World War I

1. The Beginning By 1914 tensions in Europe had risen and many believed the continent was on the brink of war

b. Four factors contributed to this problem Militarism Europe had undergone a massive military buildup during the period of the late 1800s into the early 1900s European countries had colonized around the world and were now wanting to protect their own interest Left all sides anxious Remember the larger the population of a country the bigger army it could amass

ii. Alliances Nations entered into alliances with other nations Two major alliances Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy The Triple Entente: France, Russia and Great Britain

iii. Imperialism Quest to build empires fuelled ill will among the nations Germany, France, Russia and Great Britain all saw themselves as imperial nations Did not think they could stand by while a rival gained power

iv. Nationalism Nationalism: Strong devotion to one’s national group or culture Movement led to formation of new countries like Germany and Italy and struggles for power Strongest national tensions were in the Balkans in a nation called Serbia

4. Pan-Slavic Nationalism Pan-Slavism: the idea of a unified Slavic race under the protection of Russia This would give Russia access to the much wanted warm water seaports Russians supported liberation movements of the Slavic peoples such as Serbians, Croats, Slovaks, and Poles, etc….

2. Austria-Hungary and Serbia 1908 Austria-Hungary took the Slavic territories of Bosnia- Herzegovina from the weak Ottoman Empire Serbia appealed to Russia for help, but Russia was just coming off a defeat by Japan and was unable to help

b. The Balkan Wars Began in 1912 and was between the Balkan countries and the Ottoman Empire Serbia wanted Albania in exchange for fighting on the Russian side They did not get it

iii. 1913, Albania was made independent and off limits to Serbia Russia was not able to influence or help out Serbia Serbians were angry Russia was left humiliated iv. Russia had no power in Europe Russians vow never to be again humiliated Were ready for a war in order to save their honor

3. War Breaks Out June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand visits Sarajevo Was the next in line for the Austrian-Hungarian throne While driving through the city with his wife Sophie, they are assassinated by Gavrilo Princip Was a member of a Serbian national group called the Black Hand

Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Gavrilo Princip

iv. Austria declared war on July 28, 1914 iii. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and made a list of demands for Serbia to agree to Terms were humiliating to Serbia and she refused to agree to them iv. Austria declared war on July 28, 1914

b. Mobilization Russia will side with Serbia and began to prepare for war Russia’s mobilization was seen as a threat and Germany (all of Austria-Hungary) mobilizes against Russia Germany will declare war on Russia and then France

c. Schlieffen Plan Germany had developed a plan to help prevent fighting a war on two fronts Plan was called Schieffen Plan Called for Germany to quickly defeat France in the west and then head east to fight Russia

iii. Quickest way to France was through Belgium Belgium was neutral country Germany invades and causes Great Britain to enter the war iv. Great Britain joins in on France’s and Russia’s side

d. Two Powers Central Powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary Allied Powers: Great Britain, France, Russia and Serbia

4. Stalemate 1914 By the end of 1914 two trench systems stretched hundreds of miles across Europe The Western Front was the dead lock region in western Europe

The War Effort

1. Trench Warfare Life in the Trench Soldiers lived there Wet and dirty Bullets, bombs and grenades would go off all around you Many times dead bodies stayed where they were at Rats and lice were present

vi. “Over the Tops” Soldiers were sent over the trench and ran towards the enemy lines through no man’s land Many were gunned down before they ever made it to the other side

b. Trench warfare made the development of new technology necessary

2. New Warfare Poison Gas Different kinds of gas could do different things i.e.: choke, blind or burn victims This led to the development of gas masks

b. Rapid fire machine guns

c. Tanks Armored vehicles Pioneered by the British

d. Aircraft First used to observe enemy positions Eventually guns and bombs were attached e. Even with all of this technology neither side was able to gain an adventure

3. The Home Front Government Action War was also being waged at home Governments took action Factories produced military equipment Citizens would conserve food Governments tried to control public opinion Governments would censor newspaper reports

4. Used propaganda Information used to influence opinion Encouraged support of the war Used posters, pamphlets, and articles

b. Women and the War Effort With men away fighting the war on the various fronts, women at home filled positions that were once occupied by men Jobs Work in factories Help send food and weapons Served as nurses All of these things would help transform the public view of what women could do

4. Western Front Battles Battle of Verdun Verdun was a French fortress Purpose of the battle was to kill and injure as many French soldiers as possible Lasted from February to December 1914 Around 400,000 French casualties and just as many Germans Ended in a stalemate

b. Battle of the Somme Fought near the Somme River in France, June 1916 It was an allied assault On the first day alone the British had 60,000 casualties Ended in December 1916 with no major break through

d. After three years of fighting the lines were virtually unchanged c. 3rd Battle of Ypres Took place in Belgium Ended badly for the British d. After three years of fighting the lines were virtually unchanged

