The War to End all Wars 1914 - 1919

Bonkers about the Balkans Serbia wanted to unite all Slavic (ethnicity) states Because Russia was a predominately Slavic nation, they backed Serbia Austria-Hungary had just annexed Bosnia and Herzegovinian and refused to let this happen

June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand – heir to Austria-Hungarian throne Campaign to Sarajevo Assassinated by a Serbian terrorist AH blames Serbia

June 28, 1914 Germany, allied with AH says they will give any help necessary July 28th – AH declares war on S Russia mobilizes army against AH and Germany Germany gives Russia 12 hours to stop; Russia ignores; Germany declares war on Russia – August 1 Under Germany’s Schlieffen Plan (attack France to West and Russia to the East, speedy end to the war), France – August 3 Germany enters France through neutral Belgium Great Britain, allied to France and honoring Belgium’s neutrality declares war on Germany – Aug. 4

Alliance Dominoes…

New Face, New Names Triple Entente – Allied Powers Italy joined when Germany disregarded Belgium’s neutrality Most of the Balkan nations joined Japan joins Triple Alliance – Central Powers The Ottoman Empire (Turkey) and Bulgaria joined in 1915

New Weapons Machine gun Poison gas (Mustard gas) Carried by the wind Burned out soldier’s lungs Deadly in the trenches where it would sit at the bottom Submarine Airplane Tank Hand grenades Flame Throwers

New Weapons

Western Front, the beginning Germany invaded France through Germany trying to capture Paris Battle of the Marne, September 1914 Stopped German advances towards Paris Stalemate – no longer advancing, enter Trench Warfare

Trench Warfare both sides dug trenches protected by mines and barbed wire 6,250 miles 6 to 8 feet deep Immobilized both sides for 4 years Life Bored, shell shock, unsanitary

Trench Warfare

Christmas Truce, 1914 unofficial truce lasted for several days “We shook hands, wished each other a Merry Xmas, and were soon conversing as if we had known each other for years…”

Total War - 1915 Mobilizing ALL resources Draft – soldiers Rationing of resources at home so troops would be taken care of Propaganda – divert attention to war and influence public opinion Targeting civilians (non – military), too

Western Front, 1916 -1917 Battle of Verdun Battle of the Somme Longest battle 21 February-18 December 1916 Battle of the Somme Bloodiest battle Nationality Total casualties Killed & missing Prisoners United Kingdom 350,000+ - Canada 24,029 Australia 23,000   < 200 New Zealand 7,408  South Africa 3,000+ Newfoundland 2,000+ Total British Empire 419,654 95,675 French 204,253 50,756 Total Allied 623,907 146,431 Germany 465,000 164,055 31,000

Total War – German Subs Unrestricted Submarine Warfare – Germans did not care if it was a civilian liner, they would fire – wanted to keep Allies from supplies Lusitania was a British ship believed to be carrying goods from the US to Great Britain May 1915, Germany fired, killing about 120 Americans President Wilson had no choice but to consider war

Eastern Front August 1914, Battle of Tannenberg almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army Russia is getting destroyed – moral and confidence in government of Tsar Nicholas II is wavering

Eastern Front – Russia leaves Internal Affairs War and government = unpopular with people Rise of Vladimir Lenin – promised to get Russia out of war Russia leaves WWI to combat an internal revolution

Zimmerman Telegram Germany sends telegram to Mexico saying if you help against US and Japan, we will help you get Texas/other land lost back form US United States intercepts President Wilson and Congress declare war on Germany, April1917

1917-1918 Allied forces moral and supplies renewed “drafted 2.8 million men and by summer 1918 was sending 10,000 fresh soldiers to France every day.” Allied victories become increasingly common and more frequent than Central Powers

Last Chance for Success Spring 1918, Germans sought to divide British and French troops before large amounts of US forces arrive Allies response: Hundred Day Offensive September 1918, German General admits defeat and asks government for peace

Central Powers Collapse Allies wouldn’t bargain with autocratic imperial government Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated Nov. 9 November 11, 1918, Democratic Republic of Germany signs armistice A truce, an agreement to end the fighting Austria-Hungary collapsed under revolution New states formed Austria Hungary Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia

“making the world safe for democracy” Peace Settlements of 1919 27 Allied nations met in Paris to make final settlements Wilson’s Proposal – Fourteen Points (1st US President to Europe) Openly reaching peace with nations, not secret alliances Reducing armaments Ensure self-determination (right of each people to have its own nation) “making the world safe for democracy”

Paris Peace Conference Many nations wanted Germany to “pay for this dreadful war” Georges Clemenceau (France) desired revenge and wanted Germany to loose all weapons Pay reparations Separate buffer state between France/Germany Big Three made all the decisions United States – Wilson Great Britain – David Lloyd Georges France – Clemenceau

Peace Settlements League of Nations, Jan. 25, 1919 June 28, 1919 – Treaty of Versailles Germany took responsibility for starting war Germany pay reparations Germany reduce army to 100,000, cut navy and eliminate air force Germany gave Alsace and Lorraine back to France Germany lost eastern land to Poland New Map of Europe