1. Europe Plunges into War

3. The Outbreak of War
July 28, 1914 – Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia
alliance system begins
Russia mobilizes army (July 31)
Germany asked Russia to cancel mobilization – or war would begin
Russia didn’t reply
Germany declared war on Russia (August 1)
Knowing France would join Russia – Germany declares war on France (August 3)
What problem does Germany have now that they have declared war on Russia and France?

4. What are they fighting for?
Serbia
Austria-Hungary
Russia
Germany
France
Britain

5. Declarations of War
1914
July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
July 31 Russia announces full mobilization.
August 1Germany declares war on Russia.
August 3 Germany declares war on France.
August 4 Germany invades Belgium, Britain declares war on Germany
August 5 Montenegro on Austria Hungary
August 6 Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia Serbia declares war on Germany.
August 9 Montenegro declares war on Germany.
August 11 France declares war on Austria-Hungary.
August 12 The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.
August 22 Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.
August 23 Japan declares war on Germany.
August 25 Japan declares war on Austria-Hungary.
November 1 Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
November 3 Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire.
1915
May 23 Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary.
October 14 Bulgaria declares war on Serbia
October 15 The United Kingdom declares war on Bulgaria.
October 16 France declares war on Bulgaria.
1916
August 27 Italy declares war on Germany; Romania enters on the Allied side
1917
April 6 The United States declares war on Germany.
December 7 The United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.

6. Journal #1
“Serbia was right in wanting to expand, Austria in wanting to survive. Germany was right in fearing isolation, Great Britain in fearing German power. Everyone was right. And everyone was wrong, for no one foresaw what war would mean, either in terms of costs or of consequences. All were sinners, all were sinned against.” -Joachim Remak
Who was responsible for starting WWI?

7. Review Who was in the Triple Alliance? Who was in the Triple Entente?
What was the short term cause (the spark) and how does the war get started—who declares war first and then what happens?

8. 1914-1915: Illusions and Stalemate
Illusions fed enthusiasm for the war in 1914
Belief that the war would only last a few weeks
Home by Christmas (historical trend in Europe)
War could not last for more than a few months without destroying a nation’s economy
Fatal Attraction to a “glorious adventure”
Redemption: national rebirth based on self-sacrifice, heroism, and nobility

9. The Western Front The Schlieffen Plan
Called for Germany to quickly crush France before Russia was fully ready
Why might Germany anticipate slow mobilization?
Germany invaded France through Belgium (a neutral nation)
Britain brought into war once Germany entered Belgium, Britain pledged to defend Belgium’s neutrality
August 4, 1914 Britain declares war on Germany

10. Plan had many faults:
more resistance in Belgium; German advances delayed
Russia mobilized faster than anticipated
Britain met German forces in northern France
France attacked in the south

13. German offensive stalled in September with France and Britain taking stand along Marne River
The First Battle of the Marne was perhaps the single most important event of the war
This ended hopes of quick victory for Germany
Great Britain arrived more quickly than expected
Ruined Schlieffen Plan
Germany was pushed back

14. Nov. 1914: neither side could deal final blow
By fall 1914 Britain and France stabilized Germany along the western front
Nov. 1914: neither side could deal final blow
settled down to trench warfare
for next 3 years: fighting only preserved stalemate w/ many casualties

18. Stalemate

19. Nations Take Sides Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary
Bulgaria (11/1914)
Ottoman Empire (joins later 10/1915)
Allied Powers (Allies)
Great Britain
France
Russia
Japan
Italy (1915)

20. Call to Arms Film