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The First Balkan War
The First Balkan War involved Serbia and Greece going to war on the Ottoman Empire.
The Balkan War was a fight over power in Macedonia, a territory owned by the Ottoman Empire.
The Balkan War started in October 17, 1912.
The Balkan War was in a region in Europe, Balkan.
The Balkan War was the result of a rebellion in Macedonia, which left the country in a bad spot. -
The First Balkan War (Cont.)
Austria-Hungary took the opportunity as fast as they could and Serbia was angry as they saw the land as their property, considering their heritage.
Russia tried to get the Balkan nations (Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, and Serbia) to become allies and take all of the other territories in Europe. Eventually, even considering their differences, they became allies and had one goal, to take Turkey down (History.com editors, 2020). -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
Archduke Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek were assassinated by a Serbian teenager, Gavrilo Princip. Princip was accompanied by 2 other Serbians, Trifko Grabez, and Nedeljko Cabrinovic.
The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand was the catalyst of World War I, or as some like to call it, “Great War”, when a young Serbian man shot and killed Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated June 28, 1914. -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (Cont.)
Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he agreed to watch a few military exercises. Bosnia-Herzegovina was recently annexed by Austria-Hungary.
The reason why Franz Ferdinand was assassinated was because he upset the Serbian population, calling them all sorts of names. He called them “Pigs”, “Thieves”, and “Murderers”, just to name a few. This is significant because the place where he was going to, Bosnia-Herzegovina, was about 40% Serbian. -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (Cont.)
When the Serbian’s heard that Archduke Ferdinand was visiting the territory, they made a plan to assassinate him, making him pay for what he said about their people. They got 6 handheld bombs, 4 semi-automatic pistols and cyanide suicide capsules from a terrorist group in Belgrade, the capitol of Serbia. The group was called the Black Hand and they were relatively close to the Serbian army. -
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand (Cont.)
One of the Serbians threw a bomb at their car, but it bounced off of it and hit the car behind them, injuring the passengers and bystanders. Instead of leaving the area, Franz wanted to continue on his planned route to the City Hall. When that finished, he went to visit a hospital that the injured were staying in, coincidentally, Princip was right there. He then saw the Archduke, and took the opportunity to get revenge, pulling out a pistol, killing the Archduke and his wife (Greenspan, 2020). -
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World War I Begins
World War I involved the Central Forces (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) and the Allied Forces (Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States).
World War I, also known as the great war, was a war between many countries, lasting for 4 years, resulting in 16 million deaths and so much destruction.
World War I started on July 28, 1914 and went until November 11, 1918.
World War I started in Europe with Serbia and Austria-Hungary. -
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World War I Begins (Cont.)
Serbia, after making enemies with Austria-Hungary, suspected that they were preparing to go to war with them. Knowing this, they sent a bunch of troops to Russia to try and get them on their side. Eventually, Austria-Hungary did declare war on Serbia, and in around a week almost all of Europe was at war with each other (History.com editors, 2023). -
German U-Boats
The German U-boat was mainly used by the Germans. The German Unterseeboot, or U-boat was a submarine that could sink ships up to 20 times their size above or below water with their deadly torpedoes and guns on the deck. The U-boat’s first use in WWI was on September 5, 1914. The attack was on the British off the coast of Scotland. The Germans used the U-boat because they had just announced that they were going to start attacking incoming boats without warning if they were coming to Britain. -
German U-Boats (Cont.)
Along with this, the boat had very powerful weapons and could go for miles without needing to be refueled. The U-boats main purpose was to sink incoming warships and merchant boats and kill thousands of people (Klein, 2022). -
Lusitania Sinks
The Lusitania was owned by the British, which was shot by a torpedo by a German submarine, the U-boat.
The Lusitania was a very high quality luxury steam ship that was attacked by a U-boat, and killed 1,195 people, including 128 Americans. This attack broke Naval rules and strained the trust between the neutral States and Germany.
