Exploring American Exploring American HistoryHistory

Unit VII- The Beginning of Unit VII- The Beginning of Modern AmericaModern America

Chapter 23 Section 1Chapter 23 Section 1The Road to WarThe Road to War

The Road to WarThe Road to War

The Big Idea

In 1914 tensions in Europe exploded into the deadliest war the world had ever seen.

Main Ideas

• Many factors contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

• European nations suffered massive casualties in the war’s early battles.

Causes of World War ICauses of World War I• No one event or person caused the Great War. There No one event or person caused the Great War. There

were many factors that contributed to mobilization of were many factors that contributed to mobilization of the belligerentsthe belligerents

Five Major factors often Five Major factors often identified as causes of World War identified as causes of World War I (but not causes of U.S. entry)I (but not causes of U.S. entry)

MMilitarismilitarism AAllianceslliances IImperialismmperialism NNationalismationalism EEvents or Economicsvents or Economics

Nationalism

• Nationalism, a strong sense of pride and loyalty to one’s nation or culture, created tension between nations.

• Austria-Hungary included people from many cultural groups.

• Slavic nationalists wanted to break away from Austria-Hungary and join the independent Slavic country of Serbia.

Imperialism

• Nations competed for control of territories both in Europe and overseas.

• Germany took the Alsace-Lorraine region from France in 1871, and France wanted it back.

Main Idea 1:Main Idea 1: Many factors contributed to the Many factors contributed to the

outbreak of World War I.outbreak of World War I.Militarism

• Nations focused resources on militarism, the aggressive strengthening of armed forces.

• Raced to build armies and navies

• Made alliances to protect themselves

The SparkThe Spark

• Feelings of fear and distrustfear and distrust grew among European powers in the early 1900s.

• In 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and HerzegovinaHerzegovina.

– Slavic nationalists resisted violently; wanted to be a part of Serbia

• June 28, 1914: Archduke Francis Ferdinand of June 28, 1914: Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinatedAustria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo.

– Killed by a Serb nationalist, Gavrilo Princip

• Austria-Hungary declared war on SerbiaAustria-Hungary declared war on Serbia

• NationsNations began to mobilizemobilize, or prepare their militaries, for war.

Allied PowersAllied Powers

Central PowersCentral Powers

• RussiaRussia, an ally of Serbia

• FranceFrance, an ally of Russia

• BelgiumBelgium, brought into the fighting because Germany marched through it to get to France

• Great BritainGreat Britain, an ally of Belgium

• Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary

• GermanyGermany, an ally of Austria-Hungary

Pulled into the FightingPulled into the Fighting

The Great War- Two SidesThe Great War- Two Sides• Allied Powers- Allied Powers- Triple Triple

EntenteEntente– SerbiaSerbia– RussiaRussia– FranceFrance– Great BritainGreat Britain– BelgiumBelgium– ItalyItaly– PortugalPortugal– GreeceGreece– JapanJapan– United StatesUnited States

• Central Powers- Central Powers- Triple AllianceTriple Alliance– Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary– Germany EmpireGermany Empire– BulgariaBulgaria– Turkish EmpireTurkish Empire– ItalyItaly

• The Great War, as contemporaries called it -- was The Great War, as contemporaries called it -- was the first man-made catastrophe of the 20th centurythe first man-made catastrophe of the 20th century..

• In the weeks after the assassination, none of the In the weeks after the assassination, none of the critical leaders had the power or will to slow down critical leaders had the power or will to slow down the decisions, actions, reactions and attitude shifts of the decisions, actions, reactions and attitude shifts of key government and military leaders. key government and military leaders.

• By August, millions of Europeans -- especially the By August, millions of Europeans -- especially the military and diplomatic leaders of Austria-Hungary, military and diplomatic leaders of Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia -- saw war as the way to save Germany and Russia -- saw war as the way to save their honor, as well as to solve the internal and their honor, as well as to solve the internal and international problems that needed to be resolved.international problems that needed to be resolved.

World War I Begins - The Great World War I Begins - The Great WarWar

• Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II on July 5 on July 5thth pledged that Germany would pledged that Germany would fully fully support Austria-Hungarysupport Austria-Hungary in any action against Serbia. in any action against Serbia.

