The War to End all Wars

6.1 | The First World War

Relative Peace

By 1914, political systems had brought relative stability

Alliance systems, imperialism, dominance

International Olympic Games

1896

First Universal Peace Conference

1899

“The future belongs to peace” – Frederic Passy

“I shall not live to see the Great War, but you will see it, and it will start in the east” – Otto von Bismarck

The Alliance Systems

To protect each other, European powers joined alliances

The Triple Alliance (The Central Powers)

Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary Later the Ottoman Empire

The Triple Entente (The Allied Powers)

Great Britain, France, and Russia Later Japan and the USA

Militarism UnleashedIn other words, it’s on steroids

150,000

1,300,000

1,900,000 1,400,000

450,000

Competition and Jealousy

Britain and France – maintain status

Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire – survive

Germany – Gain status

Russia – feared by all for its potential

The German ThreatBritain and France feared its growing power

Overseas confrontations take Europe to the brink of war

Britain and France solidify their ties against Germany

Propaganda develops to “dehumanize” threats

Nationalism’s Dark Side

Pride in each nation’s growing power increases rivalry

The people of the nations are willing to go to war

“Pan-Slavism” – Russia to help all Slavic nations

The Powder Keg

The Balkans erupt

Nationalist revolutions against Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire

Russia looking on as the “big brother” to the Slavs

Great Britain, France, and Germany hold their breath

“The Deep Breath Before the Plunge”

Sarajevo, Serbia (modern day Bosnia) 1914

Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary visits to qualm dissidence

The Serbian “Black Hand” nationalist organization assassinates Francis Ferdinand and his wife during an official procession

June 28th, 1914 | How will Austria-Hungary respond?

The Ultimatum

The world is shocked

Austria-Hungary is wary of war

Germany advises a strong response to Serbia

Offered a “blank check” to deal with the situation, no matter what the cost

Austria-Hungary sends an ultimatum

Serbia accepts most terms but ultimately rejects

July 28th, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia

Germany ;)

WWI

The Alliance System Kicks In

Russia moves to support Serbia – “Pan-Slavism”

Mobilization of armed forces

France supports Russia (its ally) in its decision

Germany, fearing the worst case scenario – war on two fronts – decides to act while it can

Declares war on Russia (the weaker of the two)

Russia sends word to France for support – accepted

Germany sends word to France – back down – refused

Germany declares war on France

The First Moves

Britain and Italy remained undecided

Germany invades neutral Belgium

To gain an element of surprise on France

The Schlieffen Plan – August 4, 1914

Knock out France quick while Russia mobilizes

Britain commits to the Allies - August 4, 1914

The Great War Begins

Young men from all nations rush to enlist

Moment of national glory

Women cheer their men off

It would be the most devastating and senseless slaughter in human history