The Lusitania started its voyage on May 1, 1915, and was attacked and sunk on May 7, 1915. -
Lusitania Sinks (Cont.)
The Lusitania was scheduled to leave New York and head to Liverpool in England. Six days after they set off for Liverpool, Germany hit the boat and it sank in less than 20 minutes.
The Lusitania was originally a recreational boat, but England shut it down in 1906, knowing war was starting up. England, however, did tweak the boat a little bit to better suit it for war, using it to transport materials from the United States to Europe. -
Lusitania Sinks (Cont.)
On February 15, 1915 Germany caught wind of England's plan and broke the international naval laws and sent a submarine under without warning the boats of the submarine's existence.
This attack impacted the war because it upset the United States. Citizens were angry, but didn’t want to go to war. President Wilson wanted to stay safe and stay neutral, while president Roosevelt wanted to retaliate. Eventually the United States issued a warning and joined the war (McDermott, 2022). -
Battle of Verdun (Cont.)
At the beginning of 1916, France’s war had resulted in a tremendous trench warfare, stretching from the Swiss border all the way to the English Channel. Germany thought that the only way to win the war was to defeat France while they were dealing with the trenches.
Germany’s plan to defeat the French was to attack from the sea with submarines, forcing England to help them recover, hopefully removing them from the war. Germany saw England as their biggest threat (History.com editors, 2021). -
Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Verdun was fought primarily involved France and Germany
The Battle of Verdun was a battle between France and Germany, which lasted for over 10 months, making it the longest dispute in all of WWI.
The Battle of Verdun started on February 21, 1916 at 7:12 am.
The Battle of Verdun was fought on a front that stretched across the Meuse River to the cathedral in Verdun, France. The front was 20 kilometers long. -
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Battle of Gallipoli, Somme
The Battle of Somme involved the Allies and Germany.
The Battle of Somme was one of, if not, the most deadly battles in all of human history, killing over 3 million soldiers and injuring another million by the time the battle finished.
The Battle of Somme happened from July - November 1916.
The Battle of Somme was near the Somme River in France.
The Battle of Somme happened because the Allied Forces wanted to go play some offense against Germany. -
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Battle of Gallipoli, Somme (Cont.)
The Allied Forces prepared for this offensive push by bombarding the German trenches with heavy artillery, attempting to destroy the barbed wire defending Germany’s defense’s and demolish their defensive positions. The Allied forces thought that this would work and they could easily advance through their defense’s, but Germany was stronger than they anticipated and they fought, resulting in more than 57,000 British soldier deaths in the first day (History.com editors, 2023). -
Zimmermann Note
The Zimmermann Telegram was invented by a German foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmermann.
The Zimmermann Telegram was a letter sent by Zimmermann intended to go to the German ambassador to Mexico, Heinrich von Eckhardt, but caught by English code breakers.
The Zimmermann Telegram was intercepted by the English on January 16, 1917.
The Zimmermann Telegram was sent in Germany. -
Zimmermann Note (Cont.)
Arthur Zimmermann sent the Telegram to Eckhardt to tell him what to get Mexico to do if the United States entered the war.
England intercepted the message by their elite cryptographic team, known as “Room 40” after intercepting the message. They then sent that message to the United States to warn them of what Germany was planning to do (Andrews, 2018). -
Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution involved the people of Russia and their leader, Czar Nicholas II.
The Russian Revolution was when the people of Russia fought back against their leaders and the people who wronged them.
The Russian Revolution happened on March 8, 1917.
The Russian Revolution took place in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The Russian Revolution was the people’s attempt to get what they deserved (equal pay, food, etc.) because their leaders, mainly Czar Nicholas II, was treating them horribly. -
Russian Revolution (Cont.)
