1. World War I
World Civilizations

2. The Great War: In a Nutshell
The first war to include multiple countries
The first war to include countries from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia--drawn together by complex alliance system
The first “modern” war
Use of modern technology: first airplanes, first tanks, first gas attack
Most dead in a single battle
The first “European” war the U.S. fought in
Largest mobilization effort, to date

3. M.A.I.N. Causes of the War
Video

4. Militarism
During the Industrial Revolution, many European nations greatly increased their ability to produce “stuff.”
Countries such as Germany and France began applying their industrial production power to an arms race.
Militarism made countries feel patriotic, but also increased distrust among nations of Europe.
Guns- Use ‘em or Lose ‘em
Alfred Thayer Mahan- The Influence of Sea Power Upon History

6. Alliances Countries seek to protect themselves through alliances
Bismark- Goal was to isolate France
Drikaiserbund- Three Emperor’s League- Germany, A-H, Russia
Triple Alliance- G, A-H, It
1890- Bismark forced to retire, Drikaiserbund breaks up
Russia and France team up
Germany now faces a 2 front war
1907- Triple Entente- France, Russia, GB, not binding, but at least stay out
GB pledges to protect Belgium’s neutrality

7. Triple Alliance, 1882 Alliances and the First World War:
Then Bismarck allied with Italy and Austria-Hungary (the TRIPLE ALLIANCE, 1882).
Together with his friendship with Russia, this kept Germany safe.

8. Germany encircled Alliances and the First World War:
But when Kaiser Wilhelm became Emperor, he dumped the Russian alliance. He kept the Triple Alliance, but this did NOT solve the problem of Germany’s encirclement.

9. Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892
Alliances and the First World War:
Franco-Russian Alliance, 1892
Instead, in 1892, Russia made an alliance with FRANCE.
Although it was only a DEFENSIVE alliance, it was Germany’s worst nightmare!

10. Triple Entente, 1907 Alliances and the First World War:
In 1907 Russia joined Britain and France to make the Triple Entente.
So by 1914 Europe had divided into two massive superpower blocs.
People thought this BALANCE OF POWER would keep the peace.

11. A World War THE ALLIES CENTRAL POWERS 23 million troops Germany
Australia Belgium
Brazil Britain
Canada China
Costa Rica Cuba
France Greece
Guatemala Haiti
Honduras India
Italy Japan
Liberia Montenegro
New Zealand Nicaragua
Panama Portugal
Romania Russia
San Marino Serbia
Siam South Africa
United States
42 million troops
CENTRAL POWERS
Germany
Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria
Ottomon Empire
23 million troops

12. Imperialism
After the Industrial Revolution, the European powers-including Great Britain, Germany and France-needed new markets for their goods and new producers of raw materials.
They looked to Asia, Africa and the Middle East, lands which they considered their for the taking, and established colonial control. Including completely dominating the other nation.
Countries saw that Imperialism made them powerful. More colonies = stronger, better.
The countries of Europe competed for what little “unconquered” lands remained. These rivalries caused tension and mistrust among the nations of Europe.
Resulted in competition over territorial acquisition
Resulted in long-term aggression over border disputes, natural resources, and new markets
Examples:
France v. Germany over Alsace-Lorraine
Austria-Hungary v. Russia over Balkans
Video

13. Nationalism
Nationalism is patriotism gone wild. It is loving your country by hating on others.
2 kinds
Rivalry between powers
Smaller groups want freedom
The belief that each country was culturally superior to any other countries
European governments fueled prejudice and mistrust against neighboring rival nations.
This mistrust of others and crazy patriotism lead to the countries teaming up, because “my enemy’s enemy is my friend.”
Long term cultural hatred (the Russians hated the Germans, the Bosnians hated the Serbs, the Ottomans hated the Greeks, etc)
Resulted in a global effort to prove superiority
Evident in growth of military, the growth of industry, the acquisition of territories
Resulted in large scale international tension

