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Theme One: Origins of World War 1-1879-1914

Introduction

 From 1914-1918, a Great War (World War One) was fought, leaving 8 million dead and
over 30 million wounded or missing.
 Never before in history had such terrible destruction occurred in one massive struggle that
drew into combat people from nations all around the world.
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In order to understand this particular topic, one requires to know the Long Term
Causes and the Short Term causes of World War 1.

What are the long term and short term causes of World WW1? How
best I can remember it?

Long Term Causes Short Term Causes

M Militarism M 1st and 2nd Moroccan Crises

A Alliance B Bosnian Crisis

I Imperialism B 1st and 2nd Balkan Wars

N Nationalism A Assassination at Sarajevo

The Long Term Causes of World War 1

Alliance- refers to an agreement signed between nations, often promising assistance in times
of war.
What about Europe? Did the European Countries form alliances? How did it benefit the European countries?

Who was Otto von Bismarck? What was his role in forming alliances in Europe?

The Alliance had been signed by countries from 1879 to 1914.

Founder Otto Von Bismarck

Who was he?

 Chancellor of Germany (Equivalent to a PM).

 Man responsible for creating alliances in Europe.

Before the creation of Triple Alliance and Triple Entente, three European monarchs signed an
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agreement/alliance known as:

The Dreikaiserbund Treaty 1873.

Also at times known as the League of Three Emperors or Nations/ Three Caesars

Signatories Emperor of Germany Kaiser William 1st

Emperor of Austria Francis Joseph

Emperor of Russia Tsar Alexander

Caption: the cartoon depicts the Dreikaiserbund Treaty of 1873. The person standing behind is
Otto von Bismarck. The three characters shown sitting on the chairs are: Kaiser William the 1 st (G,
Emperor Francis Joseph and Tsar Alexander.

Provision: to isolate France to prevent France from forming an alliance with Russia.

Weakness: it failed because Russia and Austria were having conflicts over the Balkans (smaller
countries in Europe)

The Dreikaiserbund Treaty 1881

Otto Von Bismarck revived the treaty when he saw first one was not working.

Provision: they would not help another nation if that nation declares war on any one of them. (If
France declares war on Germany and Austria, Russia was not allowed to help France)

1887- Otto Von Bismarck wanted to renew the treaty with Russia when he saw that it was not
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working properly.

The Reinsurance Treaty 1887

Provision:

 Was to prevent Franco-Russian Alliance.

 Russia and Germany promised to remain neutral if any one of them went to war with a third
power.

Why did it fail?

 The new Monarch, Kaiser William the 2 nd dismissed Otto von Bismarck as the Chancellor.

 The treaty lapsed (no longer worked).

 Paved way for Franco-Russian Alliance.

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Hhhmmm…what were the alliance system, militarism, imperialism and nationalism? How did they contribute

1st Armed Camp

The Triple Alliance: was formed in two stages. (Who are the players here? Try to identify them)

Dual Alliance

The Game of the Day

Caption: ME, ANDRASSY, WE KNOW EACH OTHERS’ ‘FORM’ YOU AND I TOGETHER AGAINST THE
LOT 11!!” CE). “I THINK, MADAME, WE MIGHT BE A MATCH FOR THEM!” NKS! I PREFER TO SIT OUT
AT PRESENT!”

ENGLAND (to ITALY). “NOBODY ASKS US!!”

The cartoon shows the formation of alliances in Europe namely the Dual Alliance of 1879.

Year: 1879 Members: Germany and Austria

Who was responsible for forming Dual Alliance? Provision: to protect themselves from Russia.

Otto Von Bismarck

Triple Alliance

Year: 1882 Members: Italy joined the Dual Alliance to form

Triple Alliance.

Why did Italy join? Provisions:

 Italy was having conflict with France over  Italy was supposed to maintain a friendly
territories in Africa. Italy wished to relationship with Britain and could not
establish an empire in North Africa fight Britain.
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(Tunis) but the French wanted this area  To prevent Italy from taking sides with
for themselves. Russia.

 Otto Von Bismarck saw this as an

opportunity to encircle France and
prevent her from forming an alliance
with Russia.

Why did it fail?

 Italy changed side during the war and

accused Austria and Germany for
causing World War 1.

2nd Armed Camp. The Triple Entente was formed in three stages.

1. Franco-Russian Alliance Year: 1895

Members: France and Russia Provisions:

France and Russia promised to help each other if

Germany attacked either of them.

