ORIGINS OF WWI
The outbreak of WWI was a surprise.Previous differences in Europe had
always been settled.
WWI put an end to 3 European empires1. Russian2. Austrian-Hungarian3. Ottoman
It was beloved that the war would be short and bloodless due to technologyThis of course was not the case
There was an honest belief in the progress of man,Diplomacy had evolved to the point where
war would be avoided.
Concert of Europe: 1815. Body of representatives where grievances were aired.
In theory all countries would meetIn practice only the Great Powers do
so.The assumption was that pace was the
goal and diplomacy was to be the means.
Balance of Power: In another event that one power tried to over power another, smaller powers would rise up and stop it.
Nation-States emerged unevenlyEspecially in Central Europe
A conglomeration of some 300 principalities that were not united
Eastern Europe: 3 empires in declineNone was a true nation-state
1870-1871: Germany and Italy emerge as nation-states.This was destabilizing
Ex : France had always sought to keep Germany divided. Now it was unified and a cause of concern for France.
Franco-Prussian War: Alsace-Lorraine given to Germany in the settlementHonor, manhoodAnd pride all compromised (France)Calls for war arise.
While nation-states did not exist, nationalism did.Nationalism appears at different times in
different places, much like nations themselves
Awareness→Philosophy→Demand→Fact
Many nationalities arise, but few have nations of their own.
The Balkans (S.E. Europe)Rivalries in this are were spurred on by
Russia¿Why?
The problem of unrequited nationalism was greatest in AustriaTwo dominant nationalities
1. Austrians (Germanic)2. Magyars (Hungrian/Asiatic)
There was dual monarchy (Austria-Hungary)
2 separate gov’ts.oShared a king,
foreign minister and foreign policy
Various nationalities wanted:
Home rule Outright
independence Concentration of
ethnicities
But no one actually sought the destruction of the A-H Empire
IMPERIALISM AND GREED
There is a surge of imperialism among European powers. Not a cause of the war per se, but does make for a good opportunity for a cool cartoon.
Intense rivalries among powers
All would end up on the same side in WWI
Economic Greed
Today, many believe that war is driven by economics, but in early 20th Century Europe, most businessmen did not favor war. Except for…
…arms makers.
Countries amassed weapons, but why?
Tensions caused arms build-up. Not the other way around.
Otto von Bismarck: German chancellor and foreign minister.Responsible for German
reunificationCold-bloodedHard-hearted
Not emotional or sentimental
Realizes that victory vs. French would mean another war.
Calculated that as long as France was ruled by rational leaders, it would not wage war on Germany. But perhaps with allies she might…
Who might France’s allies be?England?---No.Austria and Russia?---Maybe.
Bismarck decides to ally himself with Aus. & Prussia before France does.
A loose arrangement was created but was not really viable due to an Austrian/Russian rivalry.1879: Bismarck signs a treaty of alliance with
Austria-Hungary.oEach would assist the other if attacked by
Russia.
Several years later…Bismarck secures an agreement with Russia by which each would remain neutral should the other go to war.These are the first peace-time alliances in
Europe.They are crazy and can cause you to have
headaches.They are just beginning…
OvB is not done…Also signs an agreement with Italy, a rival
of Austria :/The Italians fear the French (really?)
more than the Austrians so they sign.France is on the outside looking in.
Only Bismarck is shrew enough to hold the alliance together.
1880: Kaiser Wilhelm II comes to powerFires Bismarck
Bismarck had realized that for power to be effective it ad to be used sparingly.
¿What does Bismarck mean by this?
The Kaiser’s provocative action shocks EuropeHe allows the treaty with Russia to lapse.
Russia is now free to get closer to FranceIt enters into a military alliance w/ France⅓ of Russian army to act if France is attacked
Bismarck’s strategic nightmare is now very real.
This is what it’s coming to.
Many Germans share the thought that Germany did not receive the respect and prestige she deserved.The Kaiser shares the same thought.
1900: Germany decides to become a world-class naval power.Battleships are the measuring stickThis alarms England
A larger German fleet is seen as a threat to the British Empire
This is a game
THIS IS NOT!
Britain had tried to stay out of European affairs1905: England enters in to peace agreement for
the first time.