14. Problems in the Balkans
Ottoman Empire starts to collapse
Both Russia and AH want to take over their Balkan lands
AH wants more power
Russia wants a warm water port
1908- AH annexes Bosnia
Serbia and Russia protest
Germany backs AH
Serbia backs down, but tensions still there
Slavic Nationalism

16. The Snowball Effect…
In the spirit of nationalism and self-determination, the small country of Serbia seeks independence from Bosnia, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary.
The region, the Balkans, is THE highway for all trade and communication between Europe and Asia.
The Balkans is a region ALL COUNTRIES want to control.
The Balkans is convulsed by civil war.

19. Assassination in Sarajevo
Franz Ferdinand and his pregnant wife, Sophia, were murdered in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia.
His assassin was a 19-year old Serbian nationalist and member of the terrorist group “The Black Hand.”
He kills Ferdinand because of Slavic Nationalism

20. Degenerating to War: The Fall of 1914
June 28, 1914: Austria-Hungarian Archduke assassinated
Austria blames Serbia
Germany gives AH a “blank check”
July 23: AH gives Serbia an ultimatum, do all these ore else, decide in 48 hrs.
July 25: Serbia accepts all but one. Austria-Hungary mobilizes army and declares war on Serbia
July 30: Russia mobilizes army against Austria-Hungary and Germany
July 31: AH mobilizes against Russia, Germany tells Russia to demoblize or else, Germany asks France are you neutral or with Russia, France says its with Russia
August 1: Germany declares war on Russia
August 3: Germany declares war on France, Germany goes into Belgium, GB protests
August 4: Angered, Great Britain declares war on Germany
August 6: Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia

21. Germany.
In Munich, crowds greet the news that war has been declared with excitement. Adolf Hitler, is there.

22. Plan XVII (17th itemization of plan for war against Germany)
Based on two postulates
Germans wouldn’t use reserves - not strong enough to advance through Belgium
French soldier was irresistible in the attack, so they should advance through German center
Pledged not to violate Belgium’s Neutrality
Staff negotiations committed England to provide land forces to secure left wing

23. Schlieffen Plan
Germans want to finish off French before Russia is ready to fight
Germans believe French will immediately try to retake Alsace-Lorraine
Original plan called for economy of force on the left while heavily weighting the right flank
Von Moltke revised and distributed forces more evenly across the front
Plan failed when Germans were held up by Belgians, then stopped by French and British at the Battle of the Marne
Russians also mobilized more quickly than expected

24. Schlieffen Plan

25. Problems with the Schlieffen Plan
Moltke modified Schlieffen’s original plan
Weakened the right wing and strengthened the left
Moved four and a half corps from the west to the east to protect East Prussia
Modified sweep of right wing so that Germans would not violate the Netherlands’ neutrality
Added a counterattack mission to the left wing
Violated Schlieffen’s dying words to “Keep the right wing strong”

27. Problems with the Schlieffen Plan
Became inflexible “war by timetable”
Required enormous logistical effort to move men and equipment from Aachen to around Paris in a little more than five weeks
Committed Germany to a two front war
Necessitated attacking before Russia or France could seize the initiative (even if Germany wasn’t ready)

28. Result
Schlieffen Plan works initially but stalls due to logistical demands; static warfare begins

29. STALEMATE Allies halt Central Powers; both sides dig in
No flanks for either side to attack
Barbed wire entanglements up to 150’ deep
Neither side gains more than 10 miles in over 2 years
Countries will try new technology to break the stalemate
Mass is supreme principle
Massed assaults
Massed fires

30. Trench Warfare
Machine gun and artillery make it difficult to attack a trench
Huge artillery preps make “No Man’s Land” virtually impassable
Huge casualties for attackers

31. Stalemate The Tactics of Trench Warfare
Generals were unprepared for the development of trench warfare: their training was in army mobility
Main strategy:
To use a combination of heavy artillery and MORE MEN to break the trench line
First, to use artillery to “soften up” the enemy and destroy barbed wire
Second, to fix bayonets and lead a charge across No Man’s Land
Third, to kill the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
Exceptions, by mutual consent:
No bombing the latrines.
No bombing before breakfast.
No bombing on major holidays.

