World War I

1
World War I

• (1914 - 1919)

2
Prelude to a war

• 1. Nationalism Pride in ones country
• France was bitter about losing the
  Franco-Prussian war in 1871
• Russia created a Slavic empire
• Austria feared that nationalism would break up
  their empire
• Balkan states developed independent sense of
  nationalism

3
Prelude to war

• 2. Imperialism Germany gained more territories
• 3. Militarism Europeans nations developed
  better militaries
• 4. Alliances
• France, Britain, Russia Allies
• Germany Austria Central Powers

4
War Begins

• 1912 - 1914 Balkan states fight for freedom from
  Austrian Empire
• Balkans wanted to be part of Russia
• June 28th 1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand is
  assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian nationalists
• July 28th 1914 Austria declares war on Serbia

5
War grows

• Germany backed Austria
• Russia backed Serbia
• Russia asked Germany to get Austria to back down
• Germany declared war on Russia
• France backed Russia
• Germany asked France to back down
• Germany declared war on France

6
More players

• Germany invades Belgium (backed by Britain) in
  order to attack France
• Britain declares war on Germany

7
Trench warfare

• Soldiers dug ditches in fields to protect
  themselves from attack
• Created a perfect angle to shoot at oncoming
  enemies

8
New Technology

• Planes
• Rapid fire machine guns
• Zepplins
• U-boats

9
Battles of WWI

• August 1914 Russians are defeated by Germans at
  Tannenburg
• 1915 Serbia is defeated but Italy joins the
  Allies
• Oct. 1917 Italians are defeated at Caporetto
• 1914-1919 Colonies in Africa Asia are attacked
  by both Allied and Central Powers

10
The Impact of War

• Raised taxes
• Products were rationed Food, clothing, gas, etc.
• Prices and wages were frozen
• Women worked in factories
• Propaganda was developed to boost morale
• Russia retreated from war because of a Revolution
  at home

11
U.S. Involvement

• May 1915 Germans sink British cruise ship
  Lusitania with 128 Americans on board
• 1917 German leader Arthur Zimmerman sends a
  telegram to Mexico
• If Mexico supports Germany, Germany will help
  Mexico invade U.S.
• April 1917 U.S. declares war on Germany

12
Wilsons 14 points

• List of terms to end a war
• End secret treaties
• Freedom over the seas
• Free trade
• Self-determination

13
End of WWI

• Fall 1918 Monarchies in Germany Austria end
• Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice Day End of WWI

14
Peace in Paris

• Lead by U.S., Britain, France
• British France objective punish Germany
• U.S. objective
• world peace
• League of Nations

15
Treaty of Versailles

• Germany was forced to sign
• Germany assumed full blame
• Germany had to pay over 30 billion in damages to
  different countries
• Germany Austria were divided up

16
Post WWI era

• A world-wide recession fell
• Many governments collapsed
• African colonies declared freedom
• Austria Russia were broken up
• Japan, Italy Russia were angry due to a loss in
  land holdings
• U.S. rejected Treaty of Versailles