World War One

August 1914 – November 1918

Soldiers Killed = 9 million

Civilians Killed = 6 million
Total Killed = 15 million
+ who knows how many wounded …
What caused the war?
Who was responsible?
Europe’s‘Great Powers’
on the eve of WW1
 Long Term Causes of WW1
Rivalry and suspicion between Europe’s Great Powers was
intense for at least 30 years prior to the outbreak of WW1 in
1914.
1.Imperialism – the pursuit of Empire (the acquisition of new
territories)
2.Militarism – the investment in and growth in military
capability
3.The Alliance System – treaty agreements between the
major powers
4.Nationalism – Pride and loyalty to one’s nation
Each of these factors contributed to a
growing mistrust and escalating tension
between the great powers
 Imperialism
1. Where a powerful/large country (Great Power)
acquires/controls a smaller state or territory (known as
a colony – hence the process of ‘colonialism’.
2. The benefits of colonialism for the Great Powers were
numerous; economic (markets for trade, slaves)
military (army recruits) and naval outposts, status
symbols, natural resources …
 Imperialism/Empire
Why & How did Imperialism cause tension between the major
powers?
• Jealousy; colonies were symbols of power and could
generate wealth (trade/resources)
• British Empire was known as the Empire upon which‘the sun
never set’.
• The German leader (Kaiser Wilhelm II) was jealous of the
power and wealth of the British Empire and wanted Germany
to match (exceed) Britain’s Empire. He set the goal for
Germany to have her own‘place in the sun.’
• The regions of Africa and Asia in particular were targeted by
Europe’s Great Powers from 1870.
• ‘Available’ land was finite and so tension increased as
available ‘free’ territory diminished.
 Militarism - The Arms Race
(1871-1914)
Military Strength = Empire Strength
(i.e. International power, influence, prestige
and wealth)
Military Weakness = Empire Weakness
(i.e. able to be bullied, exploited)
 The European Powers in 1900
(Textbook pp.1-6)

Germany France Great Austria- Italy Russia Turkey

Britain Hungary (Ottoman)
Popoulation 65mil 40mil 41mil 52mil 35mil 170mil 23mil

Area 485,000sq km 500,000 sq km 245,000 sq km 675,000 sq km 300,000 sq km 22 mil sq km 1.2 mil sq km

Empire/ 10 colonies, 29 colonies, 56 colonies, 18 province 2 colonies in 29 provinces

Colonies 15 mill, 2.5 mil 58 mil, 12.3 390 mil, Africa
sq km mil sq km largest empire
47 mil sq km

Army 4.2 mil 3.7 mil 700,000 800,000 1.2mil 600,000

Navy 181 ships 207 ships 388 ships 67 ships 166 ships 13 ships, incl 8
destroyers

Economy Industrialising Stagnant; Most wealthy, but Not Devloped in Agricultural; Not
rapidly some industry in a state of modernized Nth infant industry modernized;
decline cf. ag based
Germany

Industry: 277 mil tonnes 40 mil 292 mil 47 mil 0.4 mil 37 mil Nil
Coal/Steel 14 mil tonnes 4.6mil 11 mil 5 mil coal 3.6 mil

Government Parliament, Parliament Democracy Emperor, not Parliament, Tsarist Recent

(Type) but ruled by democratic democracy autocracy republic, one
authoritarian party rule
Kaiser

Unity/Stability New nation, Stable Stable 10 different New nation - Unrest Unrest ‘sick
 Naval Race
• Fought out between Britain and Germany
• Some background: Britain had a relatively
small army – it’s an island nation, the
navy was deemed as more important for
Empire protection and trade. Germany
had the strongest army – it’s a land locked
nation, its army was deemed as important
for its protection. The two countries
strength and weakness ‘balanced’ each
other out until …
 Naval Race (cont …)
A new age Battleship was launched
 Naval Race (cont …)
The Dreadnought was bigger, faster, stronger, carried
more guns and was better than any previous battleships.

