1. World War One
The Balkan Crisis

2. Balkan Crisis Balkans deeply divided by
Throughout history, Germans, Hungarians, Slavs, and Muslims have made war upon each other.
To make matters more complicated-among the Slavs, several nationalities-Croats, Serbs, Bulgarians, ad others have fought for dominance in the area.

3. Balkan Crisis

4. Balkan Crisis
The Balkans have been ruled by the Ottoman Turks from the late 15th century, but their rule was ineffective and revolts were frequent.
In the 19th century, the Turkish Empire was weakening and other European Powers-Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia-been taking active interest in the Balkans.

5. Balkan Crisis
Beginning of the 20th century, Serbia was a growing power and wished to unite all Serbs under one nation, including those in Austrian controlled Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Serbia goals were encouraged by the mother Slavic nation, Russia and they looked to Russia for protection.

6. Balkan Crisis
The power struggle in the Balkans strengthened divisions and hatreds.
June 28, 1914 archduke Franz Ferdinand, Heir to the Austrian throne was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia by a young Bosnian Serb, Gravillo Princip.

7. Balkan Crisis

8. Balkan Crisis

9. Balkan Crisis
Princip belonged to a secret Serbian nationalist group known as the Black Hand.
The goal of this organization was to gain Bosnian independence from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
The assassination gave Austria-Hungary an excuse to re-establish control in the region by blaming the Serbian govt. for the attack.

10. Balkan Crisis
Germany promised to support Austria-Hungary. With this pledge and the belief that Russia would not intervene, on July 23 Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with a 48-hour ultimatum, which set off a series of events that would involve all of Europe.

11. Treaties in the 1800’s
German Chancellor, Otto von Bismark, engineered a series of alliances between 1879 & 1887 which provided Europe with the illusion of peace and stability.  
These diplomatic initiatives were motivated almost entirely by Bismark’s wish to isolate France so that the French could not seek allies and plan revenge against Germany for being defeated in the Franco-Prussian war of

12. Treaties in the 1800’s
In 1879 Bismark and the Germans signed the Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary. This was to support each other in armed combat.
1882 he negotiated the Triple Alliance that drew Italy into the pact.  The members of this alliance promised that if any one of them should be attacked, all three would wage warfare together against the aggressor.  

13. Treaties in the 1800’s

14. Treaties in the 1800’s
Finally in 1887 Bismark persuaded Russia to sign a secret Reinsurance Treaty, whereby Germany pledged its support to the Balkans while Russia assured Germany of its neutrality in the event of a French attack on Germany.  
Bismark had achieved his goal of isolating France and securing Germany. Things would change when Kaiser Wilhelm II would lead the nation. Wilhelm would allow the treaty to lapse. This would make Russia turn to France for help.

15. Treaties in the 1800’s
With a new alliance between France and Russia, Britain felt uneasy. Also with Germany’s new focus on expansion of land and navy Britain knew they had to act.
Britain would join France and Russia and form what would be known as the Triple Entente.
Europe was now two armed camps. The fuse was beginning to become short.

16. Treaties in the 1800’s

17. The Impact of assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Serbia
The assassination of the archduke of Austria indicated how strong Serbian nationalism had become.  
The Serbians wanted to unite all Serbs into one great independent nation, including those living under Austrian rule in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  
A group known as the Black Hand (Serb nationalist organization) was dedicated to achieving this goal.  
They carried out the assassination and were subsequently found, arrested and tried for the crime.

18. The Impact of assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Austria-Hungarian/Serbian Relations
The relationship had historically been rocky as Austria had possession of Serbian territories.  
After the assassination things worsened.  The Austrians gave Serbia an ultimatum which Serbia did not fully accept.  
As a result, Austria took a tougher stand against Serbia because it wanted to crush Serb nationalism.

19. The Impact of assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand: German Government’s Response
he Germans had at first asked Austria to use moderation in their response to Serbia, but were ignored.  
However, they promised to give their full support to Austria in whatever action they wanted to take.  
They believed that the Russians would not intervene

20. The Impact of assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand: Russian Mobilization (Troop Deployment)
Once Austria declared war on Serbia, due to Serbia not agreeing to the ultimatum. Russia mobilized its troops, Germany then threatened Russia and the wheels turned towards war.  
The strong Russian stance started a chain of events that drew the remainder of Europe into war, as alliance partners honoured their agreement.

