1. Who’s Who World War I

2. Great Britain Richest & most powerful nation in world Largest empire
King George V – weak; Parliament – powerful
Concerns:
1.Germany occupies colonies
in Africa next to G.B. colonies
2.Britain and Germany engage
in a Naval arms race
3.G.B. committed to defend Belgium
if it was ever attacked

3. France 2nd largest empire
Republic with elected President Raymond Poincare
Concerns:
Badly defeated in Franco-Prussian War =Little national pride
Lost provinces of Alsace & Lorraine
Wants revenge on Germany
Member of the Triple Entente:
France – Britain - Russia

4. Russia Largest country in world & poorest: 8 of 10 are peasants
Tsar Nicholas – autocrat
Problems:
Dreadful working & living conditions
Many peoples – many languages
Badly defeated in Russo-Japanese War 1907 – wants to prove still a major power
Stop Austria from expanding in Balkans
control of Balkans for ports/route to Mediterranean
Ally of Serbia (similar language & religion)

5. Germany New nation – 50 yrs old; created by Prussia 1871
Kaiser Wilhelm – strong leader (cousin of King George)
Concerns:
1. Knows French want return of
Alsace & Lorraine
2. France & Russia are allied
=war on two fronts
3. Schlieffen Plan: Attack France thru Belgium – defeat quickly, then deal with Russia

6. Austria - Hungary Emperor Franz Joseph II
(oldest of European rulers-loved by people)
Problems:
Disunity: many different people/languages=hard to rule
Wants to expand empire into the Balkans – to do so, must attack Serbia (backed by Russia)
Can’t defeat Russia unless supported by Germany

7. The Balkans Balkan = “mountain” in Turkish
Formerly ruled by Turkey/Ottoman Empire
Problems:
Many different ethnic groups and languages
Extreme geography
Hot bed of resentment and unrest after Balkan Wars
Serbian nationalists form terrorist group – the Unity of Death or “Black Hand”
Goal is to unite all Slavic peoples
into singe country - Yugoslavia