The Great WarThe Great War

1914 -19181914 -1918

The War to End all WarsThe War to End all Wars

From 1914 – 1918 From 1914 – 1918 a titanic war a titanic war spread across spread across Europe and Europe and throughout the throughout the colonies.colonies.

65 million soldiers 65 million soldiers were sent into were sent into combat.combat.

More than 8.5 million More than 8.5 million soldiers died in the soldiers died in the struggle.struggle.

21 million soldiers 21 million soldiers were wounded.were wounded.

Almost 8 million were Almost 8 million were MIA or taken prisoner.MIA or taken prisoner.

10 – 15 million 10 – 15 million civilians perished civilians perished under the harsh under the harsh wartime conditions.wartime conditions.

Machines of DeathMachines of Death

Because of the Because of the industrial revolution industrial revolution modern weapons were modern weapons were used on the used on the battlefields of Europe.battlefields of Europe.

Machine guns, poison Machine guns, poison gas, grenades, tanks, gas, grenades, tanks, trench mortars, rifles, trench mortars, rifles, and planes caused a and planes caused a mass slaughter.mass slaughter.

Not Just a job, an Not Just a job, an adventure!adventure!

Victims of the madness!Victims of the madness!

Trench warfareTrench warfare

Soldiers used Soldiers used shovels to dig shovels to dig 25,000 miles of 25,000 miles of defensive trenches defensive trenches to stay below the to stay below the line of fire. line of fire.

Suicidal charges Suicidal charges across no man’s across no man’s land were used to land were used to attack the enemies attack the enemies lines.lines.

Outdated tacticsOutdated tactics These tactics led to the slaughter of These tactics led to the slaughter of

millions of soldiers as they were millions of soldiers as they were mowed down by machine gun and mowed down by machine gun and artillery fire.artillery fire.

Mustard and phosgene gases also Mustard and phosgene gases also took their toll. took their toll.

Causes of War 1914Causes of War 1914

There were several There were several underlying underlying problems that problems that existed in Europe existed in Europe prior to 1914 that prior to 1914 that contributed to this contributed to this destructive war. destructive war.

Militarism Militarism In 1914 Europe was described as a In 1914 Europe was described as a

powder keg ready to explode.powder keg ready to explode. The counties of Europe had The counties of Europe had

conscripted large numbers of soldiers conscripted large numbers of soldiers into the military.into the military.

Germany 11 million soldiersGermany 11 million soldiers Great Britain 9 million soldiersGreat Britain 9 million soldiers France 8 million soldiersFrance 8 million soldiers Russia 12 million soldiers.Russia 12 million soldiers. United States 200,000.United States 200,000.

Conscription = DraftConscription = Draft

NationalismNationalism

Countries such as Germany, France, Countries such as Germany, France, Austria Hungary, and Britain carried Austria Hungary, and Britain carried out policies designed to strengthen out policies designed to strengthen their power at the expense of their their power at the expense of their neighbors.neighbors.

Ethnic groups like Serbians, Poles, and Ethnic groups like Serbians, Poles, and Czechoslovakians, started violent Czechoslovakians, started violent uprisings in order to fight for self rule uprisings in order to fight for self rule against Germany and Austria Hungary. against Germany and Austria Hungary.

Nationalism = Extreme Nationalism = Extreme patriotismpatriotism

ImperialismImperialism

In 1914 France and Britain controlled In 1914 France and Britain controlled most of the Worlds Colonies and did most of the Worlds Colonies and did not permit the Germans to trade in not permit the Germans to trade in their ports.their ports.

The German government dreamed of The German government dreamed of taking control of these vauable taking control of these vauable colonies and resourceds.colonies and resourceds.

Colonial empires 1914Colonial empires 1914

AlliancesAlliances

In order to discourage attack, Britain, In order to discourage attack, Britain, France, and Russia formed a defensive France, and Russia formed a defensive alliance know as the triple entente.alliance know as the triple entente.

Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Allianceformed the Triple Alliance

Russia secretly pledged to defend Russia secretly pledged to defend Serbia.Serbia.

Britain secretly pledged to defend Britain secretly pledged to defend Belgium.Belgium.

The powder Keg explodesThe powder Keg explodes

In June of 1914 Archduke Fanz In June of 1914 Archduke Fanz Ferdinand was in a parade in Bosnia Ferdinand was in a parade in Bosnia the southern province of Austria the southern province of Austria Hungary.Hungary.

Gavriola Princip a Serbian terrorist Gavriola Princip a Serbian terrorist shot him and his wife dead. They did shot him and his wife dead. They did this in an attempt to get Serbians to this in an attempt to get Serbians to revolt against the crown and rejoin revolt against the crown and rejoin the nation of Serbia. the nation of Serbia.

Bad idea!Bad idea!

Chain ReactionChain Reaction

The terrorist group The terrorist group that killed the that killed the leader was called leader was called the black hand. the black hand. They trained in They trained in Serbia. Serbia.

As a result to the As a result to the death of their next death of their next king, Austria king, Austria Hungary declares Hungary declares war on Serbia. war on Serbia.

War ExpandsWar Expands

The Russian king The Russian king honored his honored his alliance with Serbia alliance with Serbia and sent troops to and sent troops to the border to the border to prepare to invade prepare to invade Austria Hungary.Austria Hungary.

Here come the Hun.Here come the Hun.