Entente: Declaration of friendshipBritain and France
Both agree that in the event of a German attack, the General staffs would meet
Agreed to cover each other’s backsNOT obligated to go to war, however
The Germans also begin to express interest in the Near East.Want to build a railroad from Berlin to Baghdad.Germans send generals to train Ottoman soldiers
1907: Britain and Russia sit down and patch-up differences.They split Iran into
spheres of influence
TRIPLE ENTENT:
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Europe is now an armed camp
Reasons for war:
Revenge
Prestige
Weakness
National tension
Alliance only a symptom, not a cause of tension.
CRISIS IN THE BALKANSJuly 1914: Involves:
1. Austria2. Serbia3. Serbians in Austria
Serbia had been a part of the Ottoman EmpireGained independence in 1878
Land lockedPoor
Many Serbs lived in BosniaPart of Austria
oBosnia Serbs and Serbia looked to merge and become Yugoslavia.
The threat to Austria is both internal and foreign.Many terrorist organizations spring upGov’t officials often
know about them.Austria wants to
eliminate this problem.oAssassinations,
etc.
Russia backs SerbsRussia had been defeated 3 times in the past
decade.Russia seen as a paper tiger
Her threats to assist Serbia were not taken seriously.
Austria looks for a pretext to crush Serbian terrorism
The Black HandTerrorist
group established and directed in and from Serbia.
Sarajevo, June 28, 1914…
Gavrillo Princip Gun
=+
One dead Archduke(Heir to the
Austrian-Hungarian throne)
Princip was not a member of the Black Hand, but did receive assistance from them
Ferdinand had been considering giving autonomy to the Austrian Serbs but…
The terrorists felt that autonomous Austrian Serbs would lose interest in a Serbian nationoThis makes Ferdinand an excellent target.
The A-H Government KNOWS ABOUT THE PLOT but…
DOES NOTHING!
why?
BecauseThey decided to use the assassination as a pretext to attack Serbia.oA-H checks with Germany who of course promises
to back her.
Mid July: A-H frames an ultimatum:10 demands
Extreme and insulting and destructive of Serbian autonomy
Designed to force Serbia to reject and give A-H and excuse to fight
…
Russia begins to respond to the crisis after Serbia consults themRussia indicates she will fight if Serbia is attacked.
She feels a need to help after failing to do so before.
Russia threatens to mobilize its armyTo protect their Serbian brothers.
Serbia accepts 9 of the 10 demandsHas Russian support
Refused to allow A-H participation in the investigation, capture, and conviction of the assassins.
July 25: Austria breaks diplomatic ties with Serbia and mobilizes her army. But…She DOES NOT declare war.
The England proposes a conference but…She DOES NOT push hard.
France is engaged with egging on Russia to back the Serbs.France had no intention of going to war with
GermanyA fact not advertized publically.
Finally…
July 28, 1914: A-H declares war on SerbiaThe Kaiser gets scared
Advocates that A-H occupies Belgrade and go no further.
The Tsar gets scaredCorrespondence resumes with Germany
Russia mobilizes her armed forces.
Russian forces a-mobilizin’
July 31: Pro-war demonstrations in Europe
Hitler a-demonstratin’
Socialist believe—and hope, that the proletariat would conduct a general strike in the event of war. But…Class consciousness vanishes
Strike never takes placeIn fact, many socialists enlist in the armies of
their country.
Russia at first mobilizes along the A-H borderLater, they mobilize along the German border.
Done for defensive purposes, but…Germany considers this an act of war.
Germany hopes to avoid a two front war.
The Schlieffen Plan:1. If Germany goes
to war with Russia she will attack and defeat France quickly
2. After the French are defeated, all forces would be turned to Russia
July 31: Germany sends an ultimatumAug 1: Germany declares war on Russia and FranceEveryone declares war on everyone else as per the alliances and ententes.
Italy and the U.S. remain neutral
In 1839, England promised to uphold Belgian sovereignty.Germany plans to go thru Belgium to get to France
Per the Schlieffen PlanBritain warns Germany not touch Belgium.
Germans don’t believe the English threats and move on Belgium, so…
IT ALL MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
World War I was probably inevitableLong term problems from the 1800’s still existed.