32. Trench Diagram #1

35. Trench diagram #2

36. Life in the hole The Equipment: Total Weight: 60 lbs.
1 rifle, 1 bayonet, 170 rounds of ammo, 1 gas mask, 1 shovel, wire cutters, a full water bottle, food rations, extra clothing, medical supplies, portable cooking stove and fuel, personal belongings
Total Weight: 60 lbs.

37. This is a typical BRITISH soldier.
Soldiers were expected to carry their equipment with them at all times.
They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition.

38. No smiling and relaxed faces…
No fun with mates…
No clean uniforms…
Their equipment is scattered everywhere…
Boredom is obvious…

39. Real life in the trenches was MISERABLE

41. The Trench System

42. British trench, Thiepval Woods, France

43. RUTHLESS TACTICS Chemical warfare made trench warfare more horrible
Mustard/Blister agents deployed
First used on French in 1915

46. The Battle for 1916: The Battle of Verdun: February-December, 1916
The longest battle of the WWI, lasting over 10 months.
Over 1 million dead on the battlefield
The battle became symbolic for WWI: French stubbornness to defend vs. German stubbornness to “bleed the French dry.”

47. Battle of the Somme: 1916 The Battle of the Somme: July-November, 1916
British offensive to relieve French allies at Verdun
British casualties on the first day: 20,000
Most dead on both sides: 1 million

48. Somme (June 1916) “Bleed them white”
Almost 3 million men - Allies thought mass was answer
1500 Guns (1 per 20 yds)
Artillery prep - 7 days, 1.7 million rounds
In 4.5 months, Allies gained 8 miles
British lost 60,000 men first day; attacked in waves, soldiers carried 66 lbs.
Video

49. Losses
Allies - 620,000
Germans - 500,000

50. The Results

51. Battlefield Verdun, 1917

52. Battlefield Ypres, 1917

53. Battlefield Chateau Wood, 1917

54. Mass Grave, Eastern Front

55. New Technologies Machine Guns: rapid fire, automatic weapons
Cyanide/Mustard Gas: launched by artillery, gas would stay close to the ground; Results in drowning/suffocation
U-Boats: unrestricted, underwater, undetectable could fire self-propelled missiles
Armored Tank: combat vehicle on tracks; used to cross barbed wire in No-Man’s Land
Machine Guns: rapid fire, automatic weapons

56. Tanks Brits introduce in Sept 1916
Means to cross No Man’s Land with protection from machine guns
Initially employed piecemeal and in too small numbers to be decisive
Unreliable and slow

57. Tanks Battle of Somme, Sept 1916 36 of 60 tanks make it into battle
Scattered across 3 mile front
Cambria, Nov 1917
Used in mass (300 tanks)
Opened 12x6 mile front
Amiens, August 1918
500 tanks, 13 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry divisions, 2000 artillery pieces, 800 aircraft
First modern “combined-arms” battle

59. Submarines New aspect of “Total War”
Targeting “neutral merchant” ships
Germans announce submarine blockade
Part physical, part psychological weapon
Draws Allied resources away from offensive operations
Civilian control of production
Sinking of ships with US passengers is major factor in US’s eventual entry into the war

60. Aviation Used initially for reconnaissance/spotting
Wireless communication critical development in spotting
Arial combat originally a counter-reconnaissance function
Troops on the ground don’t like the planes overhead….
By the end of the war, planes were being used to drop bombs on railways, intersections, factories, etc…

61. Jaeger

62. Dogs at War

63. Weird Weapons

65. Camouflage

66. Dummy Gun Made Of Paper

71. The Paris Gun
Could shoot a 210 lb. shell 80 miles!!!!

72. Before and After

73. The Home Front & Propaganda
Total War: The countries of Europe committed everything to fighting the war.
Now it was country vs. country, not just army vs. army
Every citizen is expected to contribute in some way
Propaganda
War Bonds

74. Lord Kitchener’s recruitment poster was famous.

76. The Germans had recruitment posters as well
The Germans had recruitment posters as well. Note the historical and religious themes.