2. Dual Entente/Entente Cordiale Year: 1904

Members: Britain and France Entente: means cordial or friendly relationship

between nations.

Provisions:

 It was worked by French Foreign Minister, Declasse.

 It was not a military agreement but a friendly agreement whereby France recognised British
control over Egypt and Britain recognised French interests in Morocco.

Why did Germany resent this?

Germany referred it to as a “Scrap of Paper”

Germany was offended as France and Britain were shutting out Morocco from them.
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The Triple Alliance

Caption: the cartoon above depicts the formation of Alliances in Europe. The Characters
represents: (from R-L: France, Russia and Britain – formed Triple Entente in 1907 and the character
on the far left represents Japan. Britain signed an agreement with Japan to end its policy of
splendid isolation in 1902.

Year: 1907 Members: France, Russia and Britain

Provision: to protect themselves from any
German attack.
Note: France wanted to strengthen the alliance.
France and Russia who had been enemies came
together. Russia was weak since it lost Russo-
Japanese War and needed a strong partner.
Britain saw Germany as a threat when Germany
meddled in the affairs of Morocco. Russia and
Britain fearing Germany, settle their disputes
and signed Triple Entente with France.

How did the Alliance system contribute to war climate?

War Climate: an atmosphere out of which war was likely to occur or happen.

1) The alliances spilt Europe into armed or hostile groups.

2) Alliances took an aggressive attitude as each side matched carefully to make sure the other
gained no more strength.

3) Balance of power was delicate- any change could result in war.

4) The alliance system ensured that if any one member went to war, the others would be
dragged in. (a war involving great powers was certain to become a world war).

5) The secrecy of alliances caused deep suspicion among nations.

6) Though formed to prevent war became a cause of war. they added to war climate by
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increasing fear, tension and suspicion.

Caption: the cartoon depicts the tension between alliances prior to the beginning of World War 1.
The Great War started after the assassination ( Franz Josef Ferdinand-Crown Prince of Austria) at
Sarajevo.

Other Alliances created before World War 1

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance Year: 1902

Members: Britain and Japan Why did Britain sign the alliance?

To end its policy of splendid isolation. Britain

concentrated on its own affairs and did not
interfere in the affairs of others.

However, Britain felt isolated as other European

powers formed alliances and faced an imminent
threat from Germany.

Provisions:

1. To safeguard the independence of China (to discourage Germany, Russia and France from
“further pickings” (Taking over territories in the far east (mainly China).

2. To remain neutral if one of them declared war on another country. (Japan attacked Russia
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that became the Russo-Japanese War-1904-05 without the fear of outside interference).

Europe in 1900

Mark with different shades to indicate countries belonging to Triple Alliance and Triple Entente.

The Anglo-French Naval Convention

Year: 1912 Members: Britain and France

Provisions:

1. Britain to protect French coastlines from any German naval attack.

2. France to defend Suez Canal (in Egypt).

2nd Major Cause: Militarism (arms race and naval race)

Definition militarism: means relying on the How did Industrial Revolution contribute to
military force to further a nation’s interests. WW1?

 European countries started building and
strengthening their military.
 They believed that their nation should
be well armed and prepared to use its
weapons.
 It all began during the Industrial
revolution.
 New technology brought new weapons
of destruction such as machine guns,
tanks, submarines and fighter jets.
 The national armies were equipped with
more efficient and modern weapons of
industrial society.
 They were capable of waging war on
gigantic and destructive scale.

 Militarism resulted in an arms race

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between major powers in Europe.

What is an arms race?

 Arms race simply means competition and rivalry in building up armies.

 Each nation scrambled to match its neighbours’ strength.

 They build weapons of mass destruction to be used in future wars.

How did militaristic attitude of the European powers lead to the outbreak of WW1?

War was valid means of foreign policy. All nations in Europe were militaristic in nature. It caused a
lot of fear , suspicion and arms race that contributed towards WW1.

Naval Race- is a competition to build the world’s most advance and strong navy.

 Germany in particular was engaged in arms race with Great Britain.

 Kaiser William 2nd believed in Weltpolitik- meaning “domination”. (World domination by

Germany).

 Kaiser William was interested to build Germany’s navy to fulfil its policy of Weltpolitik.

 Germany was engaged in naval race with Great Britain.

 It resulted in the development of dreadnoughts- a large and heavily armed battleship that
outclassed other battleships.

 Before the beginning of WW1, Britain had the world’s most powerful navy and Germany had
the strongest army.

HMS Dreadnought seen in 1906.

