia-Herzegovina
Interlaced population of Catholic Croats, Albanian Muslims, and Orthodox Serbs

17. Bosnian Crisis (1908) Secret agreement between Austria and Russia
Austria would take Bosnia
Russia would take Straits
Austria quickly annexes Bosnia
Serbia is furious
Wanted Slavic Bosnia
Serbia threatened war on Austria-Hungary
Russia began to mobilize but waited to long to act
backed down after GB and France condemn action
World War I was postponed when Russia backed down
relations between Austria- Hungary and Serbia were greatly strained
Austria and Bulgaria rip up the Ottoman Empire: the Bosnian Crisis, 1908

18. Two Balkan Wars First Balkan War (1912) Second Balkan War (1913)
Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece joined in and took Macedonia from the Ottomans
Serbs wanted Kosovo
Bulgars claimed more of Macedonia than was acceptable to Serbia
Second Balkan War (1913)
Austria, Serbia (Russia), and Greece squabble over Albania (Muslim) and attack Bulgaria
Austria was determined to keep Serbia land locked
Albania became “Independent”
Serbs were frustrated
Russians were humiliated again
The Vortex- Will the Powers be drawn in?

20. 1879 The Dual Alliance                                         Germany and Austria-Hungary made an alliance to protect themselves from Russia
1881 Austro-Serbian Alliance                                      Austria-Hungary made an alliance with Serbia to stop Russia gaining control of Serbia
1882 The Triple Alliance                                          Germany and Austria- Hungary made an alliance with Italy to stop Italy from taking sides with Russia
1914 Triple Entente (no separate peace)                                      Britain, Russia and France agreed not to sign for peace separately.
                                                                                      
1894 Franco-Russian Alliance                                       Russia formed an alliance with France to protect herself against Germany and Austria-Hungary
1907 Triple Entente                                          This was made between Russia, France and Britain to counter the increasing threat from Germany.
1907 Anglo-Russian Entente                                         This was an agreement between Britain and Russia
1904 Entente Cordiale                                         This was an agreement, but not a formal alliance, between France and Britain.
Top

21. Europe on the Eve of War, June 1914
Germany competes with GB’s naval supremacy
Germany’s militarism threatens France and Russia
Russian, Germany, GB, France compete for empire
Malignant nationalism grows in Serbia
Russia, Aus-Hun, Ottoman Emp. vie for control of Balkans

23. The Sarajevo Crisis Gavrilo Princeps a Serbian nationalist
Member of the “Black Hand”
Sometimes called Young Bosnia
assassinated Hapsburg Archduke Francis Ferdinand (Heir to the Austrian throne) on June 28, 1914
Ferdinand was known to favor more equality for the Serbs
But reformers who made the system work are the most dangerous to revolutionaries who want total change
Evidence suggested that the Serbian gov. had aided the assassins
Austria now determined to end Slav nationalism

25. Germany “Blank Check” Blank Check
Refers to Germany’s unconditional support of Austria to be harsh with Serbia
Austria issued “The July Ultimatum” to Serbia
10 intentionally unacceptable demands
Demanded that it lead the investigation in Serbia and punish the perpetrators
Serbia accepted 8 of the ten but claimed a violation of sovereignty
Knew that Russia would not allow its further loss of influence in the Balkans
Russia counted on France which gave Russia a blank check

27. The Guns of August Austria declared war on Serbia July 28, 1914
Russia began partial mobilization against Austria and Germany
The first nation to mobilize had advantage of rapid offense
Germany demanded Russia end its mobilization but got no answer
Declared war on Russia and France on Aug. 1 and
Britain was evasive at first and on 8/4/14 declared war on Germany
Unsatisfactory answer regarding Belgian neutrality
Had Germany known that British would fight the whole war may have been avoided
But Germany should have known that England would fight, especially after Belgium was invaded
Violated Treaty of Neutrality of 1839
WWI had begun

29. MAIN causes of WWI Militarism
Aggressive buildup of armed forces meant to intimidate other nations
German insecurity led to massive buildup
Alliance System
Insecurity caused nations form security guarantees
An attack on one was an attack on all
Imperialism
Intense competition among powers
for territory/ status
Nationalism
Intense love of one’s nation mixed with social Darwinism
Viewed other nations as inferior
Fredrick Nietzsche’s Will to Power
Militarism
Aggressive buildup of armed forces meant to intimidate other nations
German felt surrounded by France, Russia
German began naval buildup
Threatened Britain
Alliance System
GB allied with France & Russia
Germany allied with Austria-Hungary & Ottoman Empire
If one nation was attacked, ALL members of Alliance went to war
Imperialism
European powers competed for empires
Southern Slavs resented imperial domination of Austria-Hungary
Nationalism
Intense love of one’s nation (& inferiority of others) increased
Lased with Social Darwinism (Will to Power)

30. Causes of WWI The Alliance System Based on living in fear of war
Any given incident or crisis (German intervention in Morocco, assassination of Archduke) could not be settled by the primary parties
German militarism/encirclement (Weltpolitik)
Feared war with both France and Russia
Forced to support Austria
1887 began to compete with British navy
Dreadnought (1906)
“Place in the Sun”
Made Germany aggressive
British ended “splendid isolation”
Makes Germany feel encircled
Balance of Power upset
German strength
Threatened France
Forced France to support Russia

31. Causes of WWI Russian and Austrian weakness and desperation
Both were tottering empires
Russian revolutionaries weaken empire
Austrian nationalistic agitation weaken empire
Each had little to lose and were reckless
Nationalism/ Ethnic & Social Tensions
Aggressive nationalism made each nation believe that theirs was the right cause
Flamed by Nation-States
Molded public opinion, created traditions
Flags, national anthems, uniforms
France resurrected Bastille Day in 1880
Social Democrats unrepresented in German government
War used as a means to distract the masses
Zeitgeist
Weltpolitik (World Politic)
Wilhelm II policy to make Germany world power
Social Darwinism
Authors like Nietzsche glorified struggle
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
Friedrich Nietzsche German philosopher ( )