78. Why did the USA enter WWI?
1915: Lusitania sunk by Germans; 126 Americans killed.
1917: Germans resume unrestricted submarine warfare around British Isles.
1917: Zimmerman Telegram to Mexico.
World, Allied, and British-U.S. commerce and trade threatened.
And, of course, for freedom and democracy.

79. Preparing for war
Selective Service Act: institutes nationwide conscription/draft.
U.S. armed forces: from 200,000 to nearly 5 million!

80. The U.S. Food Administration
Headed by Herbert Hoover; advised Americans to save certain foods for export to supply the Allied war effort.

81. "Food will win the war, don't waste it."

83. Women Working in Factories
  A million women entered the American workforce during World War I. In this factory, women of all ages are packing hand grenade parts to be shipped overseas.

84. What about the USA?
Officially we were neutral, but really we favored GB and the Allies
We were trading with both sides and getting rich
With America being made up of so many immigrants, different parts of the country supported different sides
Video
Pro Allied- English Heritage (Language, Culture, etc), Ancestry, France helped us in American Rev. and gave us Statue of Liberty, Rape of Belgium
Pro-Central Powers- Ancestry and link to old country, 8 million from AH, Countless Germans, 5 million Irish
By 1915, President Wilson knows we will eventually get involved and starts making plans to get ready

85. Anger Towards Allies Toward Germany Blockading and mining North Sea
Blacklisting American companies
Americans losing money
Toward Germany
USW (Unrestricted Submarine Warfare)
Used to try to break GB’s blockade, but also attacked our ships

86. usw
Underseeboots (U-boats) could go anywhere, were hard to detect, and could use surprise
Americans felt that GB’s blockade was reasonable, but that USW was cheating
Britain- “underhanded, unfair, and damn un-English”
Video

88. So What
Lusitania sunk off of the coast of Ireland, 1200 dead, inc 128 Americans
Weapons on board?
Germans warned Americans that ships were liable to destruction
Inflamed Americans
Germany didn’t want to bring US into WWI, so they promised to stop USW
Eventually they go back to it because they have to

89. The U.S. Joins the War: 1917
January 1917: U.S. intercepts the Zimmerman Telegram
Sent by Germany to Mexico
Asked Mexico for support on a North American invasion of the U.S. in exchange for North American territory
Violated the Monroe Doctrine--No intervention in Western Hemisphere
Equaled a declaration of war for the U.S.
Video

90. American Intelligence

91. The U.S. Declares War!
February 1917: Germany restarts unrestricted submarine warfare on ALL allies: Great Britain, France, Russia, and the U.S.
April 1917: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asks Congress for Declaration of War
April 6, 1917: Congress declares war on Germany--the U.S. officially joins the war
July 1917: The American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) is mobilized and sent to the Western Front.

92. Russia Drops Out November 1917: The Communist Revolution
Desperate for food and angry at Czar Nicholas and the Romanov Dynasty for stupidity, a group of radicals declare a revolution
Led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky
The Bolsheveik Revolution declared:
A return of property to the poor
A return of power to the people
A complete and total withdrawal from the war
The killing of all royals

93. The Results: 1917 Russia withdraws from the war
The Western Front is reinforced
The Eastern Front is lost to Austria-Hungary
Now that Russia is gone it is Democracy vs. Autocracy

94. I WANT YOU!!!!
Video

95. America Prepares
Council of National Defense, War Industries Board, National War Labor Board
Oversaw mobilization, shipbuilding, and armament production
Expanded size of American government
Food Administration Board
Supported rationing, abstinence programs, and home gardens (liberty gardens)
Draft passed in 1917

