1. Alliances and Fronts of the War
World War One
Alliances and Fronts of the War

2. A European Conflict

3. The Alliances Triple Entente:
Britain
France
Russia
Belgium
Italy
This side was eventually called the “Allies.”
Triple Alliance:
Germany
Austria Hungary
Ottoman Empire
This side eventually becamed known as the “Central Powers” due to their location in Europe.

4. The Western Front
475 miles in length, this front was created in response to the Schlieffen Plan by Germany.
(August 1914) Germany attacked Belgium.
Within one month, Germany had advanced to within 50 miles of Paris and the war appeared as if it would end quickly.
Germans made several tactical errors allowing the French to re-group and stabilize the front.
Throughout the fall of that year, both sides made a furious race to the sea trying to outmaneuver each other by getting around the end of the enemy’s lines.

5. Battles Along the Western Front
This front was characterized by long, bloody fights that gained little ground for either side. (stalemate)
(1915) Very little fighting occurred here.
(1916) Two of the deadliest battles occurred during this year:
Battle of Verdun – Six Months; 680,000 casualties.
Battle of Somme – Six Months; More than a million casualties.
(1917) Germany retreated back to the Hindenburg line, the United States entered the war in April, and the Russian Revolution occurred in November.
(1918) Allied naval blockade of the Central Powers had created a shortage of food and raw materials in Germany and Austria. This was the year for the last huge push by the Germans and on August 8th, German lines were broken.

6. The Battle of the Somme

7. The Eastern Front
(1914) Russia fought against the Germans and Austrians on this front which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.
At first Russia was successful, but after the Battle of Tannenburg, the Germans marched eastward victory after victory.
(1916) Russia had more success in fighting the Austrians, which made Romania think about joining the Allies in August.
However, the Central Powers easily took over this area.
Russia’s lack of modern technology meant its troops were under-supplied and poorly equipped.
(1917) In November, Lenin led a revolt that overthrew the czar and took Russia out of the war.
Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest Litovsk which cost Russia about 25% of its land.

8. The Balkan Front
(1914) Russia’s old rival the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers.
(1915) Allies attack the Ottoman Empire in the vicinity of Istanbul.
This would allow the Western Allies to supply the isolated Russians, free the Balkans, and attack Austria from the south.
This proved to be a failed mission and was abandoned.
(Sept. 1915) Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and overran Serbia.
The only Allied victories in this sector were in the Middle East.

9. The Italian Front
(May 1915) Italy joined the Allies due to not gaining lands promised by Austria.
Devastating battles occurred between Italy and Austria on this front until October 1917.
With Germany’s help, the Central Powers broke through the Allied lines during the Battle of Caporetto.
France and Britain were able to stop the attack. However, the Central Powers were within fifty miles of Venice.

10. The War Ends
The outcome of the war on the Western Front was in question until the end.
Bulgaria was the first to withdraw after Britain and France defeated them in Greece.
The Turks surrender in October.
Austria Hungary felt the pressure of renewed attacks from Italy and revolts by the many ethnic minorities.
Allies promised freedom to the Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Croats if they joined the fight.
Austria fell on November 4, 1918.
Germany stood alone and, then, Germans in Berlin revolted and the Kaiser was overthrown.
A new German republic signed an armistice on November 11th at 11:00A.M.
The Great War had ended.