The Great War Begins Main Idea Reading Focus Europe in 1914 was on the brink of war. After an assassination, the nations of Europe were drawn one by one into what would be called the Great War, or World War I. Reading Focus Why was Europe on the brink of war in 1914? Why did war break out? What were the results of the fighting in 1914?

Europe on the Brink of War Rising tensions in Europe, 1914 Tensions result of four factors Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism

Europe on the Brink of War Massive military buildup in European countries, late 1800s and early 1900s Wanted to protect overseas colonies from other nations Growing power of armed forces left all sides ready to act at first sign of trouble Minor disagreements had potential to turn to armed conflict Militarism Nations formed partnerships to protect against opposing forces Triple Alliance Germany Austria-Hungary Italy Triple Entente Great Britain France Russia Believed no one nation would attack another, because allies would join fight Alliances

Europe on the Brink of War Late 1800s and early 1900s saw quest to build empires Created rivalry, ill will among European nations Germany, France, Russia, Great Britain vied to become great imperial nations Each did not want others to gain power Imperialism Strong devotion to one’s national group or culture, increased in late 1800s Led to formation of new countries, struggles for power Most visible in Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe Home to many ethnic groups trying to break free from Ottoman Empire Nationalism

Triple Alliance Triple Entente

Tension in the Balkans

Does This Makes Any Sense?

Europe on the Brink of War Some of strongest nationalist tensions were in independent Serbia Serbian leaders wanted to expand borders, unite people in “Greater Serbia” Austria-Hungary, powerful empire to north, opposed expansion Feared growth might encourage ethnic groups to rebel Tensions continued to rise in early 1900s

War Breaks Out The Impact Fighting Begins In the midst of the tensions with Serbia, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary decided to visit the Bosnian city of Sarajevo. Serbian Gavrilo Princip assassinated archduke, wife Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia Russia prepared to support Serbia Austria-Hungary ally Germany saw Russia as threat Germany declared war on Russia, ally France The Impact Germany faced war on two fronts: Russia to east, France to west Decided to strike France quickly then move to Russia Began with quick strike into neutral Belgium Attack on neutral country led Great Britain to declare war on Germany Fighting Begins

Main players in World War I in place War Breaks Out Main players in World War I in place Central Powers (What happened to the Triple Alliance?) Germany Austria-Hungary Allied Powers (Triple Entente grows) Great Britain France Russia Serbia Montenegro

Germany’s Schlieffen Plan Quickly defeat France Move east to fight Russia Great Britain’s declaration of war on Germany doomed its plan German advanced stopped The Great War became bloody stalemate (Trench Warfare)

A Bloody Stalemate Failures of the Schlieffen Plan- Sept. 5th, 1914 Allied forces attacked the Germans northeast of Paris in the valley of the Marne River 600 taxicabs brought Allied re-enforcements to the front Sept.9th, the Germans retreated The 1st Battle of the Marne left the Schlieffen Plan in ruins b/c a quick victory no longer existed

A Bloody Stalemate Trench Warfare-Soldiers would fight from trenches often for pitifully small pieces of land The space between the trenches was called “no man’s land” The trenches along the Western Front reached nearly 500 miles from the North Sea to the Swiss border New Military Technologies- Machine guns, poison gas, tanks, armored cars and submarines were widely used for the 1st time in war

Trench Life

Early Battles 1914 Battle of Frontiers Battle of Tannenberg Germany vs. France and Britain Both sides suffer heavy losses Germany victorious Battle of Tannenberg Russia attacks Germany in the east Germany victorious Germany distracted from France Allies turn on German invaders Battle of the Marne (1st) Allied troops drive back Germany Retreating Germany digs series of trenches along Aisne River Allies dig trenches of their own Major battles for months with little change in positions Deadlocked region became known as Western Front (Trench Warfare)