WORLD WAR I CICERO © 2008

CAUSES The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo. Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian Black Hand secret society killed Ferdinand. Conflicts between Austria-Hungary and Serbia started with a challenge to the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. Under that treaty, Austria- Hungary assumed a mandate to occupy and control Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ottoman Empire kept its sovereignty, and Serbia was recognized as a kingdom; however, Serbians were incensed that Austria-Hungary had annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian crisis of 1908 and Archduke Franz Ferdinand (left) and Gavrilo Princip CICERO © 2008

This led to two Balkan Wars, in which Serbia gained Macedonia and Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire. Ferdinand had been a supporter of both federalism and tribalism, which advocated that Austria-Hungary be reorganized with the Slavic lands to add a third kingdom. A Slavic kingdom could have put tremendous pressure on the Serbians, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand would have been the leader of this new kingdom. In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary wanted the Serbian government to punish those responsible. Austria-Hungarian leaders made a list of ten demands for the Serbian government. Austria- Hungary declared war on Serbia when the demands were not met. CAUSES After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Princip is arrested. CICERO © 2008

DECLARATIONS OF WAR Germany’s Declaration of War in 1914 July 28, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia. August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia. August 3, 1914 – Germany declares war on France. August 4, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on Germany. August 5, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on Austria- Hungary. August 6, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia; Serbia declares war on Germany. August 9, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on Germany. August 11, 1914 – France declares war on Austria- Hungary. August 12, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary. CICERO © 2008

DECLARATIONS OF WAR August 22, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium. August 23, 1914 – Japan declares war on Germany. August 25, 1914 – Japan declares war on Austria- Hungary. November 1, 1914 – Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire. November 3, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire. November 5, 1914 – France and United Kingdom declare war on the Ottoman Empire. May 23, 1915 – Italy declares war on Austria- Hungary. October 14, 1915 – Bulgaria declares war on Serbia. October 15, 1915 – United Kingdom declares war on Bulgaria. The is a diagram of the alliances before World War I. CICERO © 2008

DECLARATIONS OF WAR October 16, 1915 – Frances declares war on Bulgaria October 19, 1915 – Italy and Russia declare war on Bulgaria. August 27, 1916 – Italy declares war on Germany. The diagram represents European alliances before World War I. coat of arms of Bulgaria CICERO © 2008

LEADERS OF WORLD WAR I ALLIED POWERS Woodrow Wilson John J. Pershing David Lloyd George Georges Clemenceau CENTRAL POWERS Franz Josef I Karl I Wilhelm II Mehmed V CICERO © 2008

PARTICIPANTS IN WORLD WAR I ALLIED POWERSCENTRAL POWERS United States British Empire French Third Republic Kingdom of Serbia Kingdom of Romania Empire of Japan Russian Empire Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Greece Kingdom of Montenegro Belgium Portugal Bulgaria Ottoman Empire Austria- Hungary German Empire CICERO © 2008

WEAPONS land ship/tankbarbed wire Maxim machine gun hand grenade poison gassubmarine bi-plane CICERO © 2008

STRATEGIES TRENCH WARFARE In trench warfare both armies could fight from fortified positions. It was a slow form of combat with heavy reliance on defense. The soldiers built complex trench and dugout systems and stocked them with weapons. Barbed wire protected the trenches. The space between opposing armies’ trenches was “no man’s land.” Attacks almost always resulted in injury and death for the attacking soldiers. CICERO © 2008

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRENCH WARFARE Trench warfare was an important part of combat during World War I. The effectiveness of the new weapons made it impossible to fight in the open for extended periods of time. Trenches were constructed for careful and planned attacks. The trench protected soldiers from attack. Soldiers also dug temporary trenches as close to the front lines as possible. These would protect waves of soldiers attacking the enemy. Attacking soldiers would take cover in a forward trench to regroup while other soldiers followed the first attack. Trenches kept soldiers out of the line of fire as much as possible. British trench design CICERO © 2008

OBJECTIVES ALLIED POWERSCENTRAL POWERS The main objective of the Allied Powers was to stop Germany and the Central Powers’ attempts to expand their land in Europe and Asia. The American conflict with Germany stemmed from Germany’s violation of a neutrality agreement when German submarines attacked American passenger ships. The main objective of the Central Powers was to acquire as much land as possible in Europe and Asia. Germany believed France, England, and Russia prevented its expansion. Germany was determined to expand its borders. CICERO © 2008

