Chapter 24-The First World War

The Beginning of the War o Imperialism created intense rivalry between countries-trade and colonies o Alliances Triple Alliance-1882-Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy Triple Entente-1907-France, Great Britain, Russia Internal Dissent-Conservative leaders of Europe considered war as a solution to revolutions in their countries o Militarism-aggressive preparation for war Conscription; Increased size of army(doubling); larger armies created tensions Russia-1.3 million France and Germany-900,000 each Britain, Italy, Austria-Hungary-250,000 to 500,000 each Strong military leaders control their countries o Crisis in the Balkans Desire of Slavs to form their own state-declining power of Ottoman Empire Serbia wanted to create a unified Slavic state Annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary created conflict Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary-Visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina 28 June 1914-Archduke and wife assassinated by Serbian Nationalist Gavrilo Princip July Crisis July 1914-Austria-Hungary, with support of German Emperor Wilhelm II (blank check), declared war on Serbia, supported by Soviet Union Russia (Czar Nicholas II)mobilizes military to support Serbia-considered an act of war 1 August 1914-German declares war on Russia Von Schlieffen Plan Two front war Quickly sweep through Belgium, defeat France, and turn East to Russia 3 August 1914-Germany declares war on France o Invasion of Belgium Germany demanded neutral Belgium to allow them to march through Germany marches into Belgium British declare war on Germany as a result of violating Belgian neutrality The First Battle of the Marne-brought von Schlieffen plan to an end o Stalemate-neither side able to gain ground on the other o German advance stopped just outside of Paris

Began a strategy of trench warfare Barbed wire, machine guns, heavy artillery, hand-to-hand combat Hand dug trenches eat, sleep, fight Rats, trench foot, boredom, constant fear of enemy attack Stretched from the English Channel to Switzerland No-mans-land-Area between Allied and German trenches Barren, muddy, treeless wasteland Pits from artillery explosions filled with water and dead bodies Trench warfare tactics Military leaders only knew how to fight mobile battles Strategy was to attack with masses of men trying to break through Both sides sustained heavy losses using this tactic with little gain o Bloodiest battles of the war Verdun-1916-700,000 killed in 10 months Somme(July-Nov 1916) 1,000,000 casualties in first 5 months of fighting Allies loss 600,000 men-gain few miles War of attrition-wearing down the enemy with constant attacks Poison Gas-physical and psychological effect Airplanes were first used in WWI for bombing and surveillance Tanks seen as the best bet to end the stalemate Fighting lasted all four years of the war with little movement on either side New Allies/Expansion of War-result of stalemate on the Western Front o Allies-Russia, Great Britain, France attack the Ottoman Empire o Gallipoli-attempt to open a front in the Balkans Disastrous defeat for Allies, failed amphibious landing in Turkey o Bulgaria joins the war on the side of the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) o Italy joins the Allies and begins fighting with Austria-Hungary Eastern Front-Russia o Mobile, traditional warfare o Battle of Tannenberg, Battle of Masurian Lakes-Stunning German victory over Russia o Ends Russian threat to invade Germany o Russia pushes Austria out of Serbia, but cannot maintain their hold against German reinforcements United States enters the War o Practiced a policy of isolationism at the beginning of the war; became more difficult as the war continued Unrestricted submarine warfare-sinking of any non-German ship, commercial or military, in restricted areas 1915-Lusitania was sunk carrying 1195 civilians including 128 US citizens

German suspends USW, but will resume later in the war-April 1917 o US declares war on Germany-April 1917 o Provided both a physical (supplies and men)and physiological boost to Allies o Added over 2 million soldiers to the Allied forces-single greatest contribution to defeating Germany Zimmerman Telegram-secret plan proposed to Mexico to attack the United States Total World War-commitment of a nations whole human and material resources to fighting o Ireland o The Home Front-civilians are invaluable to the war effort Women Took on work roles traditionally held by men o Called Munitionettes in Britain Performance led to accusation of voting rights o Britain-1918 o US-1920-19th Amendment Mobilization-complete cooperation of citizens and organization of resources Need for efficiency and speed led to increased government powers to direct the war effort-industry, economy, restriction on civil liberities Strain of War Dissent-loss of support for war o Auth. Gov-force, propaganda o Democratic nation-propaganda, laws to limit protests and media Propaganda Campaigns-ideas to influence public opinion o Used before the war to create rivalry o Used during the war to justify the war and motivate their people Russian Revolution(Creation of Soviet Russia)-adopted a modified Gregorian calendar (Eternal Calendar) Struggled throughout the war o Plagued by equipment shortages o Poor Leadership-Military and Political o Military defeats V.I. Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov) o Caused a split in the Social Democratic Party Mensheviks (minority) Party Opposed Lenins plan to take over Russian government Bolshevik (majority) Party

