Transcript File
PRIOR to the Beginning of WWI, EACH Country had Great plans for how they would win the war. We will review Each by Country, Ending with the Germans plans which, as it turns out, would dictate all other countries’ responses. ALLIANCE REVIEW Prior to WWI, who has alliances with whom? Germany---- 1. Russia (Russia let go because of conflicting interests with Austria-Hungary over the BALKANS) 2. Austria-Hungary 3. Italy ALLIANCE REVIEW FRANCE--- Now seeks out Russia as an ALLY against Germany *Through a series of financial assistance programs, France succeeds in securing Russia as an ALLY---they bribe her. ALLIANCE REVIEW GREAT BRITAIN STANDS ALONE Until 1900. After suffering losses in the Boer (not BOAR) Wars, Britain realizes their isolationist policies aren’t productive. 1. British NAVY allies with JAPANESE Navy. 2. Eventually, Great Britain allies with France primarily out of fear at how strong GERMANY had become. ALLIANCE REVIEW Britain Germany France AustriaHungary Russia Italy ALLIES Central Powers Austria-Hungary Germany Turkey Italy Austro-Hungarian Empire 1. Just against Serbia- the A-H Empire believed they could simply take revenge on Serbia and the world would stay out of it 2. They thought their rival in the Balkans might back Serbia and they might have to fight a Russian Serbian alliance. RUSSIA Russia likewise had 2 plans…BOTH involved invading POLAND 1. Invade and do all her fighting from Poland to avoid damage to Russian infrastructure 2. Proceed into Eastern Prussia if the Germans were focused on the Western Front. FRANCE France’s plans are dominated by their desperate desire to win back ALSACE-LORRAINE (which they lost in Franco-Prussian war) France’s Plans were put forward by two leading Generals: 1. Michel’s Plan- Michel sees Belgium as the starting point of the war and his plan focuses French troops there. 2. Joffre’s Plan- attacks through AlsaceLorraine and holds a few troops in reserve to watch Belgium The French believe this war will be fought like old continental wars, Michel is fired and Joffre’s plan wins the day. Great Britain In the beginning their plan was to commit as few troops as possible. They saw their commitment to the Alliance as largely SYMBOLIC, believing their physical isolation could protect them from hostilities on the continent (as it had done many, many times in the past). GERMANY There was simply no way around it; due to GEOGRAPHY, Germany and the Central Powers were going to have to fight a TWO-FRONT War. This meant their men, supplies, and power would be divided. The Allied powers were set up with a Geographical FLANKING maneuver from the very start. Review: what is flanking? *Germany’s main advantage was RAILROADS: They would be the fastest mobilizers in the war. **Because of this, Schlieffen believed that Germany could defeat France in 6-8 weeks (by going through Belgium while the French were in AlsaceLorraine and then turn towards Russia. *Russia had Europe’s weakest infrastructure and would be slow to mobilize. **Schlieffen planned for Germany to fight 2 ONE-FRONT wars. MoLtKe’s FAiLure Schlieffen (ABOVE) was strong and decisive but he died before he could implement his plan. Helmuth von Moltke (ABOVE), Schlieffen’s successor, did not have the courage and gumption to execute the plan TWO FRONT WAR Because the German’s failed to move quickly and use their infrastructure to their advantage, they had to fight a two-front war.