WORLD WAR ONE
Introduction
In 1914 started the first « modern » war in history, known as World war one,
although most battles occurred in Europe.
It was to last until 1918 and opposed two complex systems of alliances led
by Germany on one side and the UK and France on the other side.
Why did WWI start and what was its consequences?
First, Let’s explain the roots of this conflict.
Then, We will study the main steps of the war as well as the condition of the
soldiers.
To finish, let’s see the severe consequences of the conflict both in terms of
casualties and geopolitical changes.
I/ THE ROAD TO WORLD WAR ONE
A/ A complex system of alliances
Source 1
What are the bones of
contention opposing
Britain and Germany?
Vocabulary:
Heligoland : a German Island
off Hambourg
Unfold: déplier
• Germany was competing with
Russia and France to expand
their armies
1880 1914
• Germany
1.3m 5.0m
• France
0.73m 4.0m
• Russia
0.40m 1.2m
Source 2
England called on new alliances: what alliances
did England suggest? How did the British justify
them?
Answer:
Here, England suggests two types of alliances:
-One with France, saying: « see article 4 »
-One with Belgium, saying: « see article6 »
There are three reasons behind these suggestions:
-First, France was a great power before WWI and a
market for British products
-Then, if France was defeated by Germany, the
Germans could easily reach the UK by simply crossing the
Channel: this is what is suggested in article 5
-To finish, like article 6 suggests, Belgium ;has to be
protected because Belgium was neutral and Germany violated
its neutrality.
A complex system of alliances set up
Source 3
THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE:1879 Ger/Aust, 1882 rest ( Italy changed
camp in 1915)
THE TRIPLE ENTENTE:1892 Russia/France, 1904 Fra/RU,
1907 RU/Russie
Source 4
German emperor William trips
over the Entente Cordiale :
cartoon published in Punch (
satirical British cartoon first
published in 1849).August 2nd
1911.
1- What is the context here?
2- Why is the Entente
Cordiale a problem for
William 2nd?
B/ Sarajevo and the chain reaction to war
• 28 June 1914
• Heir to Austrian throne Franz Ferdinand ( Franz Josef’s
nephew) visits Sarajevo Capital of Bosnia.
• “Black Hand” terrorists attack the Arch Duke
• Gavrilo Princip shoots Archduke and wife in the afternoon.
• Austrians blame Serbia for supporting terrorists.
Seal of the
Black Hand
group
Chain reaction to war :
• Austrians, supported by Germany, send Serbia a tough
ultimatum.
• Serbia does not agree to the ultimatum.
• Russia mobilises her troops to support Serbia
• Germany demands that Russia stands her armies down.
• Germany declares war on Russia
AUSTRIA
SERBIA
RUSSIA
August 3rd 1914
GERMANY
August 4th
1914
THE UK
ITALY?
FRANCE
Soldiers of the Entente thought the
war will be fast and Germany easily
defeated…
No conscription system existed in Britain, so posters called on
people to get enlisted and that was not sufficient. In 1915
conscription was made mandatory for unmarried men aged
between 18 and 41.
II/ BATTLES AND FRONTS
A/ MAP
1-Where are
the fronts
located ?
2-Locate the
main two
alliances
B/ TYPES OF WAR
-August 1914-1915 : War of manœuvre
-1916 : Submarine warfare
-1915-March 1918: trench Warfare/war of
position/ Gassing.
2 very famous battles
-VERDUN : february 1916: 240 000
French soldiers died and 275 000 German
soldiers died
-the battle of the Somme : the British
Verdun :July 1916 : 750 000 British
soldiers attacked . 100 000 died. 164 000
German died.
-March-November 1918: war of manœuvre again to the
final Armistice in November 11th 1918
C/ CONDITIONS IN THE TRENCHES
Soldiers were expected to carry all of their equipment with them
at all times.
They were supposed to keep it clean and in good condition – they
were British after all.
How the uniform and equipment changed after just three
weeks in the trenches…
C/ CONDITIONS IN THE TRENCHES
No smiling and relaxed faces…
No clean uniforms… French
infantrymen were nicknamed
“poilus”…
Their equipment is scattered
everywhere…
Boredom and sleep are
obvious…
Les gueules cassées ( « broken faces »)
III/ Consequences
A/Casualties
B/ Geopolitical changes after the versailles Treaty
GEOPOLITICAL CHANGES
1-The impact of the treaty of Versailles:
It was signed between Germany on the one side and France, Italy, Britain and
other minor allied powers on the other side and it officially ended war between
those countries.
Included in the 440 articles of Treaty of Versailles were the demands that
Germany officially accept responsibility for starting the war and pay huge
reparations.
This treaty drastically limited the German military machine: the German troops
were reduced to 100,000 and the country was prevented from possessing
major military armament such as tanks, warships, and submarines.
Germany lost territories at the East to create Poland. It was divided into two
parts by the Dantzig Corridor.
Germany felt cheated and nicknamed the treaty the « Diktat » or the « stab in
the back ».
Italy was not rewarded for changing camp: it expected to be given some
territories in Dalmatia. Italian spoke about the « Victoria mutilata » and
resentment built up fast.
2) New countries were created:
The Baltic countries
Finland
Czechoslovakia: it became a multinational empire mixing different nationalities ( Slovaks,
Czechs, Germans in the Sudetenland…)
Yugoslavia: It gathered many different Slavic minorities: Serbs, Croats, Bosnians,
Albanians…
Austria and Hungary split and became two independent states
Syria and Lebanon, former German colonies were given as mandates to France
3) The creation of a new organization to preserve peace:
Wilson, the US president suggested in his 14 points ( article 14) to create an international
organization to preserve peace/ the League of nations
The League of Nations was to be based in Geneva, Switzerland. This choice was natural as
Switzerland was a neutral country and had not fought in World War One.
It was meant to avoid future war by negotiating peace
But: the USA did not join the League, and it had No ARMY and could only take economic
sanctions.
4) A new world order:
-Europe was down the drain and needed time to recover
-The USA asserted as a new political and economic power
CONCLUSION
WWI started in August 1914 when Germany declared war to France. Both
countries were kinds of « hereditary enemies » and the attempt of Sarajevo was
more a pretext to start the war.
Indeed it triggered a chain reaction through the complex system of alliances,
which led to a world war because colonies were involved.
Consequences were severe: it was the most violent war of history and it totally
changed Europe’s map. Moreover, the new world order was changed with the
assertion of the USA and the decline of Europe.
Although the league of nations was created, WWI was not « the last of the
last » as people believed. It was quickly followed by another widespread
conflict, which was to be even worse: WWII.
Women claim more independence