5. Around the World Ottoman Empire Entered the war on the Central powers side in late 1914 Controlled the Dardanelles A water route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea Allies used this straight to ship supplies to Russia

b. The Gallipoli Campaign Began in 1915 It was an Allied effort to destroy guns and forts that lined the Dardanelles Allies will give up after months of fighting and nearly 200,000 casualties

c. The Armenian Massacre Late 1914, Russia attacks the Caucasus, a region between the Black and Caspian Seas Area was home to ethnic Armenians They were a minority in the Ottoman Empire, because most were Christians

ii. Ottoman’s claimed the Armenians were helping the Russians iii. Spring 1915 Ottoman’s began to forcibly remove the Armenians from the Caucasus Some 600,000 Armenians died either from violence, starvation or both Many accused Ottoman’s of genocide: the deliberate destruction of a racial, political or cultural group

The Russian Revolution

1. Before the War The Bolsheviks Many were discontent with conditions within Russia and started to support a small political group called the Bolsheviks They were a Marxist group that wanted to change Russia through revolution

b. Vladimir Lenin Leader of the Bolsheviks Wanted to overthrow the czar He wanted the Proletariat (industrial workers) to gain power and rule Russia as a socialist country

c. Economic Conditions By 1914, economic conditions were so bad that World War I provided some relief Czar Nicholas II hoped the war would unite the country and rally the citizens around his leadership

2. World War I Military Russia’s army was around 6 million at the start of the war Russia was ill-prepared for war Russia’s factories could not produce the amount of ammunition or supplies that the army needed quickly enough Military not equipped to fight a major war Equipment was out of date Leaders within the army were poorly qualified

iv. Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the army in 1915 iii. Russia will enjoy initial success, but their losses will soon outweigh their victories iv. Czar Nicholas II takes personal command of the army in 1915 His fate will be linked with the army When the army lost a major campaign, people’s faith in his leadership was severed

Nicholas II Alexandra

b. Conditions in Russia Food and other goods grew scarce in major cities Czar left his wife, Czarina Alexandra, in charge when he left for the front Czarina relied on the advice of Grigory Rasputin Rasputin was a self-proclaimed holy man Many viewed him as immoral and corrupt

3. Revolution Begins March 18, 1917 Citizens protest in Russia’s capital, Petrograd Protested lack of food and fuel Police and soldiers refuse to follow orders to shoot rioters Czar ordered the Duma, Russia’s legislature to disband. The Duma does not Nicholas is forced to abdicate his throne. This ends the Russian monarchy

b. Provisional Government Duma established a provisional government after the czar abdicated Led by Alexsandr Kerensky Government planned to continue fighting in the war even though the Russian people were tired of fighting Bolsheviks oppose Kerensky’s government Wanted to fundamentally change Russian society and government

c. Bolsheviks Planned to abolish private property Enforce social equality Believed revolution would sweep the world Lenin will be snuck back into Russia by the Germans in 1917

4. Bolshevik Revolution Mid 1917 Russians ordered final military offensive and failed Led to widespread rebellion Nov. 1917 armed factory workers a.k.a. the Red Guard attacked the provisional government This is known as the October Revolution

c. Kerensky’s government collapses d. Lenin will become Russia’s leader He declared private property illegal and gave land to the peasants He also turned factories over to the workers

5. After the Revolution Peace with the Central Powers Leon Trotsky Sent to negotiate a peace with the Central Powers Accepted an agreement that forced Russia to give up huge chunks of its empire

b. Civil War Fought by the “Red Army” (Bolsheviks) and the “White Army” (those who opposed the Bolsheviks) Lasted 3 years Bolsheviks triumphed in late 1920

c. Economic Policy Lenin will introduce a new economic policy The plan permitted some capitalistic activity People could sell food at a profit This was meant to encourage food production

6. The Soviet Union 1922 1924 The economy had improved Russia united countries that had once belong to it and formed the U.S.S.R or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic 1924 Lenin will die without a successor

United States Enters the War

1. Events Leading to U.S. Entry Neutrality Many sided with the Allies, but felt the U.S. should stay out of the war President Wilson Believed the United States should not be involved in other countries’ affairs 1916, Wilson will run for re-election with the campaign slogan, “He kept us out of war”

b. Trouble at Sea Unrestricted Submarine Warfare This is a German Policy Any ship traveling around Great Britain was subject to attack by German U-boats Initially attacked British ships but then started attacking merchant ships This was done in response to Great Britain’s dependence on supplies being shipped in by other nations

ii. Lusitania Ship sunk by the Germans Killed 1200 people; 120 were Americans Two more ships were sunk carrying Americans in August and September 1915

iii. United States’ Response The government complained to Germany about the loss of American lives Germany agreed to stop attacks; feared U.S. involvement in the war By 1917, Germany believed the only way to defeat Britain was with unrestricted submarine warfare

c. The Zimmerman Note February 1917, The Zimmerman Note was discovered It was a secret message sent to Mexico by a German diplomat named Arthur Zimmerman Proposed that Mexico attack the United States In return Mexico would get Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico

19 January, 1917: The Zimmerman Note to the German Minister to Mexico -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berlin, January 19, 1917 On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this, it is our intention to endeavor to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful, we propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. The details are left to you for settlement.... You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above in the greatest confidence as soon as it is certain that there will be an outbreak of war with the United States and suggest that the President of Mexico, on his own initiative, should communicate with Japan suggesting adherence at once to this plan; at the same time, offer to mediate between Germany and Japan. Please call to the attention of the President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel England to make peace in a few months. Zimmerman (German Secretary of State)

ii. Note angered Americans and they began to call for war iii. United States had reasons to go to war Common ancestry with Great Britain Strong financial ties to Allied powers The United States was selling millions of dollars worth of war goods to Britain each week

iv. April 1917, the United States enters the war on the Allied side

2. U.S. Involvement in the War Germany’s Response Germany had to win the war before America could send troops to Europe After Russia’s exit Germany moves all troops to the Western Front March 18, Germany launches a major assault on the Western Front Advance within 40 miles of Paris

b. Important Battles The 2nd Battle of the Marne Allied forces are able to stop German assault Allied forces are able to effectively combine the use of tanks and aircraft Allied forces gain huge amounts of territory

ii. Oct. 1918 Allied forces break through the Hindenburg line German leaders approach Allies in seeking an armistice (truce) On November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. the war ends

3. A Difficult Peace Different Desires The major leaders of the Allied powers all wanted different things as far as a peace agreement went

ii. United States Led by Woodrow Wilson The 14 Points Wilson’s vision for world peace Included the reduction of weapons Right for people to choose their own government Propose an organization be created that the world’s leaders would join to protect one another from aggression

iii. France Led by George Clemenceau Wanted to punish Germany Wanted Germany to pay for war costs

iv. Great Britain Led by David Lloyd George Great Britain was somewhere between the United States’ position and France’s position Wanted to punish Germany but did not want to weaken Germany either

v. Italy Led by Vittorio Orlando Hoped to gain territory for Italy Largely ignored by the other three

b. The Treaty of Versailles Named after the French Palace of Versailles where it was signed Was closer to what Clemenceau wanted than Wilson

iii. Parts of the treaty Germany is forced to pay large amounts to victims of the war Germany was forced to take full responsibility of the war Forced Germany to limit the size of its army Germany had to return conquered land to France and Russia Other lands were taken to form newly independent nation of Poland Germany’s colonies were given to various world leaders

iv. Germany is humiliated by the treaty but had to accept v iv. Germany is humiliated by the treaty but had to accept v. Treaty was signed on June 18, 1919

c. Outcome of the Treaty It crippled the Germany economy Bitterness from the treaty would affect politics for years to come It established the League of Nations This is a victory for Wilson

d. The League of Nations Main goals: Encourage international cooperation To keep peace between the nations

ii. Problem: It does not represent everyone Germany is excluded Wilson is unable to convince the United States government to ratify the treaty Many feared that the League of Nations would drag them into another war The absence of the United States weakened the League of Nations

e. Other Treaties Other treaties were formed to deal with Austria- Hungary and Ottoman Empires Vast lands of the Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empires were broken apart to create independent nations Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Turkey

2. Former Ottoman lands were turned into mandates (territories) to be ruled by European powers France was given Syria and Lebanon Great Britain was given Palestine and Iraq

ii. Zionist movement The desire to create Jewish state in the Middle East began to start in Europe 1917- the British issued the Balfour Declaration Favored a Jewish state in Palestine

iii. European nations were only suppose to govern mandates until they were able to govern themselves Mandates will become nothing more than colonies

4. Impact of the War Human Costs 9 million are killed Millions more are wounded or taken prisoner In Germany, France and Russia almost an entire generation died or were wounded Spring 1918 influenza swept across the globe making things worse and killing millions more

b. Economic Costs France, Belgium and Russia were left devastated Europe lost role as the dominant economic region of the world The United States and Japan prospered during the war Countries were forced to come up with new sources or develop their own products

c. Political Change Russia was now Communist Old monarchies are gone Examples: Austria-Hungary (Hapsburgs), Germany, the Ottomans and Russia (Romanov) Other countries experienced political upheaval

d. Unrest in the Colonies After fighting in the war for their sovereigns many colonies thought that they might gain their independence after the war This did not happen and independence was put off for many of them