• On July 23, 1914, Austria-On July 23, 1914, Austria-Hungary presented Serbia Hungary presented Serbia with a lengthy list of with a lengthy list of demands.demands.

• On On July 28, 1914, Austria-July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Hungary declared war on Serbia.Serbia. World War I had World War I had begun. begun.

Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan

Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan• Both sides originally believed that the Great War would be Both sides originally believed that the Great War would be

over quickly.over quickly.

• In Germany, this belief was based on a long established war In Germany, this belief was based on a long established war strategy called the strategy called the Schlieffen PlanSchlieffen Plan. . Start with a German army invading Belgium(avoiding eastern French Forts) to reach Paris.

• The German generals were so confident of success that The German generals were so confident of success that Kaiser Wilhelm II proclaimed that he would have "Paris for Kaiser Wilhelm II proclaimed that he would have "Paris for lunch, St. Petersburg for dinner." lunch, St. Petersburg for dinner."

• The plan required The plan required precise timing, with no interruptions in with no interruptions in the timetable -- its first objective was to the timetable -- its first objective was to capture Paris in precisely 42 days, and force the French to surrender. The . The German armies would then shift their focus to the eastern German armies would then shift their focus to the eastern front and defeat the Russians before they were fully front and defeat the Russians before they were fully prepared to fight.prepared to fight.

• It started quickly on Aug. 2, 1914 with Germany invading It started quickly on Aug. 2, 1914 with Germany invading Luxembourg and Belgium, but the British, French and Luxembourg and Belgium, but the British, French and Russians mobilized quicker than expected.Russians mobilized quicker than expected.

Outbreak of WarOutbreak of War

•Define-Define- What is nationalism? What is nationalism?

•Identify Cause and Effect-Identify Cause and Effect- Why did other countries join the Why did other countries join the fight between Austria-Hungary fight between Austria-Hungary and Serbia?and Serbia?

•Analyze-Analyze- How had European How had European Nations prepared for war?Nations prepared for war?

Main Idea 2:Main Idea 2:European nations suffered massive European nations suffered massive casualties in the war’s early battles.casualties in the war’s early battles.

• The French army blocked the German advance at the MarneMarne River, east of Paris, in September 1914September 1914.

– The First Battle of MarneFirst Battle of Marne marked the first major battle of the war.

– French and German forces faced each other along a long battle line known as the western frontwestern front.

• Russian and German armies struggled back and forth on the eastern front.

• The war became a stalematestalemate– a situation in which neither side can win a decisive victory.

• Clear that this war would be longer than expected.

The The First Battle of the First Battle of the MarneMarne

The Aftermath

• The French paid a heavy French paid a heavy priceprice, as countless red-coated French troops had fallen in the battle.

• Despite the loss of life, it helped the Allies by giving Russia more time to mobilize for war.

• Once Russia mobilized,Russia mobilized, Germany had to pull some of its troops out of France and send them to fight Russia on the Eastern FrontEastern Front, which stretched from the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea.

• The German army quickly advanced through northern France and after only one month of fighting were barely 25 miles from Paris.25 miles from Paris.

• The French, however, would not give up.The French, however, would not give up.

The BattleThe Battle

• The French launched a counterattack along the Marne River east of Paris on September 7, 1914.

• This battle became known as the First Battle of the Marne.

• 2 million men2 million men fought on a battle-front that stretched 125 miles.

• After five days and 250,000 After five days and 250,000 deaths,deaths, the French had rallied and pushed the Germans back some 40 miles. 600 taxicabs600 taxicabs were even used to get men to the front.

StalemateStalemate

Poison gas attack, Flanders, Belgium

The War Reaches a The War Reaches a StalemateStalemate• The First Battle of the Marne ended in a stalemate, and both French and French and

German soldiers dug trenchesGerman soldiers dug trenches, or deep ditches, to defend their positions and seek shelter from enemy fire.

• By late 1914, two massive systems of trenches stretched 400 milestwo massive systems of trenches stretched 400 miles across Western Europe, and the battle lines known as the Western FrontWestern Front extended from Switzerland to the North Sea.

• Trench warfare, or fighting from trenches, was an old strategyTrench warfare, or fighting from trenches, was an old strategy that had been used in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

• This trench warfare, however, was different because of its scale.