The Germans next sent troops to The Germans next sent troops to attack Russia to defend their ally.attack Russia to defend their ally.

The Germans decided to attack The Germans decided to attack France from the north by crossing France from the north by crossing through Belgium. This was done to through Belgium. This was done to defeat Paris early and avoid a two defeat Paris early and avoid a two front war.front war.

Britain came to the aid of Belgium Britain came to the aid of Belgium and France.and France.

The British in FranceThe British in France

Italy?Italy?

The Italian government decided to The Italian government decided to join France, Britain, and Russia when join France, Britain, and Russia when they were promised land and they were promised land and colonies for switching sides.colonies for switching sides.

Turkey and Bulgaria fearing Russia Turkey and Bulgaria fearing Russia joined the Central powersjoined the Central powers

Romania, Montenegro, and Greece Romania, Montenegro, and Greece joined the allies.joined the allies.

Fighting extended into the colonies. Fighting extended into the colonies.

The Germans stoppedThe Germans stopped

In the first battle of the Marne River In the first battle of the Marne River the German army was stopped only the German army was stopped only miles outside of Paris. The Germans miles outside of Paris. The Germans outran their supply linesoutran their supply lines

Both sides began digging defensive Both sides began digging defensive trenches.trenches.

For the next three years a stalemate For the next three years a stalemate existed as both side slaughter each existed as both side slaughter each other in suicidal frontal attacks. other in suicidal frontal attacks. Millions died.Millions died.

Where was the U.S.?Where was the U.S.? President Woodrow Wilson President Woodrow Wilson

attempted to keep the U.S. attempted to keep the U.S. out of the war. The U.S. out of the war. The U.S. followed an Isolationist followed an Isolationist foreign policy.foreign policy.

Despite this policy Despite this policy American banks lent American banks lent money to the allies to money to the allies to fight. U.S. businesses sent fight. U.S. businesses sent food, steel, and war food, steel, and war supplies to the allies.supplies to the allies.

Supplies sent to Germany Supplies sent to Germany were taken by the British were taken by the British Navy when the set up a Navy when the set up a blockade.blockade.

Tension growsTension grows

In 1915 the Germans In 1915 the Germans build a fleet of U- build a fleet of U- boats to stop neutral boats to stop neutral countries from countries from trading with the trading with the allies.allies.

On may 7On may 7thth the the British passenger British passenger liner the Lusitania is liner the Lusitania is sunk off the coast of sunk off the coast of Irleland.Irleland.

Violation of International Violation of International lawlaw

The Germans sunk the ship because it The Germans sunk the ship because it carried hundreds of cases of carried hundreds of cases of ammunition that were being smuggled ammunition that were being smuggled from NY city.from NY city.

1,198 people died as the ship sunk in 1,198 people died as the ship sunk in 15 minutes. The Americans lost 128 15 minutes. The Americans lost 128 innocent civilians.innocent civilians.

The Germans did not give the The Germans did not give the passengers time to get into life boats. passengers time to get into life boats.

Americans are pissed!Americans are pissed!

President Wilson President Wilson protest and protest and demands that the demands that the Germans stop the Germans stop the attacks.attacks.

1916 Closer to War1916 Closer to War

In 1916 the Germans sink a French In 1916 the Germans sink a French passenger ship named the Sussex. They passenger ship named the Sussex. They mistake it for a British troop ship.mistake it for a British troop ship.

80 Americans are wounded and several 80 Americans are wounded and several are killed.are killed.

The Germans issue the Sussex pledge The Germans issue the Sussex pledge promising to stop attacks on passenger promising to stop attacks on passenger ships and U.S. ships in the war zone.ships and U.S. ships in the war zone.

The Big PushThe Big Push

In the February of 1917 the Germans In the February of 1917 the Germans planned a big attack towards Paris.planned a big attack towards Paris.

They decided to risk bringing the They decided to risk bringing the Americans into the war by violating the Americans into the war by violating the Sussex pledge and starting unrestricted u-Sussex pledge and starting unrestricted u-boat warfare. The Germans needed to cut boat warfare. The Germans needed to cut off supplies from neutral countries to off supplies from neutral countries to break the stalemate. break the stalemate.

Wilson protests and continues to send Wilson protests and continues to send ships to France and England.ships to France and England.

In the spring of In the spring of 1917 four U.S. 1917 four U.S. merchant ships merchant ships were sunk by were sunk by German U- Boat German U- Boat attacks.attacks.

Catch me riding dirty.Catch me riding dirty. At the same time the At the same time the

British intercept a British intercept a telegram sent from telegram sent from Germany to Mexico.Germany to Mexico.

The Zimmerman The Zimmerman telegram is an telegram is an attempt by Germany attempt by Germany to form an alliance to form an alliance with Mexico to attack with Mexico to attack the U.S. the U.S.

On April 6On April 6thth Wilson Wilson asks Congress to asks Congress to declare war. declare war.

Not ready?Not ready?

The U.S. has only 100,000 soldiers The U.S. has only 100,000 soldiers ready to fight and 100,000 additional ready to fight and 100,000 additional national guard troops. national guard troops.

As a result millions volunteer to As a result millions volunteer to serve and millions of men are drafted serve and millions of men are drafted under the selective service act.under the selective service act.

War bonds and a federal income tax War bonds and a federal income tax are used to fund the build up. are used to fund the build up.