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The spark of World War 1
Franz Ferdinand was born in Graz, Austria. As the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, his assassination on June 28, 1914 sparked the First World War. A Serbian terrorist group, the Black Hand, resolved to assassinate Franz during his visit to Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, thereby stalling his proposed reforms. While riding in the motorcade through the streets of Sarajevo on 28 June, Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were shot and killed by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian member of the Black Hand. -
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World War I
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Alliances And treaties
In the years preceding WWI many European nations formed alliances that would pull the other into war if one was attacked. Russia, being allies of Serbia declared war on Austria-Hungary. Germany, being allies of Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia and France. Britain had pledge they would help defend Belgium from attack in the The Treaty of London. Germany tried to sidestep the French forces and attack through Belgium. -
Militarism
In the years before WWI began many European nations began stockpiling weapons and building new warships in an arms race. Militarism denoted a rise in military expenditure, an increase in military and naval forces, more influence of the military men upon the policies of the civilian government, and a preference for force as a solution to problems. Militarism was one of the main causes of the First World War. -
Imperalism
Increasing competition and desire for larger empires led to an increase in hostilities that helped push Europe into war. Imperialism was one of the four contributing factors to the cause of World War One, along with secret alliances, militarism, and nationalism. It is the most important cause of World War 1, because it created a build-up of tension in Europe and outside of Europe, and through imperialism, the three other causes were able to affect the beginnings of the war. -
Nationilism
The nationalism of the various countries throughout Europe contributed not only to the beginning but the extension of the war in Europe. Nationalism was the most important cause of World War 1 this is because the war was made to show which country was the best. Therefore, it is clear that nationalism was the most important cause of World War 1 as the countries wouldn't of gone to war if they did not want to show that they were the best. -
Alliances
By 1914 the six major powers of Europe split into two alliances. The Triple Entente and The Triple Alliances. The Triple Entente was Britain, France, and Russia. The Triple Alliances originally was Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. Later in the war Italy leaves. The purpose of these alliances was to have a defense agreement among nations. -
The Western Front
The name of the line of trenches which stretched from the English Channel across the battle fields of France and Belgium during the war. Where German armies faced there enimes in the west. For example France, Belgium, Luxembourg. Most of the fighting in the war occured here. -
The Eastern Front
The area of fighting on the German-Russian, Austro-Russian and Austro-Romanian land. Being a larger area than the western front. The regions who mainly fought here was Russia, Serbia, Ottoman Empire, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria. Where Russia had most of it's battles. The Treaty of Brest Litosvsk was created to bring peace between Russia and Germany becaudee Russia need to get out of the war due to internal problems that couldn't be ignored. This ends war on the eastern front. (March 3rd, 1918) -
The Schlieffen Plan
This was created by Chief of German General Staff Schlieffen. It was Germany's plan for war against Russia and France. It was supposed to work 100%. Yet, due to poor communtication and leadership it failed. Also the unepexteced high threat of the Russian army. They lost the battle. -
Trench Warfare and New Weapons
Trench warfare was a form of miltatary battle tatic where opposing sides fought one and another in trenches in the ground. The territory between the trenches were called no mans land. With the war new weapons were created.Mainly coming from germany. The flamethrower and tank which was invented by the Germans. They also created chemical weapons. Inventing the first posion gas chlorine. -
Propaganda
Militarily propaganda is the act of deliberately spreading negative ideas of your enemy nation in order to make citizens support and get involved in the war. Propaganda was often aimed at neutral party's as well as enemies in a hope of getting the to join their alliance mobilize their army to help in the fight. -
War Production
During the war artillery output grew from 91 guns per year to 8039 guns per year, in the span of just 4 years. Warplanes from 200 to 3200 and machine guns from 300 to 121000, all in the same time span. Hours were lengthened and safety standards loosened making work in artillery factory's dangerous as well as tiring. War production was mostly focused on Rifles, Barbed Wire, Machine Guns, Artillery, Poison Gases, Aircrafts, Tanks, Airships, as well as U-Boats -
Conscription
Conscription is being required by the law to join military service. This law allowed many country's to stay in the war. Canada's army was 54% voluntary and 46% conscripted. Conscientious Objectors, those who tried to refuse conscription on the grounds of health, already having served in the military, morals or religious reasons. In its first 6 months 750,000 men applied for Conscientious Objection, in Canada, only 2% won. Of that group 6000 went to jail and 35 were given death sentences. -
Support of the War
In order to support the war women all over started taking jobs at artillery factory and doing the farming for the war. Children collected money for war bonds and stamps. Family even planted Victory garden in America to make sure that their would be no food shortages and donated the remaining food to rations. Many women even join Red Cross to help wounded soldiers. -
Financing the War
In order to finance the war Liberty bonds were made. Liberty bonds were made, a type of war bond, sold in order to support Allied fighting in WWI. The creation of Federal Reserves also helped finance the war by allowing for the use of credit to help pay for the war. -
German Unrestricted Submarine Warfare
There was US arms sneaking across the Atlantic to Allied powers. So Germany eventually declared Unrestricted Submarine Warfare on the US. This is a tacit where they would attack the ships with out warning. Because they couldn't distinguish certainly enough from merchant and armed vessels. This then drew the US into the war. -
US Entry into the War
The United States had a few reasons for joining the war. Them being The Zimmerman Note, Russian Revolution, and U-boat attacks on four unarmed Americans merchant ships that killed 36 lives. President Wilson tried to go a peaceful route at first,but then his mind was changed. He asked Congress to declare war on the Central Powers. On April 6, 1917 Congress declared war. Siding with the Allied powers. -
Armistice
The Armistice of Compienge was made to end fighting on the Western Front. The signing of this document meant that Germany agreed to pull its troops behind their own borders, exchange prisoners, promise reparations, and disposition the use of their warships and submariners. In other words it was a complete loss for the Germans and a complete win for the Allies. Even though the Armistices ended the actual fighting it took six months of negotiations for the form the Peace Treaty of Versailles. -
Effects of World War 1
Casualties of the War. World war one had devastating effects on Europe. The Great War demolished the Austria-Hungary Empire and the Russian Empire. New states were established out of these former empires including Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. It established the US as the global economic power. Led to the great depression. And UK and France had to rebuild what they had. -
Treaty of Versailles
This was one of the most important peace treaty to be signed. It brought an end to the war. This ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. German representatives of the new German Republic were called to the palace of Versailles outside Paris. The Germans were ordered to sign the treaty written the by Allies. German payment for the war came down to over $30 billion dollars. They were forced to assume full responsibility for causing the war.
