The War to End All Wars

11.1 Notes

Militarism

• Arms race= build armies and navies (Russia/Germany & Germany/England)

• Romantic

• Influence

Nationalism• Alsace & Lorraine• Pan-Slavism

– Slavic people share common nationality

– Russia largest Slavic country, support Serbia (Slavs)

• Balkans– Austria-Hungary made up of

many ethnic groups– Feared nationalism– Same for Ottoman Empire

Imperialism

• European empire rivalries

• Britain threatened by Germany’s quick growth

The Tangled Web of Alliances or Allianceism (made up)

• Central Powers (Triple Alliance)– Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire

• Allies (Entente Cordiale)– Britain, France, Russia (US and Italy eventually join)

• Germany was looking to isolate France, while France was concerned about a German invasion.

• Both sides made agreements that meant even a small incident was likely to mean all of them being dragged in.

The Spark

Murder of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire– Visited Sarajevo with wife Sophie– Plot by Serbian nationalist group, the Black Hand

– Gavrilo Princip murdered the Archduke and his wife on June 28, 1914

The July Crisis

• Austria strikes back– Some saw assassination as an opportunity to crush Serbia

– Kaiser Wilhelm II’s “blank check”– July ultimatum– Ultimatum = final set of demands– Serbia must end all anti-Austrian agitation and punish anyone involved in the murder plot

– Serbia failed to meet all the terms

War in Europe

• Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914

• Russia mobilized in defense of Serbia

• Germany declared war on Russia• France promised support to Russia• Germany declared war on France• Italy and Britain still neutral

War in Europe

• The Schlieffen Plan– German generals wanted to avoid a two-front war with Russia and France

– General Alfred von Schlieffen suggested attacking France first

– After defeating France, Germany could take on Russia

Why Invade Belgium?

• European powers had agreed upon Belgian neutrality

• Neutrality = supporting neither side in a war

• Britain declared war on Germany