1. 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?

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Triple Alliance
Triple Entente

6. Tension in the Balkans

8. Does This Makes Any Sense?

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

13. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. Trench Life

21. 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)