WORLD WAR I CICERO © 2008. CAUSES The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo

History Beyond The Textbook

CICEROHistory Beyond The Textbook

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WORLD WAR I

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CAUSESThe immediate cause of World War I was

the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo. Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Serbian

Black Hand secret society killed Ferdinand. Conflicts between Austria-Hungary and

Serbia started with a challenge to the 1878 Treaty of Berlin. Under that treaty, Austria-Hungary assumed a mandate to occupy and control Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Ottoman

Empire kept its sovereignty, and Serbia was recognized as a kingdom; however, Serbians were incensed that Austria-

Hungary had annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian crisis of 1908 and 1909.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand (left) and Gavrilo Princip



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This led to two Balkan Wars, in which Serbia gained Macedonia and Kosovo from the Ottoman Empire. Ferdinand had been a

supporter of both federalism and tribalism, which advocated that Austria-Hungary be

reorganized with the Slavic lands to add a third kingdom. A Slavic kingdom could have put tremendous pressure on the Serbians, and

Archduke Franz Ferdinand would have been the leader of this new kingdom. In the aftermath of the assassination, Austria-Hungary wanted the

Serbian government to punish those responsible. Austria-Hungarian leaders made a list of ten

demands for the Serbian government. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia when the

demands were not met.

CAUSES

After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Gavrilo Princip is arrested.



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DECLARATIONS OF WAR

Germany’s Declaration of War in 1914

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

August 1, 1914 – Germany declares war on Russia.

August 3, 1914 – Germany declares war on France.

August 4, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on Germany.

August 5, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on Austria- Hungary.

August 6, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia; Serbia declares war on

Germany.

August 9, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on Germany.

August 11, 1914 – France declares war on Austria- Hungary.

August 12, 1914 – United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary.



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DECLARATIONS OF WARAugust 22, 1914 – Austria-Hungary declares war on

Belgium.

August 23, 1914 – Japan declares war on Germany.

August 25, 1914 – Japan declares war on Austria- Hungary.

November 1, 1914 – Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

November 3, 1914 – Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire.

November 5, 1914 – France and United Kingdom declare war on the Ottoman Empire.

May 23, 1915 – Italy declares war on Austria- Hungary.

October 14, 1915 – Bulgaria declares war on Serbia.

October 15, 1915 – United Kingdom declares war on Bulgaria.

The is a diagram of the alliances before World War I.



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DECLARATIONSOF WAR

October 16, 1915 – Frances declares war on Bulgaria

October 19, 1915 – Italy and Russia declare war on Bulgaria.

August 27, 1916 – Italy declares war on Germany.

The diagram represents European alliances before World War I.

coat of arms of Bulgaria



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LEADERSOF WORLD WAR I

ALLIED POWERS

Woodrow Wilson

John J. Pershing

David Lloyd George

Georges Clemenceau

CENTRAL POWERS

Franz Josef I

Karl I

Wilhelm II

Mehmed V



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PARTICIPANTSIN WORLD WAR I

ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS

United States

British Empire

French Third Republic

Kingdom of Serbia

Kingdom of Romania

Empire of Japan

Russian Empire

Kingdom of Italy

Kingdom of Greece

Kingdom of Montenegro

Belgium

Portugal

Bulgaria

Ottoman Empire

Austria-Hungary

German Empire



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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Belgium.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Japan_-_variant.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_France.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Greece_%281828-1978%29.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Italy_%281861-1946%29.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Montenegro_%281941-1944%29.svg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Serbia_%281882-1918%29.svg

WEAPONS

land ship/tank barbed wire

Maxim machine gun

hand grenade

poison gas submarine

bi-plane



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STRATEGIES

TRENCH WARFARE

In trench warfare both armies could fight from fortified positions. It was a slow form of combat with heavy reliance on defense.

The soldiers built complex trench and dugout systems and stocked them with

weapons. Barbed wire protected the trenches. The space between opposing armies’ trenches was “no man’s land.”

Attacks almost always resulted in injury and death for the attacking soldiers.