But there was a problem…because the Dreadnought

was so much better it made previous battleships virtually
obsolete, and so suddenly Britain’s numerical naval
superiority was less important. A race was on between
Germany and Britain to build Dreadnought class
battleships. Britain was desperate to maintain her
advantage, because she couldn’t’ match Germany’s
army. If Germany won the naval race perhaps German
world domination was possible. Relations hit an all time
low between the 2 countries.
 Alliances/Treaties
• In the period between 1870 and 1907 a series of
Treaties were signed and alliances forged
between many of the major of powers of Europe.
They were called ‘defensive’ treaties – but they
had the opposite effect. Non signatories to new
treaties saw them as dangerous alliances of
powerful nations that threatened their own
security. Enemy camps developed across Europe.
 Alliances/Treaties
Dual Alliance: Germany & A/H (1879)
Triple Alliance: Ger, A/H & Italy (1882)

Vs

Franco-Russian Alliance (1892)

Entente Cordiale: Britain & France (1904)
Triple Entente: Br, Fra and Russia (1907)
Ramifications?
• Increased tension and suspicion (although the treaties were supposedly
defensive, they were seen as a threat)
• Both ‘sides’ heavily armed and ready for war (militarism)
• Treaty/Alliance obligations meant that a ‘One in all In’ situation would result in
the event of a conflict, and because of the imperial nature of countries involved
it would escalate into a World(wide) War as colonies supported their ‘mother
countries’.
 Nationalism
‘Pride and loyalty to one’s nation’

• Nationalism contributed to WW1 in a couple of ways

• Most obviously was the loyalty and willingness to fight for
one’s country – prove that our country and people are ‘best’.
A willingness to go to war.
• Less obviously, but perhaps more important, was how
Nationalism and the desire for ‘nation status’ contributed to
the outbreak of war. People of similar cultural backgrounds
wanted to form their own new and independent nation free
from imperial control – much like the US did in declaring its
independence from Britain in 1776.
• The Balkans – see next slide.
Balkans in 1914
 1914: Eve of the First
World War

The Turks were driven

from most of the Balkans
in the 19th century and
were replaced by rivalrous
European powers. With
Russian patronage, an
independent Serbia was
born alongside an
Austrian-controlled
Bosnia, where a Serbian
nationalist ignited World
War I by assassinating the
Austrian crown prince.
 Short Term Causes
Conflicts/episodes which incite further
tension and are the result of one or more of;
Imperialism, Nationalism, Militarism and the
Alliance System

1.Moroccan Crises
2.Trouble in the Balkans
Moroccan Crises
 Moroccan Crises (cont)
Both crises are good evidence or
examples of;
 Imperial rivalry (German ‘Weltpolitik’)
 Alliance system
 Militarism
 The heightened state of tension in Europe
 Moroccan Crises
21nd
st
Moroccan
Moroccan crisis
Crisis
(1905
(1911––Tangiers)
Agadir)
• Where? Nth Africa
• Why? Kaiser wanted to prevent extension of the French Empire in Nth Africa
• Cause? Local
KaiserSultan
made ruler
a speech
requests
in Tangier
Frencharguing
supportfortoMoroccan
put down independence
an uprising by from
rebel
France.
tribesmen. Kaiser fearing a total French takeover in Morocco sends a naval ship to
• Agadir.
Consequences? French furious, Britain backed the French, international conference
• to determine whoGerman
Consequences? had rights
action
in Nth
seen
Africa
as aggressive,
– France’s interests
French furious,
supported
Britain backed
• the French. Kaiser humiliated and Alliance between Britain and France is
Outcomes?
• strengthenedKaiser humiliated and Alliance between Britain and France is
Outcomes?
strengthened
Trouble in the Balkans
This cartoon appeared in Punch (British
publication) in October 1912. It was reacting
to the dangerous situation created by the first
of two Balkan Wars in 1912-13. The wars
were related to the long decline of Ottoman
Turkish power in the region.
Several countries, including Serbia,
Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece, had won their
independence from the Ottoman Empire
during the 19th century. They were intent on
expanding their new states at the expense of
the Ottomans, and then each other.
The cartoon reflects fears, correct as it
turned out, that the Balkan conflict might spill
over and ignite a wider war. In the
foreground, left to right, Russia, Germany,
and Austria-Hungary strive to keep the lid on
the boiling pot. Behind them, Britain and
France look on anxiously.
 Balkan Troubles
Bosnian
1st Balkan
Crisis
War1908-9
1912
• Since Bosnian Crisis
Austria-Hungary annexes
Russia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
had tried to strengthen her position by forming a united bloc of
• Balkan states
Neighbour Serbia furious – they had designs on forming a united Serbian nation with B-H
•• In 1912sought
Serbia Serbia,help
Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro formed the Balkan League
from Russia
•• October of 1912
Russia called for armies of the Balkan
an international League attacked the Turks in mainland Europe – to get
conference.
• them out
A-H with Germany’s support refuse to attend
•• Austria became alarmed – wanted to crush Serbian power
Outcomes?
• Great
 Serbiapowers
furious imposed a Peace
wants revenge settlement
against Austriatrying to avert a major European war!
• Outcomes?
 Russia humiliated – revenge?

