Transcript WORLD WAR I
WORLD WAR I The War to End all Wars 1914-1918 1870 - 1914 BACKGROUND/CAUSES Europe in 1860 No Italy, no Germany, no Serbia- look at the size of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire Serbia Europe in 1900 Belgium Russia Germany AustroHungary Ottoman empire Austrian Territory The Players- A Shifting Balance of Power • Great Britain- The Powerhouse- Most Industrialized. Huge navy, many colonies - King George V, power had already largely devolved to Parliament • Germany- Recently united as a country, it was becoming an industrial powerhouse, Kaiser (King) Wilhelm II, cousins with British King George V, wanted a strong military and to have as large a navy as Britain • Austria-Hungary- a large empire with a wide group of ethnicities and religions, King Franz Josef was having a tough time keeping his Empire united • Russia- A vast country with several different regions, it was poorly industrialized, vestiges of serfdom still existed, most people were peasants. In 1905 there was an attempted Revolution. The Russians had recently lost territory to Japan in a brief war Other Players • France- A political mess, France had lost the FrancoPrussian War (1870) and was paying Germany reparations. While relatively industrialized as compared to the rest of Europe, France was politically weak, and was quite concerned about the looming giant in the center of Europe- GERMANY • Italy- a newly united country, it was less industrialized and militarily weak • Serbia- A newly independent nation, it sought to expand its borders. Serbians, like Russians, are both Slavic in ethnicity; and nations where most people are Christian Orthodox as opposed to Protestant or Roman Catholic Two more Players • Ottoman Empire- Dominated the Eastern Mediterranean since 1453!!! Was in sharp decline, political failures and ecnomic problems. Young Turks rise (1908) creates opportunity for Russia and Habsburgs. Nationalism led to loss of Greece (1830), Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania (1870s). • Belgium- A small nation newly established in the 19th Century, it was supposed to stay neutral and the other nations of Europe guaranteed that they wouldn’t do anything to harm that neutrality Cousins • Nicholas II, George V and Kaiser Wilhelm II were all cousins through Queen Victoria • Wilhelm was officially a British Admiral • 1905 Wilhelm visited Nicholas and almost got him to sign a Treaty, but Nicholas’ advisers stopped him Europe and its ethnicities in 1914 Poland was not a country from approx 17931918 Serbians dominated areas outside of the Kingdom of Serbia Balance of Power? Issues: – – – – – – – – Ottoman – “Sick Man of Europe” Russians - Pan Slavism, Dardanelles French - Restore Pride Austrians - A host of nationalities and religions Balkans - a simmering pot of ethnicities Germany - a new powerhouse in the center of Europe Britain - an island unto itself Belgium - guaranteed neutrality (1839) Balance of Power? • Naval Race- Germany v. Britain • Boer War- German support of Boers in South Africa • French Nervousness • Britain isolated but in Naval Arms Race w/ Germany - begins to make European alliances • Russia becomes alienated Alliances- The Triple Entente • Fearful of Germany, France and Russia signed an alliance in 1894 • As Germany’s navy increased in size, Britain signed an entente (not quite an alliance) with France and with Russia in 1907 The Balkans- a Powder-keg of Ethnicities and Religions • As the Ottoman Empire declined, Austria-Hungary and Russia sought to gain influence and power. • The area was near AustriaHungary but closer in ethnicity and religion to Russia A modern day map Ottomans in Decline Early 20th Century - Young Turks rise 1908 Austria annexed Bosnia Dardanelles at risk 1911 Italy attacked Ottomans in North Africa Libya lost 1912 Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia 1913 Turkey/Romania et.al. v. Bulgaria 1913 Intl. Conference- Albania Indep.- Serbia occupy- Austrian ultimatum – series of wars in the Balkans THE WAR BEGINS The Beginnings - June 28th 1914 A shot heard round the world • Sarajevo- a city in what is now Bosnia Herzegovina – Area was controlled by AustriaHungary – Large Serbian Population • Archduke Franz Ferdinand is shot and killed by a Serbian nationalist. Archduke (prince) Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungarian empire Ultimatums - A game of chicken? • Austro-Hungarian leader Franz Josef demands an investigation of his nephew’s murder, including the right to enter into Serbia and conduct the investigation • Austrian troops mobilize and issue ultimatums • Serbia agrees to most- Austria still declares war • Russia backs Serbia- Russian troops mobilize (act of war?) • Germany, backing Austria declares war on Russia and France (they had a treaty) • Britain declares war on Germany WarA Chance for a man to prove himself! • 40 years since Europe’s last major conflict and as each country sought to expand their army, War was glorified. Since 1815 most wars had ended within weeks • Shouts of joy emanated through the capitals of Vienna, Berlin, Paris and London as the War began Troops move to the Front Europe is mobilized The Von Schlieffen Plan Germany’s Plan for a quick victory • A plan created in the 1890s, problem… includes violating Belgian neutrality- when they do- Britain enters the War! • Moltke improvises, loses the day • Stopped 20 miles from Paris • Stalemate On the Homefront • Total Mobilization- TOTAL WAR – Conscription – Censorship – Military Industrialization- War Materials Boards • Nationalization of Infrastructure – Propaganda – Women – Sacrifice at Home • War Bonds and Rationing Propaganda Russian Propaganda British Propaganda German Propaganda German Offensive moves deep into France • Just miles from Paris the Offensive is stopped. • Battle of the Marne (river) Germans pushed back • German General Moltke War stalemated in the West • Industrialized militarization led to casualty numbers previously unheard of – Battle of Verdun, World War I (21 Feb.