The Russian Revolution happened by the people going out into the streets stealing bread, protesting with the factory workers, and fighting the police that were trying to stop them. After seeing what the people were doing, a few army men came to defuse the situation, shooting some of the protesters, but they continued to protest, eventually outnumbering the army men, forcing them to retreat. The following day, Czar Nicholas resigned his spot at the throne, ending the revolution (Brodsky, 2023). -
U.S. Enters the War
The United States’ participation in the war was backed by a majority of the people in the U.S. Senate (82 - 6 to go to war).
At the beginning of the war, President Woodrow Wilson heavily advocated for the U.S. to stay neutral during the war, a decision that a ton of Americans agreed with.
The U.S. entered the war on April 6, 1917.
This decision was made in the House of Representatives, where both the House and the U.S. The Senate overwhelmingly agreed to go to war. -
U.S. Enters the War (Cont.)
The U.S. decided to join the war because of the sinking of the Lusitania, which killed 128 Americans. This upset the U.S. a ton and they demanded amends and for Germany to stop sinking ships. However, in November, Germany attacked another ship, killing 27 Americans. These made the American people hate Germany, eventually deciding to join the war (History.com editors, 2022). -
Mines (Battle of Messines)
The main use of mines/bombs were during the Battle of Messines, which involved Germany and the Allied Forces. The Battle of Messines was the single biggest explosion of WWI before atomic bombs were invented. The explosions of the Battle of Messines were in June in 1917. The Battle of Messines was surrounding the town of Ypres in Belgium. -
Mines (Battle of Messines) (Cont.)
The Battle of Messines resulted in the biggest explosion in pre-atomic bomb history because Germany got quick positioning and trenches during the battle, and the Allied forces needed to fight back. The Allied Forces recruited miners from all across the world to dig tunnels in and around Germany’s trenches and filled them to the brim with explosive aluminum powder and ammonium nitrate. They then blew up the mines, right under the Messines ridge, killing thousands (Roos, 2021). -
Bristol F.2B Fighter
The Bristol F.2B fighter was manufactured by the British. The Bristol F.2B fighter was a 2-seater originally intended to replace the outdated Royal Aircraft. The Bristol F.2B fighter was manufactured in 1918. The main people to use Bristol F.2B was the British. The Bristol F.2B was used in WWI because of its powerful engine, sturdy build, and agility made it the perfect fighter. Many people refer to it as the Clark Kent in the plane world for it’s unassuming look, but powerful parts. -
Bristol F.2B Figher (Cont.)
The Bristol F.2B fighter was flown by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Flying Corps during WWI (Ingenium, 2023). -
Russia Withdraws from the War
Russia withdrawing from the war involved the Russians and the Central Powers
Russia withdrew from the war by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Central Powers.
Russia signed the treaty on March 3, 1918.
Russia signed the treaty in Brest-Litovsk which is near the Polish border.
Russia withdrew from the war because they were losing so many soldiers because of the war and the people were growing more and more concerned for their safety. -
Russia Withdraws from the War (Cont.)
Along with this, the people were having a revolution and were in no situation to go to war.
Russia withdrew from the war because there was a new person in power. After the Russian Revolution and Czar Nicholas II leaving the throne, Vladimir Lenin took the throne. The first thing he did as ruler was to stop Russia’s participation in the war (History.com Editors, 2021). -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry
The Battle of Chateau-Thierry involved the Allies and Germany.
The Battle of Chateau-Thierry was Germany’s attempt to part France’s army and Britain’s army, and take Britain's army down individually, while still continuing to invade Paris.
The Battle of Chateau-Thierry was on July 15, 1918.
The Battle of Chateau-Thierry happened between the Chateau-Thierry and the Argonne forest. -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry (Cont.)
Germany wanted to do this because after the Allied forces managed to fend them off because of their lack of supplies their defense managed to become even more stable. This battle was their counter assault on the Allies.
Germany’s General, Ludendorff planned to counter attack by cutting through these 2 areas in France, effectively separating the Allied forces, allowing them to pick them off and weaken their defense. However, France knew about their plan and they came prepared. -
Battle of Chateau-Thierry (Cont.)