21. Balkan Crisis
Russia intervened on behalf of Serbia, demanding that Austria-Hungary guarantee Serbia’s independence.
In keeping with their mutual defence agreement, France then supports Russia.
The situation seemed under control, Serbia had agreed to all but two of the demands.

22. Balkan Crisis
Russia intervened on behalf of Serbia, demanding that Austria-Hungary guarantee Serbia’s independence.
In keeping with their mutual defence agreement, France then supports Russia.
The situation seemed under control, Serbia had agreed to all but two of the demands.

23. Balkan Crisis
However, as a precaution, Serbia mobilized its troops to protect its borders from possible invasion.
Things began to spiral out of control. On July 28 Austria-Hungary mobilized its armies and declared war on Serbia. Russia responded by declaring war in Austria-Hungary. Germany gets involved on behalf of Austria-Hungary. Europe was now at war.
Nationalistic goals had plunged the world into war

24. The Lead Up to War
However, as a precaution, Serbia mobilized its troops to protect its borders from possible invasion.
Things began to spiral out of control. On July 28 Austria-Hungary mobilized its armies and declared war on Serbia. Russia responded by declaring war in Austria-Hungary. Germany gets involved on behalf of Austria-Hungary. Europe was now at war.
Nationalistic goals had plunged the world into war

25. The Lead Up to War
June 28 – Archduke Ferdinand of Austria assassinated in Bosnian city of Sarajevo by Bosnian Serb nationalist.
July 23 – Austrian government gives Serbia 48hr ultimatum; does not agree on all terms; begins to mobilize.
July 28 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia; Serbia turns to Russia for help
July 29 – Czar Nicholas agrees to help Serbia and mobilizes army
August 1 – Germany declares war on Russia; France mobilizes army

26. The Lead Up to War
August 2 – Germany invades Belgium as part of Schiefflen plan for attacking France
August 3 – Germany declares war on France; Britain gives Germany an ultimatum to halt invasion of Belgium
August 4 – No reply from Germany; Britain declares war on Germany; Canada automatically at war as part of British empire; US declares neutrality

27. Causes
Nationalism:  In the late 19th and early 20th centuries many of the nations of Europe were expressing strong feelings of nationalism that impacted the political climate within Europe.  
In France nationalistic feelings were high because of the German occupation of Alsace-Lorraine, which was populated mostly by French speaking people.  In Austria-Hungary various ethnic groups (Serb, Croats, Slovaks, etc) were wanting their freedoms and were expressing their own pride causing conflict within the country.  
German nationalism was growing due to their strong economy and desire to obtain territory and catch up to the other industrialized nations like Britain and France.  Finally British nationalism was centered on the idea of their duty to the throne and the country.  As a result, tensions among and within nations were high as clashing ideas and desires created conflict.

28. Causes

29. Causes
Imperialism:  European nations were scrambling for colonies in Africa and Asia in the early 1900`s (ex: France & Germany over Morocco).  This era of imperialism came out of a country’s need to search for raw materials, new markets and power.  
The acquisition of territories increased a nation’s area of influence around the world.  As each nation obtained more land tensions increased among the imperialist countries as each wanted more territory.
This also dragged other nations into war. Ie: Canada.

30. Causes
Militarism/Arms Race:  An arms race grew out of the desires of imperialism and growing nationalism.  European nations increased their military might.  Many nations increased their military expenditures by as much as 300% in the years leading up to the start of the war.
 Germany was making an effort to challenge Britain for naval supremacy and become the dominant power in Europe.  However, Britain was not about to relinquish its position as the world’s leading power and embarked on a large-scale armament program.  At the same time France and Russia made significant moves to increase the size of their armies.

31. Causes
Alliance Systems:  In an attempt to protect the interests of nations and prevent war, countries formed military alliances.  On one side there was the Triple Alliance and on the other the Triple Entente.  
Generally these alliances stated if one of the countries in the alliance were attacked then the others would support them.  These alliances heightened tensions because any crisis affecting one nation affected its allies and it also raised the possibility that a single incident could lead to a general war.