BATTLES First Battle of Marne September 5–12, 1914 The First Battle of Marne was along the Marne River in Paris, France. The Allied Powers went on the offensive, constantly attacking the German First and Second Armies. It seemed as if by September 9, both armies would be surrounded. When German General von Moltke had a nervous breakdown after seeing what could happen, the Germans retreated; and the Allied Powers were victorious. Battle of Marne CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Ypres October 19–November 22, 1914 Also known as the Battle of Flanders, the British Expeditionary Force moved north and stopped the Germans at Passchendaele Ridge in this battle. At the same time, the Belgians opened the gates of the Yser River to flood low-lying land to prevent a German advance. Trench warfare continued. The Germans lost many young soldiers in this battle, which the Germans called the “Massacre of the Innocents.” Battle of Ypres CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Isonzo June 23–July 7, 1915 The Battle of Isonzo was contested between the Italians, fighting with the Allies, and the Austro-Hungarians, who sided with the Central Powers. The Italians wanted to move the Austrians from their defensive positions. Even though the Italian army was twice the size of the Austrian army, the Austrians fought from an uphill position. The Austrian army received reinforcements, and the Italians were defeated. one of the many trenches used during the Battle of Isonzo CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Verdun February 21–December 18, 1916 The French and Germans fought the Battle of Verdun. It resulted in deaths of approximately 250,000 soldiers, and at least one million were wounded. The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles of World War I. The French and German armies launched constant attacks against each other. The French mounted the final offensive on December 11. The Germans retreated to their position before the battle after the last French offensive. Violence took place in all areas of Verdun. CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Somme July 1–November 18 t 1916 Also known as the Somme Offensive, the Battle of the Somme was one of history’s bloodiest battles. During the conflict, the Allies attempted to fight their way through the German lines to draw Germans away from the Battle of Verdun. The Allied and Central Powers suffered 1.4 million casualties. The British and French armies only captured approximately five miles of territory. Soldiers of the 11 th Cheshire Regiment are stationed in their trenches. CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Cambrai November 20–December 6, 1917 In the Battle of Cambrai tanks were used successfully. Although the British Army did not defeat the Germans, they proved the Hindenburg Line could be broken. However, the Germans counterattacked using new infiltration tactics. Although the British were maintained control of the ridge, the Germans advanced in other areas and won a strong tactical victory. British soldiers prepare for action in their trenches, and a tank patrols in the background. CICERO © 2008

THE TREATY OF BREST-LITOVSK Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Russian Soviet Socialist Party. Russians were weary of World War I and the enormous sacrifices they endured. This discontentment led to popular support of the Bolshevik Party. Its leader, Vladimir Lenin, promised that if he were elected to a position of power, he would remove Russian forces from the war. After winning the election in November 1917, Lenin pursued an armistice with Germany. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, and Russia was not longer a combatant nation. The treaty granted the Central Powers control of territory that included Finland and the Baltic provinces. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk CICERO © 2008

THE UNITED STATES ENTERS WORLD WAR I an American doughboy circa 1918 United States President Woodrow Wilson announces a break in diplomatic relations with Germany on February 3, Originally, the United States pursued a policy of isolationism. After a German U-boat sank the British passenger ship Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson demanded Germany end attacks on passenger ships. The British Royal Navy then intercepted the Zimmerman telegram in which a German diplomat encouraged Mexican officials to ally with German if the United States declared war on Germany. These events as well as the sinking of American merchant ships led the United States Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6, CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Third Battle of Aisne May 27–June 6, 1918 The Third Battle of Aisne featured the main goal of the Germans to capture the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the Americans, who had just joined the Allies, arrived in Europe. The German army fought strongly against the English and French armies that tried to stop their offensive. Although close to victory, German soldiers were fatigued and they suffered enormous numbers of casualties. As a result, the Germans halted their advance and regrouped. This map depicts the Western Front on July 15, 1918 CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Second Battle of Marne July 15–August 5, 1918 The Second Battle of Marne was the last major offensive along the Western Front. The French countered the German advance. More than 168,000 German soldiers were killed. The Army of the Allied Powers continued to launch attacks on the Germans and forced they to retreat. The German defeat halted a planned German invasion of Flanders. The Allied Powers are indicated with green; the Central Powers are indicated with orange. CICERO © 2008

BATTLES Battle of Amiens August 8–11, 1918 The Battle of Amiens began the Hundred Days Offensive, an Allied Powers’ effort to end World War I quickly. During this battle, many German soldiers surrendered. In addition, the Allied Powers advanced seven miles on the first day of the battle. Erich Ludendorff, a Central Powers commander, stated that this battle was a “black day of the German Army.” The battle also ended trench warfare on the Western Front. Amiens, 1918 CICERO © 2008

BATTLES The Meuse-Argonne Offensive September 26–November 11, 1918 Also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest, this was the final offensive of World War I. The United States, along with the Allied Powers, organized an offensive of three phases. In each phase the Allies would push back the German army until it was decimated. These phases continued until the Germans surrendered, and the Allied Powers were victorious. Hill 223 was one of the areas the Allied Powers Army captured during this offensive. CICERO © 2008

ARMISTICE ENDS THE WAR After a three days of negotiations, representatives of the Allied Powers and Germany signed the armistice on a railway carriage in Compiegne Forest on November 11, The expression “the eleventh of the eleventh of the eleventh” is derived from this date. The armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. According to the armistice, German troops were to leave Belgium, France, and the eastern bank of the Rhine. The remainder of the German fleet was forced to surrender its weapons and ships to the Allied Powers. Germany also was forced to renounce its peace treaties with Russia and Romania. The armistice was reached on November 11, CICERO © 2008

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES David Lloyd George (United Kingdom), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Woodrow Wilson (United States) The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. It was signed on June 28, 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference even though the armistice had been in place since November 11, Germany and its allies were required to accept full responsibility for World War I. Germany was required to disarm and concede any territorial gains made during the war. In addition, Germany was required to pay reparations to any countries it damaged during the war. CICERO © 2008

AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR I future Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler In the aftermath of World War I, other conflicts that were a direct result of the war took place. German believed the Treaty of Versailles was unfairly punitive. Adolf Hitler gained popularity in Germany when he urged Germans to fight the injustices imposed on them after World War I. The collapse of the Ottoman Empire caused conflicts as nations sought to control territory in the Middle East. These conflict would intensify throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. CICERO © 2008