THE ‘SPARK’ THAT STARTED WORLD WAR I

THE ASSASSINATION OF ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

TENSION IN THE BALKANS

Austria-Hungary was the largest power in the region of southeastern Europe.

It had added territory by absorbing smaller nations to its’ south.(ex: Bosnia, Herzegovina)

Serbia saw itself as A-Hs’ next target and was determined to not let that happen.(Pan-Slavism)

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY-1914

FATAL DECISION

A-Hs’ heir to the throne, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, decided to make a tour of southern A-H to quell some of the tension.

Slavic Nationalists in the region saw this as an insult and a sign of things to come.

The Slavic Nationalist group the ‘Black Hand’ (Unity or Death), based in Serbia, decided to make a point of the Archduke’s visit by assassinating him.(act of terrorism)

ARCHDUKE FRANCIS FERDINAND

THE ARCHDUKE IN SARAJEVO

MOMENTS BEFORE THE ATTACK

THE ‘SPARK’

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were shot by a Serbian Nationalist, Gavrilo Princip in the city of Sarajevo, in the A-H province of Bosnia.

THE MURDER

THE ARREST

THE ASSASSIN

A-H’S PLAN

Austria-Hungary believed that the nation of Serbia was behind the assassination of the Archduke.◦If this were true, it would give A-H a reason to

be offended, and expand their territory by invading, conquering and absorbing Serbia.

In the weeks following the attack, A-H sent an ultimatum(a final statement of demands) to Serbia.

NATIONAL UNDERSTANDINGS

Serbia partially rejected the ultimatum.(Russia had promised to support them if A-H took any aggressive action)

A-H prepared to invade Serbia.(Germany had reassured A-H that if Russia got involved, Germany would protect A-H)

Nations throughout Europe began to mobilize.(prepare for war)

THE ALLIANCES

TRIPLE ENTENTE TRIPLE ALLIANCE

GREAT BRITAINFRANCERUSSIA

WOULD BECOME THE ALLIED POWERS.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARYGERMANYITALY

WOULD BECOME THE CENTRAL POWERS.

TRIPLE ALLIANCE/TRIPLE ENTENTE

THE RUSH TO FIGHT

July 28, 1914-A-H declared war on Serbia.Russia began to mobilize for war.August 1, 1914-Germany declared war on

Russia.Russia asked for France’s help.Germany demanded France stay out of it.France refused.Germany declared war on France. Italy remained neutral.

SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

The German plan to invade France was called the Schlieffen Plan.

It involved the invasion of France by going through Belgium and controlling the English Channel coast.

German armies would then swing around the French capital, Paris, surrounding and destroying the French military.

THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN

THE PLAN FALLS SHORT

Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality.

The Belgians resisted the German army.British forces arrived quickly.German officers altered the plan,

sacrificing land for time.Instead of going around the defenses of

Paris, the Germans collide with them.

TRENCH WARFARE

As the French stopped the German advance (1st Battle of the Marne) and began to repel it, the Germans dug in, creating trenches.

Afraid of the strong defensive position of German trenches, the French dug in, creating their own trenches.

Trench warfare became the unexpected strategy for both sides. On the western front, the war had become a stalemate.(no advantage for either side)

CENTRAL POWERS

ALLIED POWERS

1914     1915 1916 1917 1918

SerbiaRussiaFrance

BelgiumJapan

MontenegroGreat Britain

(AustraliaNew Zealand

CanadaSouth Africa)

Italy PortugalRomania

USACubaBrazil

PanamaThailandLiberiaChina

GreeceGuatemalaNicaraguaCosta Rica

Haiti

TRENCH WARFARE

TRENCH WARFARE-LINES

TRENCH WARFARE

THE END