WWI – THE BASICS
1. Rising Tensions in Europe
a. The rise of nationalism
i. Nationalism brought about intense competition between countries.
ii. Competition for materials and markets and territorial disputes increased
tensions.
b. Imperialism and Militarism
i. Imperialism: the domination of a weaker nation by a stronger nation
culturally, economically, and/or politically. This often times pushed
European countries towards the brink of war.
ii. Militarism: The policy of glorifying military power and keeping an
army prepared for war. Each country built up their militaries and this
increased tensions in Europe.
2. Tangled Alliances
a. Bismarck forges early pacts
i. In an effort to keep peace in Europe and France weak, Bismarck forms
the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary. He also ally’s with
Russia.
b. Shifting alliances threaten peace
i. Kaiser Wilhelm II- (the ruler of Germany) forces Bismarck to resign
and makes ill-fated decisions like letting his nations treaty with Russia
go unrenewed and joining a shipbuilding race with Britain.
ii. The results of these actions is the formation of the Triple Entente. (an
alliance between Russia, France, and Britain)
iii. By 1907, two rival camps existed in Europe. On one side was the
Triple Alliance—Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. On the other
side was the Triple Entente—Great Britain, France, and Russia. A
dispute between two rival powers could draw all the nations of Europe
into war.
3. Crisis in the Balkans
a. A Restless Region
i. The Balkans became known as the Balkan Powder Keg because of all
the nationalist movements going on it was likely to erupt at any time.
b. A shot rings throughout Europe
i. Archduke Franz Ferdinand is shot on June 28, 1914
ii. He is killed by Gavrillo Princip, a Serbian.
iii. The Austrian government blames Serbia and gives it an Ultimatum.
Serbia does not fully comply and Austria Rejects Serbia’s compromises
and declares war.
iv. Serbia’s ally Russia comes to Serbia’s protection and declares war on
Austria.
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In response to Austria’s declaration of war, Russia, Serbia’s ally, began moving its
army toward the Russian-Austrian border. Expecting Germany to join Austria, Russia also
mobilized along the German border. To Germany, Russia’s mobilization amounted to a
declaration of war. On August 1, the German government declared war on Russia. Russia
looked to its ally France for help. Germany, however, did not even wait for France to
react. Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany also declared war on France.
Soon afterward, Great Britain declared war on Germany. Much of Europe was now locked
in battle.
1. The Great War Begins
a. Nations take side
i. Central powers = Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and later Bulgaria
and the Ottoman Empire
ii. Allies= Great Britain, France, Russia and later Japan, Italy
2. A bloody Stalemate
a. The Conflict Grinds Along
i. Western Front- a region between France and Germany that becomes a
stalemate/deadlocked region.
ii. Schlieffen Plan- A German plan to defeat France quickly and then rush
to the Eastern front and attack Russia. Consequently eliminating the
two-front war dilemma.
iii. Almost works but quick victory is not achieved. This forces Germany
into a long two-front war and the Western front becomes a stalemate.
b. War in the Trenches
i. Trench Warfare- a type of warfare where soldiers fight eachother from
trenches
ii. Trench warfare was brutal, horrible, disgusting, traumatizing, and
deadly.
iii. Military strategists were at a loss. New tools of war—machine guns,
poison gas, armored tanks, larger artillery—had not delivered the fastmoving war they had expected. All this new technology did was kill
greater numbers of people more effectively.
iv. Thousands of soldiers died.
3. The Battle of the Eastern Front
a. The Eastern Front was between Germany and Russia.
i. Early on Germany was victorious on the Eastern front.
ii. The only asset Russia had was its large population. This tied up
Germany to a war on two fronts causing it to prolong the war.
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