Transcript Chapter 25
Chapter 25 th 20 Beginning of the Century Crisis: War and Revolution The Outbreak of War: The Summer of 1914 Serbia (w/ Russian support) determined to create independent Slavic state Austria dead-set to oppose any Serbian actions – P.720 British ambassador to Vienna about Serbia 1913 June 28, 1914 – Ferdinand assassinated by Serbian nationalist July 28 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia July 30 – Russia declares war on Austria-Hungary August 1 – Germany declares war on Russia August 3 – Germany invades Belgium violating a 75 year old treaty and declares war on France August 4 – Great Britain declares war on Germany And now an entire continent was at war… The War Most people believed that the war would only last a short time & had no idea how long and devastating it would be – many people of the nations involved went in w/ much enthusiasm – most felt that their nation’s cause was just – this illusion fueled by the fact that wars since 1815 had lasted weeks overlooked the American Civil War (1861-65) true prototype for WWI By August 1914, the European powers had lined up against each other – Central Powers: Germany, Austria, Ottoman Empire, & Bulgaria – Allied Powers (Allies): Britain, France, Russia, Serbia, Belgium, Japan & Montenegro Initially, the Central Powers had the upper hand because Germany had developed an industry to prepare for war over the last 40 years Had a plan in place for possible scenario for European war in place by 1905 (the Schlieffen Plan) Schlieffen Plan Created in 1905, by German Gen. Alfred von Schlieffen Germany’s problem - it had enemies in the east and west Russia was slow to mobilize, so the plan was to knock out France in about 6 weeks & then concentrate on Russia Germany Has Problems from Beginning the area of Belgium that Germany invaded was heavily fortified heavy resistance delayed German advance until Aug. 20th Russia mobilized far quicker than Schlieffen had planned British troops delayed Germany further & inflicted heavy losses Russia was gaining ground in the east, so a detachment of German troops were sent to the eastern front France was slowly losing ground to the Germans, so Gen. Joseph Jacques Joffre pulled back his troops to protect Paris Early War in the West & East Aug 4, 1914 – German troops cross into Belgium – Did experience more resistance from Belgians – British secretly moving to help slow advance to Paris By 1st week of Sept, 20 miles from Paris Sept. 5-9, 1914 – Battle of the Marne – French push German forces about 50 miles outside of Paris – French victory saves Paris & could not press advantage though – signified the abandonment of the Schlieffen Plan beginning of trench warfare, trenches extended from the English Channel to Switzerland war in the East much more mobile, but cost in lives was enormous – Russia makes early advances defeated Austria in Galicia & Serbia – tried to do too much too soon, losing badly at the Battle of Tannenburg (Aug 30) & the Masurian Lakes (Sept 15) Russia ended up losing territory, being pushed 300 miles into their own territory, Russian casualties stood at 2.5 million by 1915 1915 - Battle of Ypres: Germans introduce a new weapon chlorine gas In 1915, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare – keep supplies from reaching French & British troops on the mainland – “any ship coming from British waters would be sunk” May 1915 - German subs sink the Lusitania (1200 die, 128 Americans) – this swings U.S. support unofficially to the Allied cause 1916-1917: The Great Slaughter Trench Warfare success in the East enabled Germany to move back on offensive in West trenches of 1914 much more elaborate by now – – – – lines protected by barbed wire entanglements 3-5’ high & 30 yds wide concrete machine gun nests mortar batteries & supported further back by heavy artillery Men lived in holes in the ground & trenches separated by “No Man’s Land” Trench warfare baffled military leaders because they had trained to fight wars of movement Public outcries to break stalemate put them under heavy pressure Periodically, commanders would order an artillery barrage to soften up enemy lines Then a mob of soldiers would climb out of their trenches & work their way across NML to enemy trenches – These offensives usually bloody & futile, resulting in heavy losses for the attackers Major Battles of 1916 Feb. to Sept. 1916 – Battle of Verdun – Germans tried to take a well fortified French fortress – 10 months of battle, over 700,000 casualties (380,000 French, 330,000 Germans) – war still at a standstill May 31 to June 1, 1916 – Battle of Jutland – the only major battle between British & German fleets – took place off the coast of Denmark – both sides claimed victory, but Britain still controlled the seas, Germany retreated to port & never came out again July to Nov. 1916 – Battle of the Somme – just as inconclusive as Verdun – Britain only gained a total of 125 sq. miles – 1.1 million casualties (500,000 German, 400,000 British, 200,000 French) – Britain introduces a new weapon: armored tanks Entry of the United States Sinking of the Lusitania in May, 1915 pushed the U.S. to unofficially support the Allied cause wasn’t until the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare in January 1917 that the U.S. declared war on Germany April 6, 1917 U.S. troops wouldn’t arrive on continent until 1918 but gave Allies a psychological boost 1917 not a good year for Allies – Offensives on Western front disastrous – Italian armies smashed in October – in Nov, Bolshevik Revolution led to Russian withdrawal by Spring 1918 As the war dragged on patriotic enthusiasm replaced by dissatisfaction in most countries – to boost morale, the smallest victories were given big headlines – success & the outcome of the war depended greatly on public support at home. Governments also began using propaganda to gain support propaganda – ideas or rumors used to harm the opposing cause – Allied governments were the most successful at using propaganda – (American & British people were convinced that the Germans were demons committing brutal crimes throughout Europe) War and Revolution The Russian Revolution The Revolution of 1905 failed to bring about any substantial changes Nicholas II relied on army & bureaucracy to uphold his rule WWI magnified Russia’s problems – – – – Nicholas II only European monarch that took control of armed forces Not trained for such a task Russian troops ill-fed & under trained 1914-16: 2 million casualties, 4-6 million wounded or captured All classes were discontented with the tsar, Nicholas increasingly insulated from the reality of events by his wife, Alexandria – She had fallen under the influence of Rasputin, a “holy man” that could stop the bleeding of their hemophiliac son – Alexis – Rasputin became influence behind the throne, meddled in govt. affairs – as govt faced more military & political disasters, opposition grew Aristocrats that supported the tsar decided to try to reverse the situation – had Rasputin assassinated Dec 1916 – too little, too late – fall of Russia began in March 1917 The March Revolution March 8 – celebrated as International Women’s Day – Women demonstrated in Petrograd shouting “Peace and Bread” – Workers joined in, Alexandria wrote Nicholas saying it was small nuisance – Nicholas ordered the troops to disperse the demonstrators, shooting people if necessary – Many soldiers joined the movement, spiraled out of control March 12 – the Duma met even though Nicholas had disbanded it March 15 – Duma established a provisional govt, Nicholas II abdicated the same day Provisional govt. faced another authority, soviets or workers councils – Petrograd soviet established in March 1917, sprang up all over Russia soon – Expressed a more radical interest in the lower classes 2 main had factions split in 1903 – Mensheviks – majority, wanted Socialist Democrats to be mass electoral socialist party based on a Western model – Bolsheviks – minority, dedicated to violent revolution & destruction of capitalism, led by V.I. Lenin Vladimir I. Lenin (1870-1924) Lawyer 1887 became dedicated enemy of tsarist Russia Exiled from Russia in 1900, retuned in 1917 and become leader of Bolshevik party Issued April Theses (4/20/1917) – Proposed Russia could move directly into socialism – Soviets of soldiers, workers, & peasants were ready-made weapons 3 simple slogans of Bolsheviks – “Peace, Land & Bread” – “Worker control of production” – “All power to the soviets” Petrograd soviet led by Leon Trotsky – rabid revolutionary The Bolshevik Revolution July 1917 – Lenin flees to Finland, falsely accused of attempting to overthrow the provisional govt. Also July – Alexander Kerensky named PM of prov. govt Sept. 1917 – Gen. Lavr Kornilov attempts to march on Petrograd & seize power – Kerensky