The Causes of WW1The Causes of WW1

MMilitarismilitarismAAllianceslliancesIImperialismmperialismNNationalismationalismSSignificant ignificant individualsindividuals

Militarism 1.Militarism 1.

Germany was Germany was competing with the UK competing with the UK to build battleships.to build battleships.

The British feared an The British feared an attack on their Empireattack on their Empire

Armies and Navies Armies and Navies were growing.were growing.

Militarism 2.Militarism 2. Germany was competing Germany was competing

with Russia and France with Russia and France to expand their armiesto expand their armies

18801880

19141914 GermanyGermany 1.3m1.3m 5.0m5.0m FranceFrance 0.73m0.73m

4.0m4.0m RussiaRussia 0.40m0.40m

1.2m1.2m

Alliances 1Alliances 1 By 1914 all the major By 1914 all the major

powers were linked powers were linked by a system of by a system of alliances.alliances.

The alliances made it The alliances made it more likely that a war more likely that a war would start.would start.

Once started, the Once started, the alliances made it alliances made it more likely to spread.more likely to spread.

Alliances 2Alliances 2

Triple alliance: Austria-Hungary, Triple alliance: Austria-Hungary, Germany and Italy.Germany and Italy.

Triple entante: Britain, France and Triple entante: Britain, France and Russia.Russia.

Imperialism 1Imperialism 1

All the great powers were All the great powers were competing for colonies / territory.competing for colonies / territory.

The British feared Germany in The British feared Germany in Africa.Africa.

The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia The Austrians feared Serbia / Russia in the Balkansin the Balkans

Imperialism 2Imperialism 2

Late nineteenth and early twentieth Late nineteenth and early twentieth century great deal of colonization of century great deal of colonization of Asia and Africa by European powers.Asia and Africa by European powers.

These colonies were useful for trade.These colonies were useful for trade.

NationalismNationalism

This was an age when all nations This was an age when all nations wanted to assert their power and wanted to assert their power and independence.independence.

In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian Russia, wanted to be free of Austrian rule.rule.

Serbia’s national flag

Significant Individuals 1.Significant Individuals 1.

Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm II Built up German army Built up German army

and navyand navy Aggressive foreign policyAggressive foreign policy Determined to make Determined to make

Germany a top nation.Germany a top nation. Distrusted by other Distrusted by other

powerspowers

“Germany must have its place in the sun”“The world belongs to the strong.”

Significant Individuals 2Significant Individuals 2

Count BerchtoldCount Berchtold Austrian Prime Austrian Prime

Minister.Minister. During the July During the July

Crisis, decided Crisis, decided on a very tough on a very tough ultimatum for ultimatum for SerbiaSerbia

“Were the Serbs to agree to all the demands, this would not be to my liking”

Significant Individuals 3Significant Individuals 3

Bethmann HollwegBethmann Hollweg German Prime German Prime

MinisterMinister Gave very strong Gave very strong

support to Austria support to Austria during the July crisis during the July crisis while Kaiser was while Kaiser was cruising on his yachtcruising on his yacht

“The Austrian demands are moderate. Any interference by Britain, France and Russia would be followed by incalculable consequences”

The Crisis 1. The Crisis 1.

28 June 191428 June 1914 Heir to Austrian Heir to Austrian

throne Franz throne Franz Ferdinand visits Ferdinand visits Sarajevo.Sarajevo.

Capital of Bosnia, Capital of Bosnia, recently grabbed recently grabbed by Austria.by Austria.

Hotbed of Slav Hotbed of Slav nationalismnationalism

Seal of the Black Hand group

The Crisis 2.The Crisis 2.

““Black Hand” Black Hand” terrorists attack the terrorists attack the Arch DukeArch Duke

Bomb attempt fails Bomb attempt fails in morningin morning

Gavrilo Princip Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon.wife in the afternoon.

Austrians blame Austrians blame Serbia for supporting Serbia for supporting terrorists.terrorists.

The Crisis 3.The Crisis 3. Austrians, supported by Austrians, supported by

Germany, send Serbia a Germany, send Serbia a tough ultimatum.tough ultimatum.

Serbia agrees to all but Serbia agrees to all but two terms of the two terms of the ultimatum.ultimatum.

Russia mobilises her Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbiatroops to support Serbia

Germany demands that Germany demands that Russia stands her armies Russia stands her armies down.down.

Germany declares war on Germany declares war on RussiaRussia

“Demands must be put to Serbia that would be wholly impossible for them to accept …”

Why did Britain get involved?Why did Britain get involved?

Britain had Britain had EntentesEntentes with with France and Russia.France and Russia.

Only “friendly Only “friendly agreements” but agreements” but French and Russians French and Russians given impression given impression Britain would fight.Britain would fight.

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan

Sir Edward GreyBritish Foreign Secretary … “There’s some devilry going on in Berlin”

The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan Germany’s military Germany’s military

plan to defeat plan to defeat France and Russia.France and Russia.

““Knock out blow” Knock out blow” aimed at France aimed at France first.first.

Avoid French Avoid French defences by defences by invasion of Belgium.invasion of Belgium.

Germans thought Germans thought Britain would not Britain would not intervene.intervene.

Britain’s ReactionBritain’s Reaction 1838- UK had signed a 1838- UK had signed a

Treaty Treaty to protect to protect Belgium.Belgium.

Britain also scared of Britain also scared of Germany controlling Germany controlling Channel portsChannel ports..

Did not want Did not want GermanyGermany to defeat France and to defeat France and dominate Europedominate Europe. . Britain next?Britain next?

UK issued UK issued ultimatumultimatum to to Germany to withdraw Germany to withdraw troops from Belgium. troops from Belgium. War declared August 4 War declared August 4 19141914