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THE IMPORTANCEOF TRENCH WARFARE

Trench warfare was an important part of combat during World War I. The effectiveness of the new weapons made it impossible to fight

in the open for extended periods of time. Trenches were constructed for careful and

planned attacks. The trench protected soldiers from attack. Soldiers also dug temporary

trenches as close to the front lines as possible. These would protect waves of soldiers

attacking the enemy. Attacking soldiers would take cover in a forward trench to regroup while

other soldiers followed the first attack. Trenches kept soldiers out of the line of fire as

much as possible.

British trench design



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OBJECTIVES

ALLIED POWERS CENTRAL POWERS

The main objective of the Allied Powers was to stop Germany and the Central

Powers’ attempts to expand their land in Europe and Asia. The American conflict with Germany stemmed from Germany’s violation of a neutrality agreement when German submarines attacked American

passenger ships.

The main objective of the Central Powers was to acquire as much land as possible in Europe and Asia. Germany believed

France, England, and Russia prevented its expansion. Germany was determined to

expand its borders.



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BATTLESBattle of Mons

August 23–27, 1914

The Battle of Mons was the first major action the British

Expeditionary Force took during World War I. British soldiers were

overwhelmed during the attack. After the French and Belgian armies

retreated, the British planned to hold off the advancing German soldiers

although they suffering terrible losses. The British finally retreated

on August 27, and only two hundred forty British soldiers survived the battle. It was still a British victory

because British troops held the Germans and regrouped. Battles of Charleroi and Mons



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BATTLESBattle of Tannenberg

August 23–September 2, 1914

The Germans and the Russians fought the Battle of Tannenberg in which the Second Army of Russia was almost destroyed. Additional

battles continued in Russia. With the aid of railroad transportation, the

German army fought on both fronts of the Russian army. The battle

ended in a German victory; Russian soldiers were captured, killed, or

retreated.

Battle of Tannenberg, August 23–26, 1914



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BATTLESFirst Battle of Marne

September 5–12, 1914

The First Battle of Marne was along the Marne River in Paris, France. The Allied Powers went on the offensive, constantly attacking the German First and Second Armies. It seemed as if by September 9, both armies would

be surrounded. When German General von Moltke had a nervous breakdown after seeing what could happen, the Germans retreated; and the Allied Powers were victorious.

Battle of Marne



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BATTLESFirst Battle of Aisne


The First Battle of Aisne was between the German First and

Second Army and the Allied Powers. The Allies launched an assault on the Germans, who had halted their retreat

at the Aisne River. However, the Germans launched a counterattack,

and used a machine gun in their attack. Nonetheless, the Allied

Powers continued to push back the German advances. Fighting stopped

on September 28, as it was clear neither side could win the battle.

During the First Battle of Aisne, French troops capture an alleged spy.



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BATTLESBattle of Albert


During the Battle of Albert, the French Tenth Army pushed eastward and attacked the German lines near

Albert. The French Tenth Army was met with heavy resistance from the German Sixth Army. The Germans

were attempting to drive westward to the English Channel, and they

eventually took many agricultural regions in northern France and cut

supply routes from the British Expeditionary Force. However,

neither side gained new ground, and the battle ended in a stalemate.

Battle of Albert



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BATTLESThe First Battle of Arras

October 1–4, 1914

In the First Battle of Arras, the French prevented the Germans from advancing to the English Channel.

The French Tenth Army successfully attacked the Germans, but were

counterattacked in Douai. The French Tenth Army was forced to retreat. While the French held Arras, they lost Lens to the First, Second, and

Seventh Armies of Germany.

symbol of the German Army



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BATTLESBattle of Ypres

October 19–November 22, 1914

Also known as the Battle of Flanders, the British Expeditionary Force

moved north and stopped the Germans at Passchendaele Ridge in

this battle. At the same time, the Belgians opened the gates of the Yser

River to flood low-lying land to prevent a German advance. Trench

warfare continued. The Germans lost many young soldiers in this battle,

which the Germans called the “Massacre of the Innocents.”