Lenin became leader of the Bolshevik Marxist Party in 1903 Platform Violent revolution to overthrow capitalism February [March] Revolution-protests led by working women in Petrograd; became a full workers strike o Causes Bread shortages Poor living conditions Defeats in war Inexperienced military leaders-Nicholas II insisted on leading the Russian Army-no military experience Poor training, under equipped for war Tremendous loss of life Loss of confidence in government o Czars army refused to fire on crowd and even joined the demonstrators o Duma meet on March 12 to form a provisional government o Nicholas II-steps down as last czar of Russia-ending 300 year Romanov rule Led by Menshevik Alexander Kerensky Decides to continue fighting the war-angered workers and peasants o Lenin was in exile during March Revolution Returned to Russia by Germany in hopes he would fan the flames of revolution which would end Russias involvement in the war Returned to challenge provisional government Regains control of Bolsheviks and infiltrates local soviets to gain control of Russia-Summer 1917 Soviets-local political councils made up of workers and soldiers Promise to end the war-Peace, Land, Bread, Now Land redistribution Transfer means of production to worker-Worker Control of Production Government power to soviets-All power to Soviet o October [November] Revolution Bolsheviks gain 240,000 supports-control Moscow and Petrograd Soviet Led by Lenin, Bolsheviks seize the Winter Palace in Petrograd-Provisional government falls and Bolsheviks take control of Russia Transferred control to the Congress of Soviets-represented soviets of Russia Real power existed in Council of Peoples Commissar, led by Lenin Bolsheviks renamed themselves the Communists Signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk ending Russia participation in WWI Costly land concessions to Germany o Russian Civil War

Opposition to Lenin and Communist control Allies supported opposition in hopes Communists would be removed and Russia would rejoin the war Red (Communist) forces vs White (Anti-Communist) forces Red forces defeat most of the White forces-captured the Czar and his familyexecuted Leon Trotsky o Leader of the Red Army-created organized, disciplined fighting force Communists had clear goals and objectives o War communism-control banks, farms, and industry to support Communist efforts o Cheka-secret police, silenced opposition and instilled fear o Presence of Allied forces used to appeal to Russian patriotism Anti-communist forces weakened by differing goals 1921-Communist control Russia, single party control Wars End and Peace Settlements o German Surrender Second Battle of the Marne Erich von Ludendorff-German military commander Planned a risky offensive to try and break the Allied lines on the Western Front German advance halted 50 miles from Paris-US, French, Moroccan By September 1918-Ludendorff tells his superiors the war is lost Allies would not accept surrender from an Imperial power Wilhelm II flees Germany Democratic Republic established by Friedrich Ebert and the German Social Democrat party 11 November 1918-Ebert signs armistice with Allies to end the war o Effects of Total War Destruction of property Loss of life Breakdown of social, economic, political institutions Failed Communist uprising in Germany Independent Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia(monarchial) o Paris Peace Conference(Versailles Peace Settlement)-January 1919 Big Four-United States, France, Great Britain, Italy(Vittorio Orlando) Big Three-US, France, GB (Germany not present, Russia fighting civil war, Italy minor role) All powers had to compromise for what they wanted the most Woodrow Wilson-US-Fourteen Points-plan to maintain peace in Europe Open negotiations

Demilitarization Self-determination-right of a people to create a nation League of Nations-collective security, coalition of countries to maintain peace David Lloyd George-Britain Wanted Germany to pay for the war Georges Clemenceau-France National Security-disarmament of Germany, large reparations, buffer state-Rhineland Versailles Peace Settlement Collection of treaties between Central and Allied Powers Versailles Treaty Main treaty between the Allies and Germany Officially ended the war Created the League of Nations Article 231-War Guilt Clause-Germany accepts full responsibility for starting the war Monetary Settlement-reparations for all damages ($300 billion) Reduce military to 100,000 man police force; no Air Force, Navy, Army Return Alsace and Lorraine to France Portion of Eastern Germany used to create a new Polish state Rhineland demilitarized German forced to sign the treaty without concession-seen by Germany as a harsh peace Never ratified by the US; no participation in the League of Nations Territorial Settlement o Germany and Russia lose most territory o Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved o New nations-Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia Difficult to create states along ethnic lines Every new state contained an ethnic minority Germans in Poland o Ottoman Empire dissolved Key to British victory over Turks-British gained support from Arab nationalists with promise of independence; did not materialize Mandate system-Britain and France would provisionally govern countries of Middle East and German colonies, on behalf of the League of Nations, until they had the

ability to rule themselves-created states of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine Balfour Declaration-British support of a Jewish homeland in Palestine