While the Allies did get pushed back a little, they still fought back and took care of Germany, even nearly wiping out some of their units (History on the Net, 2023). -
Battle of Argorne
The Battle of Argonne was between the Allied forces and Germany.
The Battle of Argonne was the Allies’ attempt to get German troops to retreat out of France and make their defenses weaker.
The Battle of Argonne was on September 26, 1918 at 5:30 in the morning.
The Battle of Argonne was along the Meuse River in the Argonne Forest in France.
The Battle of Argonne happened because Germany’s army was advancing into France and they were feeling threatened and had to do something about that. -
Battle of Argorne (Cont.)
The Allied forces intended on doing this by out-powering the troops, cutting them off at the Argonne forest. They brought 700 tanks, 500 aircrafts, and plenty of soldiers (History.com editors, 2020). -
Armistice of WWI
The Armistice of WWI was made between Matthias Erzberger, a German politician who agreed to lead the German party and a French General Ferdinand Foch.
The Armistice of WWI was an agreement between the Allies and Germany to stop fighting. The Armistice was less of a surrender and more of an agreement to stop fighting.
The Armistice took place on November 11, 1918 at 11:00 am. -
Armistice of WWI (Cont.)
The Allies agreed to the Armistice not only because they were running out of resources, but also because of the harsh terms they made the Germans agree to. They would make the Germans pull all of their troops out of France, Belgium, and Luxemburg, potentially become prisoners to the Allies, they would have to give the Allies all of their weapons, planes, railroads, trucks, and and would have to give up Alsace-Lorraine, a territory they were fighting over (Kiger, 2023). -
Treaty of Versailles is Signed
The Treaty of Versailles was signed by Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Vittorio Orlando.
The Treaty of Versailles was an agreement signed to keep peace between Germany and the Allied forces along with holding Germany accountable for the wrongs that they committed. This however, was far from keeping the peace between the parties.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed at the end of World War I, on January 18, 1919. -
Treaty of Versailles is Signed (Cont.)
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Palace of Versailles in Paris.
The Allies decided to sign the Treaty of Versailles each for different reasons. To protect their nation, to rebuild Germany and reestablish it as a territory, and to create a new world order respectively. Eventually they all agreed to make Germany responsible for their actions and effectively made them a joke to the other nations. -
Treaty of Versailles is Signed (Cont.)
The Allies, after seeing what Germany did in World War I, decided it was time for them to be held responsible for the horrible crimes they did. They held a meeting in Paris to resolve these issues while still holding them accountable. Germany and all the other defeated Central Powers were absent from this meeting. Eventually, the Allies come to an agreement and sign the treaty, making Germany give up a bunch of their military, overseas possessions, and territory (History.com editors, 2023). -
First Meeting of the League of Nations
President Woodrow Wilson was a heavy advocate for the concept of the League of Nations, which contained leaders from the Allies and the Central powers and the people in Congress.
The League of Nations was made to have a complete and long lasting peace treaty.
The First meeting of the League of Nations was on November 15, 1920.
The First meeting of the League of Nations was in Geneva, Switzerland. -
The First Meeting of the League of Nations (Cont.)
President Woodrow Wilson loved the idea of the League of Nations because the Armistice was only to stop World War I, not bring peace to the nations, and that’s all that President Wilson wanted, although some nations disagreed with the idea, Woodrow Wilson tried to get the League, along with the Treaty of Versailles approved by the U.S. Senate.
2 months after Germany agreed to the Armistice, they met with the Allies to finally form terms for a long lasting peace. -
First Meeting of the League of Nations (Cont.)
President Woodrow Wilson was all for it, but France and England were not. The idea of the League of Nations however, was approved by all parties. All President Woodrow Wilson had to do now was get the idea ratified by Congress. However, he suffered a stroke and could not come up with a compromise with them and they didn’t ratify either of them, so the League of Nations continued without the United States of America (History.com Editors, 2020).