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Caption: the above cartoon depicts the policy of Weltpolitik. The dominant figure in the cartoon is
Kaiser William the 2nd who is having the dream of conquering all over the world.

How did militarism contribute to WW1?

 It poisoned the relationship between the two superpowers from the two armed camps.

 The building of arms and navy caused suspicion and created fear between nations.

 As each country increased its arms and navy it became more confident of success in future
war and more willing to test their armed forces.

What was done to limit the arms race?

The 1st Hague Conference The 2nd Hague Conference

Year: 1899 Year: 1907

Initiator: Tsar Nicholas 11 (leader of Russia) Initiator: Theodore Roosevelt (leader of USA)

Provision: to limit the arms race Provision: to limit the arms race

Why did it fail? Why did it fail?

Countries continued to produce arms and failed Countries relied on the arms to defend
to stop the production. themselves from their enemies.

Outcome: Outcome:

A Hague Tribunal was formed to settle disputes Nations agreed to promote the idea of peaceful
between countries. ways to settle world problems and wars could be
fought fairly.
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Caption: The 2nd Hague Conference underway.

3rd Major Cause: Imperialism

Definition: means the policy of gaining and holding colonies, that caused tensions among nations.

Countries involved: Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Denmark and Portugal.

Why did countries involve themselves in imperialism?

 They wanted to gain economic and political control over new territories.

 To extract valuable economic resources.

 The more the colonies, the more the powerful countries were.

 It gave them prestige and power.

The Scramble for Africa

The Conference of Berlin 1884

Initiator: Otto Von Bismarck

Purpose:

The European countries divided Africa into different territories and claimed as their own.

Note:

 Many European countries scrambled (competed) to get a piece of Africa. (Britain, Germany,
France, Italy).

 The Industrial Revolution in Europe forced European states to look for new colonies for
valuable raw materials.

 The demand by industries for raw materials made them to get a piece of Africa and that
would provide a market for their manufactured goods.
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 Africa was explored and colonised by major European powers. Each had its own “spheres of
influence”- areas in which the power concerned exercise a special influence to her own
advantage.

Examples of Conflicts over Africa by major Powers

 Britain and France already had large empires.

 They argued over and competed for colonial possessions.

 The arguments resulted them on the verge of war in 1898.

The Fashoda Crisis

Year: 1898 Countries involved: Britain and France

 Reason: Both were having conflict over territories in Africa, Upper Nile in Egypt.

 France claimed Fashoda as her own territory which had already been taken over by Britain.
The two countries were on the verge of the war, however, through diplomacy it was
prevented.

 France recognised Britain’s spheres of influence in Egypt.

3. Germany under Kaiser William the 2nd entered the quest for empires a bit late but was
determined to build German empire.

 Germany, was involved in a conflict with France over Morocco in North Africa.

4. Italy was engaged in a conflict in North Africa with France.

5. France and Germany were engaged in conflict with Britain. Britain wanted to link Africa from
South to North so that it could link Cape Town in the south with Cairo in the north. The
German and French wanted to link the colonial possession across the width of Africa. The
links would have cut across each other’s influence.

6. Europe

 In Europe, Austria and Russia were having conflict over territories in the Balkans.

 Turkey was having problems to maintain her extended empire mainly in the Balkans.

How did imperialism contribute to WW1?

 It looked that Great Powers would go to war over disputed territory.

 Constant clashes convinced nations to form alliances and build large navies to defend their
empires.

 It increased tensions amongst the already hostile powers.

 Imperialism caused divisions, resentments and war like attitudes among the great powers.
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4th Major Cause: Nationalism.

Definition- is a feeling of love and pride for one’s country. /It is also a feeling that one’s country is
better than others.

Other terms used to refer to aggressive nationalism: “Jingoism” and “Chauvinism

Nationalism became very aggressive in the 19 th century. People began to feel that their country need
not to recognise the rights of any other country.

A British music hall song:

We don’t want to fight

But, by jingo! If we do

We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men

We’ve got the money too!

How did nationalism work in Europe?

1. Nationalism demanded the nations prestige to be recognised. For example, France was
defeated by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). The French nationalists
wanted to take revenge from Germans and Germany was determined to give France no
opportunity to take revenge.

2. Italy was also trying to get its prestige by expanding its territories which brought them to get
involve in a conflict with France.

3. Nationalism also worked out in the Ottoman Empire (the sick man of Europe) and Austro-
Hungarian empire. There were instances where people formed national groups to get rid of
foreign control in the Ottoman Empire such as in the Balkans.