 Serbia
Germany became more powerful
and Austria gaining
more closely defeated Turkish lands
aligned

 Austria blocked
Russia more plansaligned
closely for Serbia
withtoBrget
and coastal
Fr. access by forming a new country – Albania.
 Balkans (cont)
Balkans troubles 2nd Balkan are good Warexamples of:
• 1913 Balkan League countries arguing with each other

• Militarism
Bulgaria at war with Greece and Serbia. Bulgaria defeated, Serbia gains more land
and becomes more powerful.
• Outcomes?
Imperial rivalry
• Serbia more powerful – looking towards uniting with Serbs in Austria
• Austria
Balkan looking trouble
to crush Serbia first
• Russia keen to support this new powerful Serbian state
• Germany
Nationalism
knew it would have to support Austria
• Bulgaria wanting revenge on Greece and Serbia
 Alliance system
 Heightened tension
 The July Crisis
From Assassination to War
• Assassination of Austrian
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Assassinated on JUNE 28th
1914 in Sarajevo, the capital
of Bosnia.
• Assassinated by Gavrilo Princip
– a member of the Black Hand
movement (a Serbian
nationalist independence
movement)
 July Crisis
1. July 5th 1914 - Austrian delegates go to Berlin seeking German support
in affairs in the Balkan’s following the assassination of Franz Ferdinand
2. July 6th – German Kaiser confirms that Austria can rely on Germany’s
‘faithful support’ in matters concerning Austria and affairs in the Balkans
a ‘blank cheque’ of unlimited and unconditional support
3. 23rd July 1914 – Austrian responds to the assassination by delivering an
ultimatum to Serbia, a list of 10 demands, otherwise war. Serbs
accepted 9/10. Austria wanted to go to war. Kaiser said ‘Now there can
be no object (reason) in going to war.’
4. 28th July – Austria declares war on Serbia. Serbia asks Russia for help.
5. 29th July – Russia mobilises
6. 30th July – Kaiser warns Tsar not to mobilise
7. 31st July – Germany gave Russia a threatening ultimatum
8. 3rd August – German enacts Schlieffen plan (Britain enacts the 1839
Treaty of London aka ‘The Scrap pf Paper’)
9. 4th August - War declared on Germany
The Treaty of London

What was the 1839 ‘Treaty of

London’?

Use your knowledge of the treaty

and the date of this cartoon to
explain the viewpoint being
expressed.

It would be helpful to identify key

elements within the cartoon and
how they are represented.
 Additional written and visual resources

BBC Magazine - 10 views on who what caused WW1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heKuwogLwnk (Assassination of
Franz Ferdinand)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGxAYeeyoIc (Causes of WW1 -

Blackadder)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7nUDLKKEBY Causes of WW1 –

Imperial War Museum)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KESpCFmYMk (Causes of WW1 –

extended investigation)