1. World War I
The GREAT WAR Begins

2. Kaiser Wilhelm II Ruled Germany 1888-1918
Arrogant, impatient & self absorbed ruler
Did not want to share power
Loved the army: said “I and the army were born for each other”
Forced Otto Von Bismarck to resign in 1890
Wanted to show Germany was GREAT!

3. Wilhelm II’s 2 Critical Mistakes
Kaiser Wilhelm II
He let Germany’s alliance with Russia collapse [1890]
Built a large Navy to compete with Great Britain [1897]

4. Alliances divide Europe
France forms treaty
with Russia
Triple Entente
1907
Triple Alliance
1882

5. Crisis in the Balkans Home to various ethnic groups
Formerly controlled by
Ottoman Empire
Known as Europe’s Powder Keg

6. Serbia Nationalism was a powerful force
Serbia wanted to absorb all Slavs in the Balkans
Bosnia was Slavic but the Austro-Hungarian Empire controlled Bosnia
Slavic = a family of languages including Russian, Polish,
Czech, Bulgarian, etc

7. Serbia’s desire for Bosnia created TENSION:
Russia versus Austria-Hungary
Russia supported Serbian
desire for Slav unity

8. Powder Keg Explodes The Archduke Franz Ferdinand visits Bosnia
June 12th, 1914
He was assassinated by a Serbian
Austria-Hungary uses this to punish Serbia

9. Reading: The Tale of an Assassination

11. The Start of War Assassination of Archduke June 1914
Austria gives Serbia ultimatum
Serbia proposes compromise
Austria declares war on Serbia
Russia assembles troops on Austria & Germany border
Germany Declares war on Russia & France