Battle of Ypres



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BATTLESBattle of Neuve Chapelle and Artois

March 10–13, 1915

In the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and Artois, British troops attacked. The

British goal was to break the German lines and the French were to attack the Vimy Ridge. This was the first

battle that utilized aerial photography, and the Allies mapped all of the German lines in the region.

The Germans launched a counterattack that halted the Allies’ advancement. The British captured

little ground during this battle. These wounded British soldiers are prisoners in German trenches.



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BATTLESBattle of Isonzo

June 23–July 7, 1915

The Battle of Isonzo was contested between the Italians, fighting with

the Allies, and the Austro-Hungarians, who sided with the

Central Powers. The Italians wanted to move the Austrians from their

defensive positions. Even though the Italian army was twice the size of the Austrian army, the Austrians fought

from an uphill position. The Austrian army received reinforcements, and

the Italians were defeated.

one of the many trenches used during the Battle of Isonzo



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BATTLESBattle of Verdun

February 21–December 18, 1916

The French and Germans fought the Battle of Verdun. It resulted in deaths

of approximately 250,000 soldiers, and at least one million were

wounded. The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles of World

War I. The French and German armies launched constant attacks against each other. The French mounted the final offensive on

December 11. The Germans retreated to their position before the battle after the last French offensive.

Violence took place in all areas of Verdun.



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BATTLESBattle of Jutland

May 31–June 1, 1916

The Battle of Jutland was the largest naval battle of World War I. The

battle pitted the German navy against the British navy. It was the only time during World War I that battleships

were used. The German navy wanted to lure the British Grand Fleet into a

trap and defeat it. The battle continued for a little over one month. Fourteen British and eleven German ships were sunk. Both sides claimed victory, but there was not clear victor

in the Battle of Jutland. Battle of Jutland



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BATTLESBattle of Somme

July 1–November 18t 1916

Also known as the Somme Offensive, the Battle of the Somme was one of

history’s bloodiest battles. During the conflict, the Allies attempted to fight their way through the German lines

to draw Germans away from the Battle of Verdun. The Allied and

Central Powers suffered 1.4 million casualties. The British and French

armies only captured approximately five miles of territory.

Soldiers of the 11th Cheshire Regiment are stationed in their trenches.



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BATTLESBattle of Gorizia

August 6–17, 1916

Also known as the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, the Italian Army used the

railroads to transport troops between Isonzo and Trentino. The Austrian forces were weakened as the Italian troops continued their attack. The Austrians retreated to the Gorizia sector, signifying a victory for the Italians. This victory boosted the

Italians’ morale, and Italy declared war on Germany on August 28, 1916.

Italian soldiers are stationed in their trenches along the Isonzo River during the

Battle of Gorizia.



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BATTLESBattle of Flers-Courcelette

September 15, 1916

The tank was first used in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. The British

army attempted to break through the German lines and utilized tank

warfare in their attack. Although the British, New Zealand, and Canadian armies gained territory in the attack,

they could not break the German lines. The German Army stopped the

British before they advanced to Morval.

soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the Auckland Regiment after the Battle of Flers-Courcelette



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BATTLESBattle of Gaza

March 26, 1917

In the Battle of Gaza, the British drove back Turkish forces on the

Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamia. The Turkish forces had been trying to cut the Allied Powers’ supply route through the Suez Canal. When the

Turkish forces were about to be expelled from Gaza, however, the British called for a retreat, stating

there was a threat of Turkish reinforcements. However, the Allies

had defeated the reinforcements. coat of Arms of the Ottoman Empire



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BATTLESSecond Battle of ArrasApril 9–May 16, 1917

Australian, British, and Canadian soldiers fought the Germans in the Second Battle of Arras. The Allied Powers’ objective was to move the

German soldiers from territory so the French Army could attack and

capture the higher German ground on the Douai Plain. Although the Allied Powers did not win this battle, they

made significant advances in military tactics such as counter-battery fire

and the creeping barrage.