-16 Dec. 1916): 305 000 • French: 162,308 dead or missing • German: 100,000 dead or missing • Total: 262,308 dead or missing – French Field Marshall Petain- hero- late rules Vichy Govt in WWII • German General von Falkenhayn – Battle of 2nd Marne, World War I (July-Aug. 1918): 80 000 – – – – – UK: 16,000 Killed and wounded US: 40,000 Killed and wounded France: 95,200 Killed and wounded German: 168,000 Killed and wounded [TOTAL: 319,200 Killed and wounded Bad/Good Generals • Germany - Moltke screws up the Plan; Ludendorff and Von Hindenburg Heroes – Dual front—troops taken from Von-Schlieffen plan for Russia • France - Joffre out; Henri Petain - Hero • Russia Grand Duke Nicholas followed by Tsar, Kornilov limited resources MediterraneanAlong the Ottoman Front • Churchill’s Idea • Battle of Gallipoli 150,000 lost – UK: 18,000 killed – Aus.: 8,100 k – NZ: 2,700 k – India: 1,360 – France: 27,000 all casualty types – Turks: 86,700 – TOTAL: ca. 123,600] Eastern Front • Early success Russians v. Austria • Tannenburg & Masurian Lakes, Aug.-Sept. 1914 • 2 million casualties in one year!! • 1915 Russians- push back late Spring • Allies try take pressure off Gallipoli campaign, • 1916—Russian losses mounting, Tsar at front— limited resources- end nearing Trench Warfare 100s of miles of Trenches Total War Deaths • First World War (1914-18): 20,000,000 military and civilian deaths • 8,500,000 military deaths. – – – – – – – – – – – Austria-Hungary: 1,100,000 Belgium: 13,716 Britain & Empire: 908,371 France & Empire: 1,327,000 Germany: 1,773,700 Italy: 460,000 Romania: 219,800 Russia: 1,700,000 Serbia: 45,000 Turkey: 236,000 USA: 50,585 NEW WEAPONS New Weapons changed the nature of War Mustard Gas- first used by Germany later used by other countries, including Great Britain in what is now Iraq. Soldiers blinded by mustard gas Tanks, Airplanes, and Machine Guns The British developed Tanks But they were not used effectively First Air Battles- Limited Use 1915 – 1918 WAR CONTINUES Eastern FrontRussia in Turmoil! Russia was ill prepared from the beginning of the War; most troops were still on horseback and there was insufficient train tracks to get troops to the front 1.7 MILLION RUSSIANS WERE KILLED IN WWI March 1917- Tsar Nicholas abdicates in favor of a democratic government New government, led by Kerensky, continues the war despite popular opposition to it Communism in Russia Communist Revolution- Germany secretly sent Vladimir Lenin back to Russia - he had been in exile in Switzerland October, 1917, Kerensky’s government falls to Lenin’s Communists New Communist Government enters into a Treaty with Germany - named for the Town it was made in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk Russia loses 25% of its territory to Germany Land lost by Russia Back to pre-Peter the Great boundaries New Powerful Ships • Steel ships powered with coal and diesel • Turrets capable of sending shells long ranges War on the Seas • Germany - weaker navy than Britain but effectively used U-Boats (submarines) to circumvent the British blockade • Wilson in America helped Britain - War MaterialConvoys • May, 1915 a German u-boat sank the Lusitania • The ship was carrying war material in its hold which exploded; the ship sank 18 minutes! • Over 1000 people died; 126 of those were Americans German U-Boats The Sinking of the Lusitania • After the sinking of The Lusitania, Germany agreed not to fire on passenger ships without warning • 1917- Germany upset about non-military vessels carrying War Material to Britain (like Napoleon they wanted to blockade Britain) • Declared unrestricted Warfare on the High Seas • America responds negatively Convoys of Military and Civilian Ships were created to stop U-Boat attacksUS was helping Britain and France Influenza- 1917 Pandemic • Millions die in the Influenza epidemic of 1917- more die in the epidemic than in the WAR! • Troops at the Front are exhausted and sick! 1917 – 1918 THE END OF THE WAR American Troops bring new life • 1917 America Intercepts a telegram from Germany to the Mexican Embassy (Zimmerman Telegram)- if Mexico enters the War against the US, they can get the land they lost in the Mexican-American War back • President Wilson also objects to unrestricted attacks by U-boat The End of the War is Near! • American forces tip the balance – American forces entering the war at 250,000 troops/month! • Armistice: Bulgaria - 9/29, Ottomans 10/30 and Austria-Hungary - 11/4 • 11/9/18- Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates • November 11 (Veteran’s Day) – Armistice signed - End of the War! Fall of the Eagles • Kaiser Wilhelm abdicates - sneaks out of Germany and settles in Holland • Nicholas II and family arrested by communists and executed in 1921 • Franz Josef died during the War and his nephew Charles became Emperor. War ends and so does the Austrian Habsburg Empire