1、World War IInevitability of war June 28,1914 Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria assassinated July 5,1914 Germany issues A-H“blank check”pledging military assistance if A-H goes to war against Russia July 23,1914 Austria issues Serbia an ultimatumThe inevitability of war July 28,1914 A-H declares
2、war on Serbia July 29,1914 Russia orders full mobilization of its troops August 1,1914 Germany declares war on Russia August 2,1914 Germany demands Belgium declare access to German troops“Belgium is a country,not a road”King Albert I of Belgium denied permission August 2,1914 Germany declared war on
3、 France Why?The Schlieffen Plan!August 4,1914 Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating Belgian neutrality1914 1915 Illusions and Stalemate Many Europeans were excited about war“Defend yourself against the aggressors”Domestic differences were put aside1914 1915 Illusions and Stalemate War
4、would be over in a few weeks Ignored the length and brutality of the American Civil War(prototype to World War I)1914 1915 Illusions and Stalemate Belief that Modern industrial war could not be conducted for more than a few months“Home by Christmas”1914 1915 Illusions and Stalemate“Fatal attraction
5、of war”Exhilarating release from every day life A glorious adventure War would rid the nations of selfishness Spark a national re-birth based on heroismThe Schlieffen Plans Destructive NatureThe Schlieffen Plan Invade western front 1st After defeating France concentrate on the Eastern front Avoid fi
6、ghting a 2 front warThe Schlieffen Plans Destructive Nature Germany made vast encircling movement through Belgium to enter Paris Underestimated speed of the British mobilization Quickly sent troops to FranceThe Schlieffen Plans Destructive Nature Sept 6-10,1914 Battle of Marne Stopped the Germans bu
7、t French troops were exhausted Both sides dug trenches for shelterSTALEMATEThe Trenches Trenches dug from English Channel to Switzerland 6,250 miles 6 to 8 feet deep Immobilized both sides for 4 yearsThe TrenchesLife in the Trenches Elaborate systems of defense barbed wire Concrete machine gun nests
8、 Mortar batteries Troops lived in holes undergroundLife in the Trenches Boredom Soldiers read to pass the time Sarah Bernhardt came out to the front to read poetry to the soldiers“Death is everywhere”“We all had on us the stench of dead bodies.”Death numbed the soldiers minds.Shell shock Psychologic
9、al devastation“Death is everywhere”Mustard gas Carried by the wind Burned out soldiers lungs Deadly in the trenches where it would sit at the bottomLife in the Trenches Trench warfare baffled military leaders Attempt a breakthrough Then return to a war of movement Millions of young men sacrificed at
10、tempting the breakthroughBattle of Verdun10 months700,000 men killedBattle of Verdun10 months700,000 men killedThe changes of war New weapons crippled the“frozen front”Poison gas(mustard gas)Hand grenades Flame throwers Tanks Airplanes Tanks SubsThe changes of war Airplanes Dog fights in the air Bom
11、bing inaccurate Romanticized the battlefields Paris and London bombed Pilots fired pistols and threw hand grenadesThe Eastern Front Russian army moved into Eastern Germany on August 30,1914 Defeated The Austrians kicked out of Serbia Italians attacked Austria in 1915 G.came to Austrian aid and pushe
12、d Russians back 300 miles into own territoryThe Eastern Front Much more mobile more than the West But loss of life still very high 1915:2.5 million Russians killed,captured,or woundedThe Eastern Front Germany and Austria Hungary joined by Bulgaria in Sept.1915 Attacked and eliminated Serbia from war
13、The Home Front Women took war factory jobs Received lower wages than males Food shortages made running a household difficultThe Home Front Censorship Not told about high death toll Romanticized the battlefields“soldiers have died a beautiful death,in noble battle,we shall rediscover poetryepic and c
14、hivalrous”The Home Front Censorship“Newspapers described troops as itching to go over the top.”“Government reported to the press that life in the trenches promoted good health and clear air”The Home Front“On Leave”Troops would stay together so they could sympathize with each otherThe Home Front Impo
15、ssible to hide death Women in mourning Badly wounded soldiers returned home Opposition began to emergeThe war ends 1917 Russia surrenders(a separate peace)U.S.joins the war on the Allied side Nov.11,1918 ArmisticeDeath Toll of WarAllied PowersCentral Powers42 million served23 million served22 million casualties15 million casualtiesSocial Impact Men lost limbs and were mutilated Birthrate fell markedly Invalids unable to work Ethnic hostility Influenza epidemicPsychological impact“Never such innocence again”Bitterness towards aristocratic officers whose lives were never in danger