the frontline at Arras before the battle



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BATTLESSecond Battle of Aisne

April 16–May 9, 1917

The Second Battle of Aisne was part of the Nivelle Offensive, which the

French army had organized. The attack was successful for the French,

and there were 40,000 French causalities on the first day. Despite suffering tremendous losses, French

Commander Robert Nivelle continued to launch full-scale attacks,

which the Germans repelled. The French were defeated. The battle

ruined Nivelle’s career, and French soldiers’ morale plummeted.

the Western Front in 1917



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BATTLESBattle of MessinesJune 7–14, 1917

The map depicts military action during the Battle of Messines, from June 7–14.

In the Battle of Messines, General Herbert Plummer led an attack of the British Second Army. The battle is

remembered because the British soldiers detonated nineteen mines

before launching their infantry attack. This tactic surprised the Germans and

the British were victorious.



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BATTLESBattle of Passchendaele

July 31–November 6, 1917

Also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, the Allied forces wanted to breach the German lines and take

control of Passchendaele. This town contained the Germans’ main

submarine base. The Germans took cover in trenches and fought off the Allied Powers’ attack for some time. Although Canadian forces captured Passchendaele, the Allies suffered

almost 500,000 casualties.

Allied soldiers move over a duckboard track in the Chateau Wood.



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BATTLESBattle of Caporetto


Also known as the Battle of Karfeit, this was a combined effort of the German and Austrian-Hungarian

armies. The combined armies routed the Italians, who had no reserves to

provide assistance to their front lines. The use of storm troopers and new infiltration maneuvers Oskar von

Hutier pioneered led to this Central Powers’ victory.

The map depicts military action during the Battle of Caporetto and the Italian retreat.



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BATTLESBattle of Cambrai

November 20–December 6, 1917

In the Battle of Cambrai tanks were used successfully. Although the British Army did not defeat the

Germans, they proved the Hindenburg Line could be broken.

However, the Germans counterattacked using new

infiltration tactics. Although the British were maintained control of the ridge, the Germans advanced in other areas and won a strong tactical

victory. British soldiers prepare for action in their trenches, and a tank patrols in the background.



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THE TREATY OF BREST-LITOVSK

Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Russian Soviet Socialist Party.

Russians were weary of World War I and the enormous sacrifices they endured. This discontentment led to popular support of the Bolshevik Party. Its leader, Vladimir Lenin, promised that if he were elected to a position of power, he would remove Russian forces from the war. After winning the election in November

1917, Lenin pursued an armistice with Germany. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, and Russia was no longer a combatant nation. The treaty granted the Central Powers control of territory

that included Finland and the Baltic provinces.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk



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THE UNITED STATESENTERS WORLD WAR I

an American doughboy circa 1918

United States President Woodrow Wilson announces

a break in diplomatic relations with Germany on

February 3, 1917.

Originally, the United States pursued a policy of isolationism. After a German U-boat sank the British passenger ship Lusitania, President Woodrow Wilson

demanded Germany end attacks on passenger ships. The British Royal Navy then intercepted the Zimmerman

telegram in which a German diplomat encouraged Mexican officials to ally with German if the United States declared war on Germany. These events as well as the sinking of

American merchant ships led the United States Congress to declare war on Germany on April 6, 1917.



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BATTLESThird Battle of Aisne

May 27–June 6, 1918

The Third Battle of Aisne featured the main goal of the Germans to

capture the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the Americans, who had just joined the Allies, arrived in Europe. The German army fought strongly

against the English and French armies that tried to stop their

offensive. Although close to victory, German soldiers were fatigued and they suffered enormous numbers of casualties. As a result, the Germans halted their advance and regrouped. This map depicts the Western Front on

July 15, 1918



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BATTLESBattle of Hamel

July 4, 1918

In the Battle of Hamel, Allied forces under Lieutenant General Josh

Monash’s command utilized new tactics that enabled them to win the battle within ninety minutes. This

battle also featured new technology; soldiers parachuted into enemy

grounds. This took their adversaries by surprise and disrupted the Central

Powers’ defensive strategy. In addition, Allied forces coordinated their attacks to weaken the Central

Powers’ defenses.American and Australian soldiers prepare for

battle in the trenches.



