Chapter 26, Section 1: The Great War Begins  By 1914 – Europe had enjoyed a century of relative peace  Olympic Games in 1869  Universal Peace Conference 1899 “The future belongs to peace.” French economist Frederic Passy “I shall not live to see the Great War, but you will see it, and it will start in the east.” German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck HOPEFUL THE TRUTH

Alliances Draw Lines  Great powers of Europe = Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Britain, France & Russia  Treaties were signed to promote peace  They created powerful combinations – alliances - no one would dare attack (???)  Two great alliances were formed (next slides)  Had opposite effect

TRIPLE ALLIANCE (when war starts they become the CENTRAL POWERS)

TRIPLE ENTENTE (When war starts becomes known as the ALLIES)

Other Alliances Formed:  Germany signed a treaty with the Ottoman Empire  Britain drew close to Japan Old Empires of Austria-Hungary & Ottoman Turkey struggled to survive against nationalism

COMPETITION  Britain threatened by Germany’s strong economy  Germany thought no one gave them respect  Germany afraid of HUGE Russia catching up  Germany & France battle over colonies  Britain & France – ties against Germany

 Tensions create military buildups  #1 military competition = Britain vs. Germany  Britain world’s best navy  Germany jealous – builds up navy too  Creates arms race  MILITARISM = glorification of the military – made young men want to go to war

NATIONALISM  France wanted Alsace-Lorraine, Province they lost in Franco- Prussian War  Russia – Pan-Slavism = Slavic people share common nationality  Russia will defend all Slavs (like Serbia)

 Some Balkan (Slavic) States attack Ottoman Turkey – get some territory  1913 – Balkan states fight over who gets territory they won  Short bloody wars = TENSION!!!  1914 – Balkan States = “Powder Keg of Europe”  Tiny spark – it will EXPLODE!!!!

On The Eve of War

The Powder Keg Ignites  Archduke Francis (Franz) Ferdinand  Heir to Austria-Hungary Empire  Nephew of aging Austrian emperor Francis Joseph  Visits Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia  Bosnia under Austria-Hungary rule  Home of many Serbs & other Slavs  Royal visit angers Serbian nationalists  View Austrians as foreign oppressors

Assassination in Sarajevo  Members of Unity or Death – Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand vow to take action  Archduke ignored warnings of anti-Austrian unrest in Sarajevo  June 28, 1914 – he and his wife Sophie rode through Sarajevo in an open car

 As car passes – Black Hand conspirator Gavrilo Princip fires twice into car  Archduke and Sophie both die Assassination in Sarajevo

Princip is considered a martyr & hero in Serbia – but as a terrorist by most of the world He died of tuberculosis in an Austrian prison

Austria Strikes Back  Austria sees incident as excuse to crush Serbia who they wanted to control  German Kaiser William II Promises unconditional support  Austria sent Serbia a ultimatum – a final set of demands  Serbia must end all anti- Austrian agitation & punish any Serbian official involved in plot & let Austria help investigate German Kaiser William II Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria Kaiser William II and Emperor Francis Joseph were good friends and allies

 Serbia agreed to most but not all  Refusal = opportunity Austria was seeking  July 28, 1914 – Austria declared war on Serbia Austria Strikes Back Austrian artillery shelled Belgrade on July 29, 1914 Belgrade

Alliances Kick In  Conflict between Austria & Serbia could have been little war if not for alliances  Instead – great powers drawn deeper into conflict

Russia Backs Serbia  Serbia turns to ally Russia  Tsar Nicholas II asks Kaiser to ask Austria to soften demands  Plea fails  Russia mobilizes = prepares military forces for war  August 1 – Germany declares war on Russia

France Backs Russia  Russia asks ally France for help  France wants to avenge defeat in Franco-Prussian War (lost Alsace-Lorraine)  Backs up Russia  Germany tells France to stay out of conflict  France refused  August 3, Germany declares war on France

 Early August - Italy & Britain uncommitted  Italy neutral  Neutrality = policy of supporting neither side in war  Britain – help ally France or not?????  Germany – Schlieffen Plan  Move against France first  Russia slow to mobilize  Defeat France quickly – then attack Russia  Must go through neutral Belgium  Encircle & crush French army Belgium stands in Germany’s way The Schlieffen Plan was developed years earlier in 1905 by General Alfred von Schlieffen

 August 3, 1914 – Germany invades Belgium  Britain had signed treaty guaranteeing Belgian neutrality  August 4, 1914 – Britain outraged – declared war on Germany

Reaction to War  War machinery set in motion could not be stopped  War brought temporary relief from countries internal tensions  Came together to win war  Renewed sense of patriotism  fighting for justice & better world  Young men rushed to enlist British Diplomat Some were less optimistic

CountryAllied WithDate Entered Reasons for Entering War Austria-HungaryGermanyJuly 28, 1914 Wanted to punish Serbia for encouraging terrorism SerbiaRussiaJuly 28, 1914 Attacked by Austria-Hungary after assassination of Archduke GermanyAustria-HungaryAugust 1, 1914 Stood by its one dependable ally, Austria-Hungary RussiaSerbia, France, Britain August 1, 1914 Wanted to defend Slavic peoples in Serbia FranceRussia & BritainAugust 3, 1914 Wanted to avoid facing Germany alone at a later date BelgiumNeutralAugust 3, 1914 Invaded by Germany BritainFrance & RussiaAugust 4, 1914 Outraged by invasion of Belgium Reasons for Entering the War, July – August 1914 Archduke Francis (Franz) Ferdinand assassinated June 28, 1914 Within five weeks of the Archduke’s assassination all of Europe is in a World War