Causes of World War I

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Causes of World War I
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1. The Main Trigger

• Why was the assassination of Arch Duke Franz
  Ferdinand so important that it caused World War 1?

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Imperial Europe
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Serbia?

• Looks like a small and insignificant country in a
  world of large Empires.
• How was it a threat and how did it lead the world
  to war?

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2. Colonial Rivalry
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Colonial Rivalry

• As you can see, much of the world was split
  between Britain, France, and Germany, the main
  players in Colonialism.
• Imperialism Competition between countries to
  acquire the most land, resources and therefore
  status.
• the sun never sets on the British Empire

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2. Imperialism

• Germany was much smaller than Britain and France.
• German Leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II was determined
  to gain a place in the sun
• Needed market for growing industries
• Gain respect for Germany on world stage.

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3. The Balkans Powder Keg
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The Balkans

• The Balkans are made up of primarily Slav people.
• Includes Serbians, Bulgarians and Romanians.
• Many Slav people were claimed by the Austro
  Hungarian Empire.

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The Balkans

• Serbia wanted to unite all the Slav Peoples,
  including those in Austria-Hungary.
• Austria-Hungary wanted to take over the Balkans
  to protect its empire.
• Russia Viewed itself as the protector of the
  Slavs.

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4. French German RivalryAlsace-Lorraine

• In 1870 France fought against Germany and lost.
• Forced to accept humiliating peace treaty
• Had to give up Alsace Lorraine.
• Group called the Revanchist wanted revenge

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5. Arms Race

• Great Powers increased spending on arms
• All more than doubled, Germany and Russia
  quadrupled.
• As each country increased its weapons it became
  more confident, and war more likely.
• New technologies were being developed (Machine
  guns, Field guns)

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6. Arms RaceAnglo-German Naval Race

• Britain had the most powerful Navy in the world.
  Since it was an Island it depended on it.
• Germany had the best army
• Germany began building Navy Vessels.
• Not a major concern for Britain as it would take
  forever for Germany to catch up.

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Arms RaceAnglo-German Naval Race

• The invention of the Dreadnought battleship made
  all other ships obsolete.
• Germany was able to catch up and build 8 of these
  to Britains 9.
• Britain was now threatened by an equal navy and
  superior army.

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Dreadnought

• Normal
• 16,000 tons
• 4 12inch guns
• 4 9inch guns
• 9 inch thick armour
• 18 knots top speed

• Dreadnought
• 18000 tons
• 10 12 inch guns
• 18 4 inch guns
• 11 inch thick armour
• 22 knots top speed.

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7. The Schlieffen Plan

• German General Von Schlieffen devised a plan to
  attack France.
• They would walk through Belgium quickly.
• Arrive in France before British would show up.
• French forces would expect them from Lorraine.

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8. The Alliance System

• The Alliance system brought war closer by
• Creating two armed camps The Triple Alliance
  Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungary and The Triple
  Entente Britain, France, Russia.
• If one was attacked, they were morally bound to
  protect each other.

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Assassination

• The Heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian
  Empire is assassinated by a Bosnian with support
  from Serbia.
• Gavrillo Princip was a member of the Black Hand,
  whose aim was to unite all Serbs in
  Austro-Hungarian Empire.

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9Alliances kick In

• Austro-Hungarian Empire declares war on Serbia.
• Russia supports Serbia declares war on
  Austria-Hungary.
• Germany moves into Belgium to start the
  Schlieffen Plan.
• France declares war on Germany
• Britain Supports France, declares war.
• World war 1 begins.

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The Course of the War
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Hindenberg Line

• Germany wanted to hold on to gains so they build
  a defensive position that was superior to
  anything.
• 100 yards deep of barbed wire

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The Schlieffen Plan

• The Original Schlieffen Plan was to go through
  Belgium and encircle Paris.
• Didnt happen since the Belgians put up a good
  fight
• British Expeditionary Force (BEF) met the Germans
  at the Mons on the 23rd of August
• Retreated to the River Marne

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German Retreat to Aisne

• Germans were overstretched and tired
• French and British drive them back to the Aisne
  River.
• Both sides dig in and trench warfare begins.

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Race to the Sea

• Both sides tried to outflank each other.
• Which is termed a race to the sea.
• Form a Trench that goes from France through up to
  Belgium Coast
• Luckily the Allies had control of the sea lanes.