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BATTLESSecond Battle of Marne

July 15–August 5, 1918

The Second Battle of Marne was the last major offensive along the

Western Front. The French countered the German advance. More than

168,000 German soldiers were killed. The Army of the Allied Powers

continued to launch attacks on the Germans and forced they to retreat. The German defeat halted a planned

German invasion of Flanders.

The Allied Powers are indicated with green; the Central Powers are indicated with orange.



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BATTLESBattle of Amiens

August 8–11, 1918

The Battle of Amiens began the Hundred Days Offensive, an Allied Powers’ effort to end World War I quickly. During this battle, many German soldiers surrendered. In

addition, the Allied Powers advanced seven miles on the first day of the battle. Erich Ludendorff, a Central Powers commander, stated that this

battle was a “black day of the German Army.” The battle also ended trench

warfare on the Western Front.Amiens, 1918



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BATTLESThe Meuse-Argonne Offensive

September 26–November 11, 1918

Also known as the Battle of the Argonne Forest, this was the final

offensive of World War I. The United States, along with the Allied Powers, organized an offensive of

three phases. In each phase the Allies would push back the German army

until it was decimated. These phases continued until the Germans

surrendered, and the Allied Powers were victorious.

Hill 223 was one of the areas the Allied Powers Army captured during this offensive.



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BATTLESBattle of Canal du Nord

September 27, 1918

The Battle of Canal du Nord was one of the battles during the Hundred

Days Offensive. During this battle, four divisions of the Canadian Corps attacked the Germans. Their attack surprised and quickly defeated the

German forces. Many German defending the Canal du Nord

retreated, were captured, or killed. The Allied victory at Canal du Nord

created a decisive opening for the march into Cambrai.

Canadian engineers built a bridge across the Canal du Nord.



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BATTLESBattle of Vittorio Veneto


The Italian army was successful in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. This

Italian victory caused the collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian army. With the Austrian-Hungarians defeated,

the Italian Front of World War I was closed. The Austro-Hungarian

Empire was also destroyed. With its greatest ally defeated, Germany had no military support to open another

front to the south.

Battle of Vittorio Veneto in northeastern Italy



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ARMISTICE ENDS THE WAR

After a three days of negotiations, representatives of the Allied Powers and

Germany signed the armistice on a railway carriage in Compiegne Forest on November 11, 1918. The expression “the eleventh of the eleventh of the eleventh” is derived from this date. The armistice went into effect at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.

According to the armistice, German troops were to leave Belgium, France, and the eastern bank of the Rhine. The

remainder of the German fleet was forced to surrender its weapons and ships to the Allied Powers. Germany also was forced to renounce its peace treaties with Russia

and Romania. The armistice was reached on

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THE TREATYOF VERSAILLES

David Lloyd George (United Kingdom), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges

Clemenceau (France), and Woodrow Wilson (United States)

The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I. It was signed on June 28,

1919, at the Paris Peace Conference even though the armistice had been in place

since November 11, 1918. Germany and its allies were required to accept full

responsibility for World War I. Germany was required to disarm and concede any territorial gains made during the war. In addition, Germany was required to pay reparations to any countries it damaged

during the war.



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AFTERMATH OF WORLD WAR I

future Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler

In the aftermath of World War I, other conflicts that were a direct result of the war took place. Germans believed the

Treaty of Versailles was unfairly punitive. Adolf Hitler gained

popularity in Germany when he urged Germans to fight the injustices

imposed on them after World War I.

The collapse of the Ottoman Empire caused conflicts as nations sought to control territory in the Middle East.

These conflict would intensify throughout the twentieth century and

into the twenty-first century.



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WORLD WAR I CICERO © 2008. CAUSES The immediate cause of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Sarajevo