4. Likewise, newspapers played a vital role in increasing nationalistic feelings by printing news
from their own nation’s view point. Sometimes minor issues were blown up into major
problems.

5. Feelings of the different nationalistic groups who wanted to get rid of foreign control in
order to have self-rule. It created conflicts between the ruler and the ruled. For example, in
the Balkans, the Bosnians and Serbs wanted to get rid of Austrian rule.

How did Nationalism contribute to WW1?

 Nationalism in its aggressive form heightened tensions and turned minor issues into major
problems.

 It increased mistrust between nations, adding to war climate.

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Short Term Causes of Word War 1

What are some of the short term causes of World War One? Hhhhm let me think…

M The 1st the 2nd Moroccan Crisis (1905/1911)

B The Bosnian Crisis 1908

B The 1st and the 2nd Balkan Wars (1912/1913)

A The Assassination at Sarajevo-1914.

Hhmm… What was the Moroccan Crisis?

The 1st and the 2nd Moroccan Crisis

1st Moroccan Crisis 2nd Moroccan Crisis

Year 1905 1911

Countries France and Germany France and Germany

involved

Other names Tangier Crisis Agadir Crisis (a port city)

used to refer to
the crises
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Cartoon portraying Kaiser William’s

deliberate attempt to oppose French
occupation of Fez by sending a naval
warship Panther to the port of Agadir.
Germany wanted to project and their power
and intimidate the French.

Reason/Causes  German Emperor visited  The Sultan asked for the French help
Morocco encouraging the to crush the revolt against him.
Sultan (King) to oppose
 French crushed the revolt and
French interests in
occupied Fez, an important
Morocco.
Moroccan city.
 Also he declared
 Germany saw this as an occupation
Germany’s interest in
by French of Morocco.
Morocco.
 Germany sent a naval ship (Panther)
 It was deliberate attempt
to the port of Agadir in defiance of
by Germany to exclude
the Algeciras Conference of 1906.
French interests in
Morocco.  Britain saw this a deliberate attempt
by Germany to interfere in the
 German’s tried to test
affairs of France in Morocco.
the Dual Entente
between France and  Britain came in support of France.
Britain that was earlier
signed.  Seeing this, Germany backed down.

Germany demanded for a a. Britain and other European powers

Results/outcom Conference to be held.
es
In 1906, the Algeciras Conference
was held in Spain.
a. France was given a free
hand in Morocco.
b. France was to keep order
and control in Morocco.
recognised the French interests in
Morocco.
b. Further strengthened the Entente
Cordiale.
c. Germany created more enemies in
Europe and were eager to take
revenge from France. It brought
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c. Morocco was opened to Europe a step closer to war.

trade with all nations.

d. It strengthened the Dual

Entente.

Kaiser William is trying to test

the Entente Cordiale signed
between France and Britain
during the 1st Moroccan Crisis.
Instead he gets hurt that showed
the strength of the Entente.
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What was the Bosnian Crisis? Before we look at the Bosnian Crisis, we need to understand the Balkan as a region in
The Balkans
The map shows the Balkan nations such as Albania,
Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Rumania
The Young Turk Movement-1907
It was a revolutionary movement in the Ottoman Empire.
Purpose:
a. To protect the Christians in the Ottoman Empire.
b. They demanded for a liberal and modern
Constitution.
c. The Revolution encouraged the breakup of the
Ottoman Empire
European territories that consisted
people of different origins. It was the
most unstable part of Europe.
Two empires ruled the Balkan Territories-
the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and the
Ottoman Empire (Turkey). The Ottoman
Empire was referred to as the “sick man
of Europe”. They were unable to have a
control over its extended empire.
The different nationalities in the two
empires wanted to get rid of foreign rule.
This led to creation of different
nationalist group such as in Bosnia-
Herzegovina who were protesting against
the Austrian rule.
In 1908- Bulgaria declared her
independence with Prince Ferdinand as
her King.
The Turkish revolution and the chaos
created made Austria-Hungary to take
advantage of the situation by annexing
Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908. It was a
great mistake by Austria since the many
Slavs (Serbians) were against Austrian
rule.
The Serbs and Russians were also
interested in the Balkans.
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1908: “THE THREE KINGS COME TO TAKE THEIR SHARE OF TURKEY.”

The three kings came to take their share of Turkey in 1908. King Peter of Serbia, King Franz Joseph
1 of Austria and King Ferdinand of Bulgaria. Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Austria was
able to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What was the Bosnian Crisis?