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Race to the sea
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Enabling Act

• Since Hitler had two thirds majority he passed
  this act that enabled him to pass laws without
  the Reichstag.
• Basically made him have all the power to make
  laws. What he said went.
• Appointed new state parliaments to pass his laws.
  Then disbanded Parliament.
• Got rid of all unions
• Confiscated funds and property of all the
  opposition parties sent leaders to Concentration
  camps.

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Meine Kampf

• Means My Struggle
• Hitler Dictated this while in prison
• Contains all of his ideas for Germany
• Included his hatred of the Jewish Race and the
  superior Aryans.

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Maginot Line

• French built a line of defences
• Germans went around the line of defences and
  surrounded it
• French surrendered.
• Germany takes Paris. French allowed to Control
  Southern France.
• Petain becomes a puppet ruler to Hitler, does
  everything Hitler wants.

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Miracle at Dunkirk

• After French surrender, French and British troops
  run to the Port of Dunkirk, still in Allied
  control.
• Britain hoped to be able to save 50,000 troops.

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How did it work

• Royal Air Force shot down many German bombers.
• Hitler didnt send in tanks so he could save them
  to fight the French
• Land was flooded around Dunkirk, not good for
  tanks.
• Goering said the bombers would do the job.

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Battle of BritainOperation Sealion

• Hitler needed control of sea and air to invade
  with troops.
• Germany uses the Luftwaffe (air force bombers) to
  destroy ships and air bases.

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Blitz

• Just when the British we about to lose their last
  air field Germany attacked London.
• This was to try and get the British to surrender.
• Revenge for British bombing of German cities.
• Everything was targeted.

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Blitz

• Targeting cities did allow the British to rebuild
  the air Force.
• Built 1836 planes in 4 months.
• Germans were losing twice as many planes.
• British had radar technologies
• German Planes could not fight long as they would
  run out of fuel.

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Operation Barbarossa

• Hitler Knew the only way Britain could fight back
  was with help from the Soviets or the U.S.
• Hitler attacks the Soviets because he hates
  communism
• Valuable resources
• Living space for Germans (Lebensraum)

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Failed

• The geography of the U.S.S.R was not suitable for
  Blitzkrieg (too big)
• Hitler spread out his troops to attack three
  areas at the same time.
• Winter set in and troops froze to death
• Allies provided aid through the artic and Persia.

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WW1 Battles
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1st Battle of Ypres

• Germans attack at Ypres but were held off by the
  British.
• The British had to rely on the last reserves and
  help from the Indian army.
• German attack died and both sides settled in for
  winter
• Casualties Brit 58000 Fra 50000,
• Ger 130000

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Neuve Chapelle

• Allies actually took this position but lost it
  while waiting for orders from the officers
• Germany took it back

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2nd Battle of Ypres

• Germany on the offensive
• Used Chlorine gas for the first time
• Lasted a month
• 95000 casualties

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Battle of Verdun

• New strategy from Germany
• Through all troops at Verdun to take French
  troops from other parts.
• Artillery destroyed the French defenses
• Germany was about to break through but the allies
  launched the offensive at the Somme.

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Verdun

• French push back to the original boundary.
• The battle lasted almost a year.
• The French lost nearly 400000 and the Germans
  350000.
• All for about 4 miles of land.

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The Somme

• To relieve the Verdun Battle the Somme was
  launched
• Was meant to end the war.
• 7 days of Bombardment
• Unsuccessful 20000 British died in the first day.
• In 4 months the allies captured ground at the
  cost of 420000 brit troops, 195000 French, 600000
  Germans

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Why did Stalin Choose the Nazis
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Nazi Soviet Pack

• Hitler and Allies both wanted the Soviets on
  their side.
• Hitler did not want a war on two fronts East
  (Soviets and West (Allies).
• Stalin was weak after the war and purges.
• Stalin was terrified of being overthrown. He
  killed or imprisoned 11 million people including
  army officers.

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Nazi Soviet Pact

• Hitler and Allies both wanted the Soviets on
  their side.
• Hitler did not want a war on two fronts East
  (Soviets and West (Allies).
• Stalin was weak after the war and purges.
• Stalin was terrified of being overthrown. He
  killed or imprisoned 11 million people including
  army officers.