– Soldiers lived in trenchesSoldiers lived in trenches, surrounded by machine-gun fire, flying grenades, and exploding artillery shells.

– Opposing forces had machine gunsOpposing forces had machine guns pointed at enemy trenches at all times, firing whenever a helmet or rifle appeared over the top.

– Thousands of men that ran into the area between the trenches, known as “no-man’s-land,”no-man’s-land,” were chopped down by enemy fire.

• Neither the Allies nor the Germans were able to make significant advances, creating a stalemate, or deadlockstalemate, or deadlock.

Technology of WarTechnology of War

Land

Air

Sea

• Trench warfare, defending a position by fighting from the protection of deep ditchesprotection of deep ditches, helped make the war long and deadly.

– Cold, wet, and muddyCold, wet, and muddy– Disease ran rampantDisease ran rampant

• New technologies made land warfare even more deadly– Machine gunsMachine guns– Poison gasesPoison gases– TanksTanks

• AirplanesAirplanes used in large-scale battle for the first time– Fired down on soldiers in the trenches– Gathered information on enemy locations– Battled each other in the air in “dogfightsdogfights””

• Fighting in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea

• Used Naval blockades and minesNaval blockades and mines to block supply lines

• U-boats, German submarinesU-boats, German submarines, launched torpedoes against Allied supply ships.

Poisonous GasPoisonous Gas

• German military scientists experimented with gas as a weaponweapon.

• Gas in battle was risky: Soldiers didn’t know how much to use, and wind wind changes could changes could backfire the gasbackfire the gas.

• Then Germans threw canisters of gas into the Allies’ trenches.

• Many regretted using gas, but British and British and French forces French forces began using it toobegan using it too, to keep things even.

TanksTanks

• When soldiers began to carry gas gas masksmasks, they still faced a stalemate.

• British forces soon developed armored tanksarmored tanks to move into no-man’s-land.

• These tanks had tanks had limited successlimited success because many got stuck in the mud.

• Germans soon found ways to destroy the tanks with artillery fireartillery fire.

New Weapons of WarNew Weapons of WarAirplanesAirplanes

• Both sides used planes to map and map and to attack to attack trenchestrenches from above.

• Planes first dropped bricks and heavy objects on enemy troops.

• Soon they mounted guns mounted guns and bombs on and bombs on planesplanes.

• Skilled pilots sought in air battles called dogfightsdogfights.

• The German Red German Red Baron downed 80 Baron downed 80 Allied planesAllied planes, until he was shot down.

A New Kind of WarfareA New Kind of Warfare• Word of Germany’s invasion of Belgium quickly spread to France and other

European nations.• French troops mobilizedFrench troops mobilized to meet approaching German divisions.

– They looked much as French soldiers did over 40 years earlier, wearing bright red coats and heavy brass helmetsbright red coats and heavy brass helmets.

– The German troops dressed in gray uniformsGerman troops dressed in gray uniforms that worked as camouflage on the battlefield.

• French war strategy had not changedFrench war strategy had not changed much since the 1800s.– French soldiers marched row by rowFrench soldiers marched row by row onto the battlefield, with bayonets

mounted to their field rifles, preparing for close combat with the Germans.

– The Germans, however, had many machine gunsGermans, however, had many machine guns, and mowed down some 15,000 French troops per day in early battle.

– A well-trained German machine-gun team could set up equipment in four seconds, and each machine gun matched the firepower of 50 to 100 French rifles.

• Many Europeans wrongly thought these technological advances would make Europeans wrongly thought these technological advances would make the war shortthe war short and that France would be defeated in two months.

TrenchesTrenches

TrenchesTrenches• The Allies used The Allies used

four "types" of four "types" of trenches. trenches. – The first, the The first, the

front-line trenchfront-line trench

– support trenchsupport trench, ,

– reserve trenchreserve trench

– communication communication trenchestrenches

Life in the TrenchesLife in the Trenches• DeathDeath

• Rat InfestationRat Infestation

• Frogs, Lice and WorseFrogs, Lice and Worse

•The Trench CycleThe Trench Cycle•the Smellthe Smell

Trenches- SufferingTrenches- Suffering•Trench FootTrench Foot

•Trench MouthTrench Mouth

•Trench FeverTrench Fever

Trenches- Trenches- Self Inflicted wounds + Shell Self Inflicted wounds + Shell ShockShock

Early Battles of the WarEarly Battles of the War

• Make Inferences- Make Inferences- What effect did What effect did having fronts in the west, north and having fronts in the west, north and east have on the German and Russian east have on the German and Russian Armies?Armies?

