-One European nation after another was drawn into a large and industrialized war that resulted in many casualties - Much of the technology of modern warfare, such as fighter planes and tanks, were introduced in WWI EUROPE PLUNGES INTO WAR

The Triple Entente Great Britain France Russia The Triple Alliance Germany Austria-Hungary Italy BY 1914 EUROPE WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO RIVAL CAMPS

The Allies Great Britain France Russia Japan Italy* Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Bulgaria The Ottoman Empire NATIONS TAKE SIDES

Germany’s battle strategy was known as the Schlieffen Plan. The plan called for defeating France in the west then rushing east to fight Russia. Germany thought Russia would be slower to mobilize due to their lack of a railroad system Speed was vital to victory A BLOODY STALEMATE

After Germanys initial serge into France they were defeated at the First Battle of Marne. The Schlieffen Plan was in ruins Germany would fight a long war on two fronts MARNE TO TRENCH

Barbed-wire Machine guns Poison Gas Armored Tanks Larger Artillery Flame throwers Submarines (U-Boats) The Western Front stretched nearly 500 miles from the North Sea to the Swiss boarder NEW TECHNOLOGY = MORE DEATH

The war in the east was more mobile than in the west. However, slaughter and stalemate were common. Russia made inroads into both Germany and Austria-Hungary but were turned around and forced to retreat taking heavy casualties. By 1916, Russia’s war effort was near collapse. Russia was not yet industrialized Supplies were limited and the loss of life was enormous. THE BATTLE OF THE EASTERN FRONT

European colonial possessions also came under assault. Japan overran German outposts in the Pacific English and French troops took 3 of Germany’s 4 African possessions Colonial subjects from India, South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and Indochina fought and died on the battlefield. WAR AFFECTS THE WORLD

In 1917, Germany announced they would sink any ship in British waters under the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. This had been tried by Germany before. On May 7, 1915 a U-boat sunk the British passenger ship the Lusitania Killing 1,198 people Of which 128 were U.S. citizens In February of 1917 US officials intercepted a telegram written by Germany to Mexico stating that Germany would help Mexico “reconquer” the land lost to the US in exchange for their support against the Allies. The Zimmermann Note was the final straw On April 2, 1917 President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany. AMERICA JOINS THE FIGHT

WWI soon became a total war- countries devoted all their resources to the war effort. The wartime governments of Britain, Germany, Austria, Russia, and France took over the economies of their respective countries Factories were told what to produce and how much Unemployment in many European countries nearly disappeared Gov’ts turned to rationing - People could buy only small amounts of those items that were also needed for the war effort. Gov’ts used propaganda - One-sided information designed to persuade, to keep up morale, and support the war WAR AFFECTS THE HOME FRONT

Germany was now able to send nearly all its forces to the Western Front Germany’s troops surged forward but were again stopped at Marne River First the Bulgarians and then the Ottoman Turks surrendered In Germany, soldiers mutinied, and the public turned on the kaiser Nov. 9, 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm II stepped down Germany declares itself a republic Armistice, or an agreement to stop fighting, was signed on November 11, and World War I came to an end. THE ALLIES WIN THE WAR

8.5 Million soldiers died as a result of the war 21 Million soldiers were wounded Countless civilian died due to starvation, disease, and slaughter Europe faced economic hardship (The war cost $338 Billion) Disillusionment settled over the survivors filled with insecurity and despair The Peace Agreement prompted anger and resentment THE LEGACY OF THE WAR