World War I

Introduction Also called “The Great War” The “war to end all wars” First major war since 1815 Unlike World War II, no clear-cut lines of good and evil Until World War II, the world’s most destructive conflict The Industrial Revolution meets warfare “Total War” Set the pattern for the 20 th century

Underlying Causes of WWI International Rivalries Britain & Germany – industrial competition & naval race France & Germany – animosity since 1871 Russia & Austria – the Eastern Question Imperial competition Nationalism “National patriotism” Militarism Pan-Slav Movement Greater Serbia Plan Bosnian Crisis (1908) Entangling alliance system

Militarism A process of glorifying military power and keeping a standing army always ready for war.

Nationalism Devotion to one nation's interests over those of all other nations.

Imperialism The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations, countries, or colonies.

Europe in 1914

Entangling Alliances Arose out of the appearance of a unified Germany in 1871 Otto von Bismarck Triple Alliance (1882) Germany Austria-Hungary Italy Triple Entente (1907) Britain France Russia Otto von Bismarck

System of Alliances Central Powers German Empire Austro-Hungarian Empire Bulgaria Ottoman Empire

Serbia & Austria: Bitter Enemies! Austria was an aggressive imperial power Determined to prevent Serbia from expanding…at any cost

Serbia & Austria: Bitter Enemies! Austria was an aggressive imperial power Determined to prevent Serbia from expanding…at any cost

System of Alliances: the other side Allies Russian Empire France United Kingdom Greece, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Japan, Portugal, USA

1914 The Immediate Cause of World War I

Balkans Controlled by Ottomans until 19 th century Russia claimed area as protector Ethnicity, religion Austria desired political domination

Serbian Nationalism Hoped to absorb all Slavs in Balkan Peninsula Russia supported Austria opposed annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina

Balkans, 1914 A war against Turkey in 1912 and Bulgaria in 1913 were a prelude to WWI.

King Peter of Serbia r. ( ) Sought to unify South Slavs into one nation Goal achieved in 1919: Yugoslavia

Immediate Cause of World War I Sarajevo, Bosnia June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand Battle of Kosovo (1389) Gavrilo Princip Black Hand Society The July Crisis

Murder in Sarajevo Francis Ferdinand, heir to Austrian throne & his wife Sophie were killed… By Gavrilo Princip 19 year old member of Black Hand

Francis Ferdinand hoped to overhaul the monarchy… Germans & Serbs hated the archduke for his desire to create a triple monarchy with a Slavic kingdom under Croatian leadership Hungarians hated him for campaign for universal suffrage READ ONLY

The Black Hand

Steps leading to war 1. Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand is assassinated.

2. Austria attacks Serbia.

3. Serbia has an alliance with Russia.

4. Russia attacks Austria and Germany.

5. Germany attacks Russia’s ally France. Germans go through Belgium to attack France.

6. Belgium has an alliance with England.

7. England defends Belgium, attacks Germany.