World War IHappy

Thursday

Conditions in Europe in early 1900’s

• Ripe with nationalism(Germany and Italy brimming with pride)

• France steamed over the Franco-Prussian War defeat

• Russia sponsoring a movement of all Slavic countries

• Balkans are a ticking time bomb• Secret, entangling, alliances

Excitement for war

• People from all sides rush to enlist in their respective armies

• artwork depicts fervor

• Professionals and college students drop everything to enlist

Balkans

• June 28, 1914 -- Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand of Serbia and his wife Sophia make plans to be in parade in Bosnian capital, Sarajevo.

• Bosnia, on June 28, 1912, had won its independence from the Ottoman Empire that had controlled it since 1389, but Austro-Hungary had tried to control it.

Assassination planned

• A nationalist, terrorist-esque group called the Black Hand make plans to kill the Arch Duke and his wife during the parade

• After crazy chain of events and coincidences, 19 year-old Garilo Princip, assassinates Franz Ferdinand and his wife.

News Hits!!! Incredible chain of events ensue

• Austria demands that Serbia crack down on all “anti-Austria” behavior -- Serbia refuses

• Austria declares war on Serbia.

• Germany gives Austria a “blank check” support.

• Russia asks Austria to back down in support of its, “Slavic” neighbor.

• Austria refuses, Russia begins to mobilize for war

• Germany declares war on Russia• Russia turns to France and asks for help--

France grants Russia a “blank check”• Germany declares war on France• Italy and Great Britain are neutral for the

time being.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

• Back in Germany, General Alfred von Schlieffen had devised a plan (just in case), to avoid a two-front war.

• Von Schlieffen Plan: go through Belgium, around France’s front line, and quickly take control of France before the backwards Russia could mobilize.

• August 3, 1914 -- Germany invades Belgium and Great Britain declares war on Germany

Trench Warfare• Germans race through Belgium, (despite a treaty

to honor its neutrality), and into France

• Russia mobilizes and quickly wins a few small victories in East Prussia.

• Germany pulls troops from France to defend its backside.

• Trenches are dug between France and Germany that will barely move over the course of four ugly years.

• 1800’s strategy takes on 20th century technology.

• The result is carnage never seen before.

Trench warfare

Desolation of battle fields

Hole from exploded mines in 1916,

Battle of the Somme