96. The War at Home Video Daylight Savings Time Liberty Bonds
The Committee of Public Information
Headed by George Creel
Publishes propaganda and radio addresses
Called for immediate mobilization of 75,000 men
Video
Espionage and Sedition Acts
Espionage Act made it illegal to interfere with the draft
Sedition Act made it illegal to criticize the government, President, Army, Navy, War, etc. ($10,000 fine or 20 yrs in jail)
Kids encouraged to tell on parents
Over 1,000 people convicted
Restricted immigration
Mail subject to censorship
“No slavery in US since Emancipation Proclamation….unless Germany wins.”
Hatred towards Germans (9/11)
500,000 blacks moved North to work in factories.
Budget grew from $742 million in 1916 to $14 billion in 1918 (18.86 x’s)
Daylight Savings Time
Liberty Bonds

97. The War Unravels: 1918 January 8: Wilson proposes 14 Point Peace Plan
May 3: German offensive at Paris is stopped
July: Germans begin to desert the army
September: Allies begin final offensive and breaks the German “Hindenberg Line”
October: The German Army collapses
November 11: The Germans sign armistice and surrender to the army
Video

98. “Numbers have dehumanized us
“Numbers have dehumanized us. Over breakfast coffee we read of 40,000 American dead in Vietnam. Instead of vomiting, we reach for the toast. Our morning rush through crowded streets is not to cry murder but to hit that trough before somebody else gobbles our share.
An equation: 40,000 dead young men = 3,000 tons of bone and flesh, 124,000 pounds of brain matter, 50,000 gallons of blood, 1,840,000 years of life that will never be lived, 100,000 children who will never be born.
Let us use his same arithmetic for World War I; 9,000,000 dead young men equal 1,350,000,000 pounds of bone and flesh, 27,900,000 pounds of brain matter, 11,250,000 gallons of blood, 414,000,000 years of life that will never be lived, and 22,500,000 children who will never be born. The dry if imposing figure "9,000,000 dead" seems a little less statistical when we view it from this perspective.”
Dalton Trumbo, “Johnny Got His Gun.”

99. WWI: The Numbers

100. Treaty of Versailles – end of WWI
The main points of the Treaty [BRAT]  
1. Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war
2.  Germany paid Reparations for the damage done during the war.
3.   Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force.   She could have a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men.
  4.  Germany lost Territory (land) in Europe (see map). Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France.

102. The Big Four at the Paris Peace Talks (1919)
Woodrow Wilson - President, United States
Georges Clemenseau - Premier of France
David Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Britain
Vittorio Orlando – Foreign Minister of Italy
Video

103. Woodrow Wilson Idealist - thought WWI would be “war to end all wars”
Wants a peace without victory
Wants to get 14 pts. passed
Fourteen Points (plan for lasting peace)
self-determination
peace without victory
disarmament
fair treatment of colonial peoples
League of Nations

104. Georges Clemenceau
France had been destroyed in WWI and Franco-Prussian War
Wanted to make sure Germany never did it again
Feared Germany and wanted to make her weak

105. David Lloyd George Wants to make Germany pay for the war
Got reelected on that platform
Reparations- money paid to countries damaged in the war

106. Vittorio Orlando Wanted land that he was promised
Was given Tryrol and Trieste
demanded more but when others refused he walked out.
The Big Four became the Big Three

107. Results of the Treaty of Versialles
League of Nations created (US never joins
Germany loses all colonies and much land.
Military limited to 100,000, no Air Force, U-boats, etc.
War Reparations of $33 Billion
Rhineland occupied for 15 years
War Guilt Clause

108. German reaction to Treaty of Versailles
Unrepresented
Not allowed to join League of Nations
Forced to accept terms -
Angry with armed forces reductions
Injustice - War guilt, loss of land etc
Reparations - set to high