The Balkans: Bosnian Crisis 1908

Powers Involved Reasons

1. Austria  Austria was given the right to govern and not to own Bosnia-
Herzegovina.

 In 1908, Austria annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 Serbia resented annexation by Austria.

2. Countries a. Russia:
that opposed
 They were unable to get access to the Black Sea so that Russian
Austrian
warships could move back and forth from the Black Sea to the
Annexation
Mediterranean.

 Wished to protect Slavs (Serbians) of the Balkan States. (acted as a

protector of Slavs in the Balkans).
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Why did Serbia b. Serbia

resent Austria’s
 Serbia dreamt of forming a greater Slav Nation-Yugoslavia.
annexation of
Bosnia-Herzegovina?  They wanted Bosnia-Herzegovina to be part of greater Serbia-
Yugoslavia
(Serbia was a strong
Balkan State)  They wanted to control all Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

 Anti-Austrian feelings developed.

Why did Austria oppose Slav expansion?

 Feared that Slavs in their territory could revolt against the Austrian
rule.

 Did not want to see Serbia becoming a strong Slav Nation and
feared unrest if Serbia was to build power and prestige.

The map shows that both Russia and Serbia opposed Austria’s expansion in
the Balkans. They had their own interests in the Balkans. Austria who
feared Serbia’s dream of expanding, saw the need to suppress Slav
nationalism as a means to stop Serbia from expanding and gaining power
and prestige.
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Hhhm…. What about the Balkan Wars? What do I need to know?

The First Balkan War The Second Balkan war

Year 1912 Year 1913

Countries Balkan League (Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Countries Bulgaria against the
Involved Bulgaria) against Turkey Involved rest of the Balkan
League (Greece, Serbia
and Montenegro)

Note: Turkey also

joined with the Balkan
League against
Bulgaria)

Causes  Turkey did not accept the demands of Causes/ Bulgaria quarrelled with
the Balkan League concerning Serbia and Greece over
/Reasons Reasons
Macedonian Christians. the territories that it
received after the first
 They wanted to end Turkish rule in the
Balkan War.
Balkans or Europe.
They were unhappy
over a conquered
Turkish territory and
believed that rest of the
Balkan League
members got more
territories.

Outcomes The Treaty of London in 1913 ended the war Outcomes The Treaty of Bucharest
where powers involved settled the terms of ended the war in 1913.
peace.
Bulgaria lost the war.
 The Balkan League won the war. (surrendered all her
territories it had
 Turkey lost all of her territories in
received after the 1st
Europe except Constantinople.
Balkan War).
 Albania was created that prevented Serbia became stronger
Serbia from having access to the Back and powerful.
Sea.
Turkey was able to get
Why Albania was created? back territories that it
Austria wanted Serbia to be a landlocked had lost after the 1st
country and economically weak. Balkan War.
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Note: Serbia and Russia were unhappy with the Why the Balkan League
creation of Albania. was discontented with
the Treaty of
Bucharest?

Most of the Balkan

states regarded the
treaty of Bucharest as a
waste because Turkey
gained a new territory
whereas the Balkan
states did not change
any of their positions.
The cartoon above shows the 1st Balkan Thus all were ready for
War fought between Turkey and the another war before
Balkan League. The people shown in the long and in particular
background were the major powers from Bulgaria nursed
grievances against
the two armed camps who were drawn
Serbia and Greece
towards the conflict.

Explain how the Balkan Wars contributed to World War One?

 The great gains made by Serbia filled her with confidence and inspired her with the ambition
to unite all remaining Serbs in the Balkans under her rule.
 In particular Serbia was brought even more sharply into collision with Austria – Hungary
partly because that country had taken the lead in denying her Albania since it controlled six
million Serbs and Croats, including the million Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
 It was this last fact which led on directly to the First World War.

Explain why the Balkans was referred to as the Powder Keg/Trouble Spot/Boling Pot in Europe?

a. It was regarded as the most unstable part of Europe.

b. Wars were common-Two wars were fought in two years leading up to WW1.
c. They were like loose cannons that could be fired at any time.
d. A little conflict would have sparked a major war and dragged the members of the
two armed camps into the conflict.
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The cartoon above shows the major European powers who are seen here containing
Balkan troubles. If the European powers do not keep the lid on the pot then the troubles
will pour out and engulf all of them.

What triggered WW1? Hhhmm…I think it has something to do with the assassination.

