L2: Early Battles and Emergence of Trench Warfare

AgendaObjective: 1. To understand the

conditions and atmosphere in each of the countries that would be involved in WWI prior to the war.

2. To understand the events that “sparked” the outbreak of war

3. To explore why Europe went to war in 1914.

Schedule:1. Discussion

Homework

None!

Brief Overview of World War One

• 1914-1918• Involved most of the world’s

great powers assembled into two opposing alliances:– Triple Entente (England, France,

US, Russia)– Central Powers / Triple Alliance

(Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire)

• More than 70 million military personnel were mobilized.

• More than 15 million people killed -- one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

• Also Known As: The First World War, The Great War, and the War to End All Wars

Why Study World War One?

• As you study World War One you will want to think about how the war marked a turning point in the nature and meaning of war, and in so doing, changed how many people thought about reality and the world around them.

• World War One is is important to study because it is the seminal moment in which many people shift from seeing to the world as an orderly, logical, and reasonable place

to a place of uncertainty, ambiguity, and irrationality.

Three Essential Questions To Consider(Notice how they build on one another)

How do we understand reality and the world around us?

(Meta-Level)

What is the purpose/meaning of war?

(Macro-Level)

What was daily life like for a solider?

(Micro-Level)

Task for Today

International Relations 1914

• Consider the following countries:– Britain– Germany – Ottoman Empire– France– Russia– Austria-Hungary

• What was happening in terms of politics, economics, military, social/cultural life, and foreign policy in each?

What “Sparked” World War One?: Make Our Timeline

The Assassination of Archduke Franz

Ferdinand

• On June 28, 1914 a member of the Black Hand, Gavrilo Princip, assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary.

• Princip was arrested on the spot.

• Following his arrest, as well as the arrest of four conspirators, it was revealed that the government of Serbia had been complicit in the Black Hand’s planning and carrying out of the execution.

The Spark of War: Austria-Hungary Responds

• The first thing Austria-Hungary does after the assassination is consult with Germany. Why?

• Germany gives Austria-Hungary a “blank check”--Germany will give its full support to Austria-Hungary.

The Spark of War: Austria-Hungary Responds

• Austria-Hungary than issues an ultimatum to Serbia. In it, they demanded that Serbia allow Austria-Hungarian officials to investigate and punish the perpetrator of the assassination.

• Serbia does not respond.• Rebuked, Austria declares war on

Serbia.

Russia Responds• Meanwhile, in Russia, the attitude

among the people and the government were decidedly pro-Slavic and pro-Serbian.

• Russia began to mobilize troops to be ready for war in the event that Serbia rejected the ultimatum.

Austria-Hungary Declares War• Spurred into confidence by the

actions of the Russians, the Serbians promptly rejected the ultimatum and began to mobilize their troops.

• On July 28, 1914 (one month after the assassination of Franz

Ferdinand) Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

War Begins• Once this happens, the alliance system is triggered….

– Russia • Prepares to defend Serbia against Austria. • Expecting that Austria will be supported by Germany, Russia

sends army to German border. – Germany

• Demands Russia leave its border. When it does not, Germany declares war on Russia.

• Fearing France will enter the war on the side of Russia, Germany declares war on France.

• Invades Belgium to start its attack on France.– Great Britain

• Fearing a German invasion of Belgium will threaten Belgium’s neutrality, Great Britain declares war on Germany.

• World War One begins!

The Causes of World War One

• Let’s solve the puzzle…• How was it that a single terrorist

attack committed by a lone small-time criminal in a peripheral part of the world could led to the outbreak of World War One?– In other words, why did European

nations go to war in 1914?