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What was Blitzkrieg
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Blitzkrieg

• German Attack Strategy
• Based on planes and tanks
• Bombers attacked airfields and communication
  centres
• Limited reinforcements and defences

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Blitzkrieg

• Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines
• Captured bridges and communication towers

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Blitzkrieg

• Bombers attacked enemy strong points
• Tanks broke through weakened points and
  outflanked front lines

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Why was it effective?

• New tactic
• Allies prepared for trench warfare and spread
  themselves thin to cover the borders.
• Speed of tanks allowed Germans to surround allies
  in the trench.
• Allies were on the defensive prepared for a long
  struggle.

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Short AnswerOperation Barbarossa

• Hitler Knew the only way Britain could fight back
  was with help from the Soviets or the U.S.
• Hitler attacks the Soviets because he hates
  communism
• Valuable resources
• Living space for Germans (Lebensraum)

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Failed

• The geography of the U.S.S.R was not suitable for
  Blitzkrieg (too big)
• Hitler spread out his troops to attack three
  areas at the same time.
• Winter set in and troops froze to death
• Allies provided aid through the artic and Persia.

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The Search for Peace

• Paris Peace Treaty, Treaty of Versailles

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The War to End All Wars

• Nations wanted to ensure ww1 was the war to end
  all wars.
• Create a world of lasting peace.
• Aimed to make a treaty that would satisfy the
  sentiments of revenge.
• Be fair to Germany to ensure a lasting peace.

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Doomed from the Start

• Not fair to all nations
• Russia was forbidden to attend because they
  turned to Communism and made peace earlier in the
  war.
• None of the defeated countries were allowed
  (Germany, Austro-Hungary) to attend.
• Britain, France, U.S. had all decision making
  power.

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War to End All WarsLosses of the War

• 10 million Lives
• 180 billion direct cost
• 150 Billion indirect cost.
• Russia 3.3 million
• France 1.7 million
• Britain 950,000 (66000 Can)
• U.S. 118,000

• Germany 2.5 million
• Austria-Hungary 1.5 mil
• Ottoman Empire 2.9 mil

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Percentage of Loss by Country
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Objectives of the CountriesUnited States

• Wilson wanted this to be the War that ended all
  Wars
• Created the 14 points speech which offered a
  vision for a new world order focused on Economic
  and moral power.

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Objectives of the CountriesUnited States

• Wilson blamed the war on
• secret diplomacy (Alliances)
• dominant oppression of ethnic minorities
  (Balkans)
• Autocratic Governments ruled by elites (German
  Imperialism).

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Objectives of the CountriesUnited States

• 14 pts included
• End to secret alliances
• Reduction of arms
• Freedom of trade and the seas
• People of the same nationalities should be
  allowed to form their own independent state
  (Poland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia)

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Objectives of the CountriesUnited States

• France should have its land back and restored,
  including the region of Alsace Lorraine.
• An international body shall be created to monitor
  the world and settle disputes peacefully. (
  League of Nations)

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French Objectives

• 2 basic goals National security and financial
  reparations.
• Return of Alsace Lorraine
• Gain of Rhineland
• Rights to coal in the Saar Valley
• Payment for all damages in France, no matter how
  long it takes.

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British Objectives

• Sea lane security and reduction of German Navy to
  6 ships.
• Give up colonies to Allies
• Less reparations for fear Germans would revolt
  and join communist Russia.
• Limit to territorial demands on Rhineland
• Did not want France to become to powerful.

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The Result Territorial Changes

• Alsace Lorraine returned to France
• Belgium Poland and Czechoslovakia were given
  parts of Germany.
• all overseas colonies given to Allies (Britain,
  France, Japan)
• Free port city of Danzig

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Military Gains

• German army reduced to 100,000 troops
• Forbidden to have air force
• Reduce navy to 6 ships, subs to be handed over to
  Britain.
• Admission of war guilt

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Reparations

• Germany to pay damages to France and Belgium in
  money or resources for 30 years.
• France gets Saar coal mines for 15 years
• Allied troops establish DMZ in the Rhineland for
  15 years.
• League of Nations formed.

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Causes of WW2

• Hitlers rejection of the Treaty of Versailles
  (TOV)
• Policy of Appeasement ( failure to stop Hitler
  when he breaks T.O.V.
• Hitlers Ambitions (lebenstraum living space)