• Evaluate- Evaluate- What is a possible reason What is a possible reason that soldiers felt safe in the trenches that soldiers felt safe in the trenches at the onset of the war?at the onset of the war?

• Describe- Describe- What was living in a trench What was living in a trench like?like?

• Identify Cause and Effect-Identify Cause and Effect- The arrival of The arrival of tanks ended what type of fighting tanks ended what type of fighting technique?technique?

Early Battles of the WarEarly Battles of the War

•Explain-Explain- How did the How did the Germans respond to the Germans respond to the British port blockade?British port blockade?

•Predict- Predict- What do you think What do you think neutral countries might do neutral countries might do after German U-boats after German U-boats attacked their ships?attacked their ships?

Total War and SlaughterTotal War and Slaughter

World War I CasualtiesWorld War I CasualtiesAlliesAllies

• Belgium 45,550 Belgium 45,550

• British Empire 942,135British Empire 942,135

• France 1,368,000 France 1,368,000

• Greece 23,098 Greece 23,098

• Italy 680,000 Italy 680,000

• Japan 1,344 Japan 1,344

• Montenegro 3,000 Montenegro 3,000

• Portugal 8,145 Portugal 8,145

• Romania 300,000 Romania 300,000

• Russia 1,700,000 Russia 1,700,000

• Serbia 45,000 Serbia 45,000

• United States 116,516United States 116,516

Central PowersCentral Powers

• Austria-Hungary 1,200,000 Austria-Hungary 1,200,000

• Bulgaria 87,495 Bulgaria 87,495

• Germany 1,935,000 Germany 1,935,000

• Ottoman Empire 725,000Ottoman Empire 725,000

• Total CasualtiesTotal Casualties

• 65 million mobilized both sides65 million mobilized both sides

• 8.5 million killed8.5 million killed

• 21 million wounded21 million wounded

• 7.7 million POW’s and missing7.7 million POW’s and missing

• 37million total casualties37million total casualties

• 57% of all men mobilized57% of all men mobilized

Over the TopOver the Top - An Interactive Adventure - An Interactive Adventure

15 min or the entire period.15 min or the entire period.

• Over The TopOver The Top

Weapons of World War IWeapons of World War I

If there is timeIf there is time

RiflesRifles

Rifles, Bayonets and Hand Rifles, Bayonets and Hand gunsguns

There was undeniably psychological value to the infantry in carrying a bayonet, even if in practice it was seldom used. Bayonets continued to be commonly issued in the Second World War.

Hand gunsHand guns

Colt 45

German Luger

French

Machine GunMachine Gun

Machine GunMachine Gun

Poison GasPoison Gas

• CountryCountry Casualties DeathsCasualties Deaths

• Austria-Hungary 100,000 Austria-Hungary 100,000 3,0003,000

• British EmpireBritish Empire 88,706 88,706 8,109 8,109

• FranceFrance 190,000 8,000 190,000 8,000

• GermanyGermany 200,000 200,000 9,000 9,000

• ItalyItaly 60,000 60,000 4,627 4,627

• RussiaRussia 419,340 56,000 419,340 56,000

• USAUSA 72,807 72,807 1,462 1,462

• OthersOthers 10,000 1,000 10,000 1,000

Poison GasPoison Gas

Poison GasPoison Gas

•Mustard GasMustard Gas

Poison Gas- Mustard Gas Poison Gas- Mustard Gas effectseffects

TanksTanks

TanksTanks

Flame-throwersFlame-throwers

During the war the Germans launched in excess of 650 flame-thrower attacks; no numbers exist for British or French attacks.

GrenadesGrenades

Mortars and ArtilleryMortars and Artillery

BlimpsBlimps

• The ZeppelinThe Zeppelin

AirplanesAirplanes

• ‘‘dogfights’dogfights’

• interrupter equiinterrupter equipmentpment

Poison GasPoison Gas