The Assassination at Sarajevo (the immediate cause of WW1/at times referred to as a trigger)

Year 1914 (28th June)

Who was assassinated? Prince Franz Josef Ferdinand (Crown Prince of Austria/Arch duke of
Austria/Heir to the throne

Who was the Gavrilo Princip- a Bosnian student who was also a member of the
assassinator? Serbian Secret Society (the Black Hands) with an aim of ending Austrian
rule in the Balkans. On his way to the Bosnian Capital, Sarajevo, after the
second attempt on his life, he was killed.

Reason for Prince He was there for a state visit since Bosnia-Herzegovina was part of the
Ferdinand’s visit to Austrian Empire and to demonstrate that his family was in control of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sarajevo and to have stopped the tour would have been seen as a sign
of weakness by those who did not want Bosnia and Sarajevo ruled by
the Austrians.
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The Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife leaving the town hall at Sarajevo shortly before they
were assassinated by a Serb nationalist.

What happened after the assassination?

The Outcomes: The Sequence of Events

23rd July Austria gave Serbia and ultimatum-a final demand from one country to another.

Serbia refused Austria’s demand of Austrian control over the Serbian affairs.

The rooster is represented by Serbia who was not that strong as Austria
(represented by the eagle) rejected Austria’s ultimatum. Austria suspected that
another country may be backing Serbia. Russia (represented by the Brown Bear)
behind the rock supported Serbia.
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28th July Austria declares war on Serbia. Serbia appealed to Russia for help.

29th July Russia mobilised its forces in support of Serbia.

31st July Germany gave an ultimatum to Russia to demobilise its forces. Russia refused.

Note: Germany supported Austria’s actions against Serbia. Germany gave Austria an
assurance of Blank Cheque- Germany promised support for whatever action
Austria takes against Serbia.

1st August Germany declares war on Russia.

3rd August Germany declares war on France.

4th August  Germany invades Belgium.

 Britain gave an ultimatum to Germany to withdraw its troop from Belgium.

Germany refused.

 Britain declares war on Germany.

The man with the stick represents Germany and the boy at guard represents
Belgium. The cartoon portrays the German invasion of Belgium. The phrase on the
wooden gate “no thoroughfare” denotes that Germany was not welcome in
Belgium and the Belgians would give them hard time if they enter forcefully

Note: The Treaty of London

 Signed in 1839.

 Belgium was to remain neutral country in times of War.

 Belgium became a protectorate of Britain. Protectorate is when a country

has self-governance but defence and foreign affairs is looked after by a
strong nation.

 Germany referred to the Treaty as a “Scrap of Paper” thinking Britain would

not enter the war. However, they did and declared war on Germany.
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Note: The Schlieffen Plan

Year 1905

Who An army General in the German army by the name Von Schlieffen
formulated
this plan?

What was it? It was a war plan of Germany.

Purpose/Aim To wage war in two fronts-first to invade France through Belgium

and then attack Russia.

Why did the plan fail?

 Belgians resisted and delayed Germans advancement into France for two weeks.

 Exhaustion faced by German soldiers- soldiers were tired, hungry and sick.

 British involvement in the war weakened Germany.

The outlook of the Schlieffen Plan.

Why did US join the war?

USA joined the war in 1917 when Germany sank the American Merchant ships and encouraged
Mexico to declare war on USA.
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Who were who during the war?

Central Powers Allied Powers

 Germany  Britain, France and Russia.

 Austria  Italy (joined in 1915 when promised of

territory)
 Turkey
 Serbia, Belgium, Japan and Rumania
 Bulgaria (joined 1915)
(joined 1916)

 USA (1917)

Why did the Central Powers lose the war?

1. They lacked man power. By the last year of the war, 217 allied powers were fighting the 4
central powers.

2. British and the allied control of the sea starved Central powers of food and raw materials.

3. The German invasion of Belgium-Britain’s entry made Germany weak.

4. The German submarine (U-boats) campaign- the sinking of US merchant ship made a neutral
country such as US to enter the War further weakening the Central powers.

The Submarine Warfare

1. Germany carried on a submarine campaign which was not restricted to her active enemies.

2. The German actions was a decisive factor in their loss as US provided man power and wealth
to overcome Germans.

A German U-Boat-Naval competition / Germany wanted to be the leading nation in naval power in
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Europe putting pressure on Britain. It was Germany’s war strategy that made such ships hard to be
detected. It had the ability to go underwater and destroy its targets. The weaponry systems had
missiles.

Note: the war ended officially on 11/11/1918 when Germans surrendered and agreed to an
armistice- to stop or halt fighting before peace negotiations can be discussed.

THE END