32. The Lead Up to War

33. The First Battle of the Marne (1914)
First Battle of the Marne, (September 6–12, 1914), an offensive during World War I by the French army and the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) against the advancing Germans who had invaded Belgium and northeastern France and were within 30 miles (48 km) of Paris.
By failing to achieve their key aim—of swiftly defeating the French—the Germans were forced onto the defensive, spurring the trench warfare that was to typify the Western Front for the next three years, and ultimately to fight a disastrous two-front war.

34. The First Battle of the Marne (1914)

35. The Battle of Tannenberg
The Battle of Tannenberg was fought between Russia and Germany from 26–30 August 1914, during the first month of World War I. The battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army.
The defeat, which stemmed more from poor leadership than from any inherent weakness, nonetheless contributed to the undermining of the Russian state.  

36. The Battle of Tannenberg
Whether this battle had diverted critical German forces from helping on the Western Front, where their presence at the Battle of the Marne might have been decisive in preventing the important Allied victory that saved Paris, is a matter of debate. However, the Russian defeat was the result of failures at the highest level and a severe blow to the prestige of the Russian autocracy.  

37. The difference between combat in the East and West
The allies stalled the initial attacks by Germany during the first 2 months of fighting.  
By October 1914 both sides had dug a line of trenches and both faced each other across mud and barbed wire.  
The tragic stalemate of trench warfare had begun.

40. The difference between combat in the East and West
The nature of trench warfare lends itself to a defensive style of fighting.  During WW1 on the western front trench warfare was employed as the main battle strategy.
Life in the trenches was not pleasant and the conditions experienced by soldiers, while in the trenches, was a significant factor leading to stalemate.  Both the British and the German front lines dealt with such thing as lice, trench foot, mice, etc.  All of these things took a toll on the soldiers causing sickness and impeding fighting.  

41. The difference between combat in the East and West
Tremendous losses were experienced by both sides.  Millions were casualties and millions were conscripted or enlisted to take their place.  
When war ended on November 11th, 1918 the lines were almost in the same position as they were when established in 1914.

42. The difference between combat in the East and West
Battle tactics and weapons technology used during trench warfare also made troop advancement difficult.  Using old battle tactics of a frontal charge, while facing the machine gun, led to tremendous casualties for both sides.

43. The difference between combat in the East and West
On the Eastern Front the lines were much more mobile.  In August 1914, the battle of Tannenburg the Germans easily defeated the Russians.
 For the Russians their supply system failed, troops were exhausted and communications were poor.  As a result the 2nd Russian army was captured ( dead, captured).

45. The difference between combat in the East and West
In September 1914, at the Battle of Maurisan Lakes, the Russians fought bravely but by 1917, 3 million Russians were dead or captured.  
Shortly after the Russians were forced to abandon the war on the Eastern Front and the Germans moved the majority of the forces to the Western Front.

46. The technology of the First World War (The Machine Gun)
Perhaps the most significant technological advance during World War I was the improvement of the machine gun.
Machine Guns were the fastest firing device known, it mowed down waves of men in seconds as they roared across no-mans land.  It made one man as effective as riflemen.
This weapon combined with old battle tactics were the reason for so many deaths during the first world war.

47. The technology of the First World War (U-boats/Submarines)
Germany created U-Boats and used them effectively to destroy many enemy ships. U-Boats were dangerous and accurate. 
This increased when Germany ordered a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare (sink every boat seen on the surface) due to Britian blocking goods going into Germany.
They were very effective in launching sneak attacks and roam the seas inflicting immense damage on merchant ships bringing supplies to Britain.

48. The technology of the First World War (Poison Gas)
Chemicals such as chlorine and mustard gas were used in the First World War. These would burn soldiers internally and externally. This was somewhat effective. Tear gas was also implemented.
First large scale poison gas attack was committed in Ypres, Belgium.
This tactic began to be abandoned because if the wind was blowing at you, the gas would be blown back onto the troops. At first the gas was released from cannisters later on they were deployed by shells.

49. The technology of the First World War (Poison Gas)