1. Nationalism2. German want for prestige3. Alliances and ententes
WORLD WAR I
Everyone thought the war would be shortThe Schleiffen Plan was enacted to prevent a
two front war but…Russia mobilizes much quicker than anyone
thought possible and…The French use all roads and vehicles to met
the Germans before they advance too far, so…
¿What was the inherent problem with the Schlieffen Plan?
Exactly! The Schlieffen Plan is a very important aspect of World War I and I knew you guys would figure it out!
Great job!
With that very important question answered, let’s move on…
This in no way is meant to represent an endorsement of the Democratic party. Teachers shouldn’t proselytize about politics or religion.
We have now determined that the Schlieffen Plan was more suited to pre-industrial timesThere should be no surprise at the fact that the
front froze in France for the rest of the war.The invention of the machine gun causes both
sides to stay in trenches.
Other weapons are developed to neutralize the machine gun:
Gas: unreliable and uncontrollable
Tanks: First used by the British
Planes: changed everything
So did submarines
Repeating rifle & smokeless powderLarger armies able to be transported by rail.
Nothing much happens for 3 years and then…
The Americans enter the war.The Germans know they must win the war quickly and make one last pushThe Americans help prevent this.
The years 1914-1917 end up like this:
German generals realize they cannot win the war.They hope to persuade
the Kaiser to abdicate and install a democratic governmentOr this:
The generals gamble that the U.S. would be more lenient to a democratic government than that of the Kaiser.
11-11-1918: Armistice ends the war.German armies are still on foreign soil when she
surrendersImportant fact because the Germans could
reasonably believe they had not lost the war militarily.
President Wilson insists on the Kaiser’s removalHe believed that monarchies were inherently
illegitimate.oPerhaps Wilson’s insistence on the Kaiser’s
removal was a mistake.
WWI destroyed the old regime in Western and Central Europe.
1. Monarchy2. Church3. Aristocracy
The end of the war accelerated the end of European imperialism.
The war was long and casualties high.
War Socialism:Governments impose wage and price controls to
prevent profiteering.Food rationingCurtailing of civil liberties
Later restoredWWI transformed European and American liberalismThe state was no longer seen as the ogre it had beenBecomes the model for the welfare stateWomen flood the workforce due to the absence of
menBeginnings of the Feminist MovementWomen in western countries received the right
to vote.
PEACE TREATY
Paris 1919:Clearly, U.S., France, and Britain were the dominant
states.The Heads of State sent to negotiate
1. US= Wilson2. France+= Clemençeau3. UK= Lloyd George
NO RUSSIANS! Why?
Germany sends two low-level bureaucrats
Wilson believed an international organization was neededLeague of Nations
Wilson thought this would prevent war
Neither Germany nor the Bolsheviks were allowed in L.o.N
US Senate refuses to ratify the treaty containing a proviso for a L.o.N.
This is not a real newspaper.
Treaty of VersaillesSigned in the Palace of Louis the XIVWilson came to the conference with a different
agenda that Britain and FranceHad to give in on some points to secure their
support for the L.o.N.Britain and France want to “stick it” to the
Germans. Why?Domestic opinions had to be taken into account
in ways they had not been before. Why?The war was so long and deadly that many
stories of atrocities surfaced.Most were not true.
French were so fearful of the Germans that they demand her complete de-militarization.
The allies could not deal leniently if they wanted to because of public opinion. Therefore…
The Treaty of Versailles is a vindictive treaty.1. French retake Alsace-Lorraine.2. Germany split into two areas:
a. Germany Properb. Prussia
3. No German conscription alloweda. Army limit set t 100k
4. Germany loses colonies5. Germany loses navy6. Germany had to pay reparations to victims• Britain wants ALL war costs paid including widow’s
pensions
Article 231: The War Guilt ClauseDid not blame Germany for the war but…Did say she caused aggression.
Germans are humiliated by the Versailles treaty.German politicians worked for its revocationMany in the West agree with the Germans
“The Versailles treaty was too harsh for the hardship it contained.”Germany was NOT divvied up
into zones of occupation as some had wanted.
German gov’t in a precarious position.