released Bolsheviks from prison & turned to the soviet for help – Kornilov failed; strengthened Petrograd soviet & showed Lenin how weak the govt. was By October, the Bolshevik party had grown from 50,000 to 240,000 Nov 6, 1917 – pro-soviet & pro-Bolsheviks take over Petrograd under slogan of “All Power to the Soviets” – Provisional govt. collapsed with little bloodshed Nov. 8 – Lenin announced a new government, the Council of People’s Commissars w/ himself as head – 2 problems – Constituent Assembly & public support Broke the Assembly by force (to work w/ assembly would be compromising w/ bourgeoisie) Gained public support w/ peasants by passing 1st law of administration – declared land nationalized & turned over to local rural land committees – really just made land-grabs that peasants had made earlier legal March 3, 1918 – Communist govt. signed Treaty of Brest-Litvosk w/ Germany and withdrew from WWI – Gave up eastern Poland, the Ukraine, Finland & Baltic Provinces Civil War (1918-1921) Fought by Red (Bolshevik) & White (anti-Bolshevik) armies Reds attacked on all side by White Army and supporters July 16, 1918 – royal family was staying in the Ural Mts. murdered by the local soviet & burnt their bodies in a mine shaft Red Army well-disciplined and formidable thanks to Leon Trotsky – Soldiers who deserted or refused to follow orders summarily executed Disunity of White Army weakened their efforts – Different groups fought for different reasons Reds instituted war communism to ensure regular supplies – – – – Banks & industries nationalized Forcible requisition of grain from peasants State administration centralized under Bolshevik control Secret police “Cheka” created to eliminate enemies of the new regime 1921 – Communists (Reds) controlled Russia, now bureaucracy dominated by single political party. Also turned many against Allied countries that supported the White Army The Last Year of the War March 1918 – Russian withdrawal gave Germany new hope for victory Germany decided to make one last gamble - an offensive aimed at Paris – Lasted from March until July, got within 35 miles of Paris July 18,1918 - 2nd Battle of the Marne – French led by Gen. Ferdinand Foch, supported by 140,000 American troops victorious over Germany William II left the country Nov. 9th – November 11th, 1918: armistice signed, fighting ends Though the Allies won the war, it was very costly for both sides The War had cost $186 billion when the armistice was signed Over 10 million people had lost their lives – 1.7 million Russian troops, 1.7 million Germans, 1.4 million French, 1.2 million Austrian, 900,000 British, & 125,000 Americans – 4.5 million civilians died due to hostilities, famine, & disease – another 21 million soldiers had been wounded Now that the fighting had ended it was time to try to repair some of the damage that was done Treaty of Versailles Treaty between the Allied countries with Germany "The Big Four" represented the Allies and dominated the peace conference David Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Great Britain Georges Clemenceau - Premier of France – both wanted to “make Germany pay” Vittorio Orlando - Premier of Italy – wanted more territory both in Europe and in the Pacific Woodrow Wilson - President of the United States – wanted a just peace and to create a better world by implementing his Fourteen Points. Major Provisions: Territorial changes Germany surrendered many lands in Europe & colonial holdings Colonial Losses Germany ceded all colonies to the Allies Disarmament German army was limited to 100,000 volunteers Conscription was forbidden German navy was reduced to a few small ships. Subs, military aircraft, and war industries were prohibited. All of the restrictions were intended to prevent Germany from waging war again. War Guilt and Reparations - Article 231 Germany had to accept sole responsibility for the war. Germany had to pay reparations for war damages - $33 billion Ger.made a few payments, stopped making payments in 1933. The League of Nations The treaty called for the creation of the League of Nations. Germany was forced to sign the Treaty The U. S. Senate refused the Treaty due to the inclusion of the League of Nations. Why? U.S. senators feared the League might drag the U.S. into a war The U.S. never joined the League. The U.S. signed a separate treaty with Germany **A treaty that did not include the League of Nations**