💣World History – 1400 to Present Unit 11 – The War to End All Wars

Key Players and Alliances

• The Triple Alliance formed in 1882 consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy as a defensive pact against France and Russia
• The Triple Entente formed in 1907 as an alliance between France, Russia, and Great Britain to counter the Triple Alliance
• Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II's aggressive foreign policy and naval buildup contributed to rising tensions in Europe
• Austria-Hungary's Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914, triggered the war
  • Serbia had close ties with Russia, which pledged support against Austria-Hungary
• The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) in October 1914
• Italy, despite being part of the Triple Alliance, remained neutral until joining the Allies (Triple Entente) in 1915
• The United States entered the war on the side of the Allies in April 1917 after Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare

Causes and Buildup

• Nationalism fueled tensions as countries sought to assert their power and influence on the global stage
• Imperialism led to competition for colonies and resources, particularly in Africa and Asia, among European powers
• Militarism resulted in an arms race and the buildup of standing armies across Europe
  • Germany's military expansion, particularly its naval buildup, threatened British naval supremacy
• The system of alliances divided Europe into two opposing camps (Triple Alliance and Triple Entente), increasing the risk of a larger conflict
• The Balkans, a region of ethnic and political instability, became a powder keg due to the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Slavic nationalism
  • Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908 heightened tensions with Serbia and Russia
• The July Crisis, a series of diplomatic maneuvers and ultimatums following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, escalated tensions and led to the outbreak of war

Major Battles and Campaigns

• The Western Front saw trench warfare and battles of attrition, such as the Battle of Verdun (1916) and the Battle of the Somme (1916)
  • The First Battle of the Marne (1914) halted Germany's initial advance into France
  • The Battle of Passchendaele (1917) resulted in heavy casualties and limited gains for the Allies
• The Eastern Front saw large-scale battles between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, such as the Battle of Tannenberg (1914) and the Brusilov Offensive (1916)
• The Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916) was a failed Allied attempt to capture the Dardanelles Strait and knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war
• The Battle of Jutland (1916), the largest naval battle of the war, ended in a tactical victory for Germany but a strategic victory for Britain
• The Middle East saw campaigns against the Ottoman Empire, including the Arab Revolt (1916-1918) and the Battle of Megiddo (1918)
• The Italian Front witnessed battles between Italy and Austria-Hungary in the Alps and along the Isonzo River
• The Hundred Days Offensive (1918) was a series of Allied victories that ultimately led to Germany's defeat and the end of the war

Technological Advancements

• Machine guns revolutionized infantry combat, making frontal assaults more costly and contributing to the stalemate of trench warfare
• Artillery, particularly heavy artillery and howitzers, played a crucial role in bombarding enemy trenches and positions
• Poison gas, first used by Germany at the Second Battle of Ypres (1915), introduced chemical warfare to the battlefield
  • Various types of gas were used, including chlorine, phosgene, and mustard gas
• Tanks, first employed by the British at the Battle of the Somme (1916), provided a means to break the deadlock of trench warfare
• Aircraft evolved from reconnaissance tools to fighters and bombers, engaging in aerial combat and strategic bombing
  • The Fokker Scourge (1915-1916) saw German fighters temporarily dominate the skies
• Submarines, particularly Germany's U-boats, waged unrestricted warfare against Allied shipping, leading to the sinking of the Lusitania (1915)
• Advances in medical technology, such as the use of X-rays and the development of the Thomas splint, improved the treatment of wounded soldiers

Home Front and Civilian Impact

• Governments implemented rationing and price controls to manage shortages and ensure the fair distribution of resources
• Women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers to replace men who had gone to war, taking on roles in factories, agriculture, and the service sector
  • Women's contributions challenged traditional gender roles and paved the way for suffrage movements
• Propaganda campaigns aimed to boost morale, encourage enlistment, and demonize the enemy
  • Posters, films, and songs were used to shape public opinion and garner support for the war effort
• Civilians faced hardships such as food shortages, inflation, and the loss of loved ones
• The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, known as the Spanish Flu, claimed millions of lives worldwide, exacerbated by the movement of troops and wartime conditions
• The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to Russia's withdrawal from the war and the establishment of the Soviet Union
  • The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power and signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in 1918

Turning Points and Decisive Moments

• The First Battle of the Marne (1914) halted Germany's Schlieffen Plan and led to the stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front
• The sinking of the Lusitania (1915) and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare strained US-German relations and contributed to the US entry into the war
• The Battle of Verdun (1916) symbolized the brutality and futility of trench warfare, with heavy casualties on both sides
• The Brusilov Offensive (1916) was Russia's most successful offensive, but it ultimately weakened the Russian army and contributed to the Russian Revolution
• The Battle of the Somme (1916) saw the first use of tanks and the horrific casualties associated with trench warfare
• The entry of the United States into the war in 1917 provided a significant boost to the Allied war effort in terms of manpower and resources
• The failure of Germany's Spring Offensive (1918) and the success of the Allied Hundred Days Offensive (1918) marked the turning point on the Western Front

Peace Treaties and Aftermath

• The Treaty of Versailles (1919) officially ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers
  • Germany was required to accept sole responsibility for the war, make territorial concessions, pay reparations, and limit its military
• The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919) dissolved the Austro-Hungarian Empire and recognized the independence of several nations, including Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia
• The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine (1919) required Bulgaria to make territorial concessions and pay reparations
• The Treaty of Trianon (1920) further dismantled the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with Hungary losing significant territory to neighboring countries
• The Treaty of Sèvres (1920) partitioned the Ottoman Empire, but it was later superseded by the Treaty of Lausanne (1923) following the Turkish War of Independence
• The League of Nations was established to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars, but it ultimately failed to maintain peace
• The war left millions dead, empires dissolved, and economies devastated, setting the stage for the rise of totalitarian regimes and future conflicts

Legacy and Historical Significance

• World War I marked a significant shift in the global balance of power, with the decline of European empires and the rise of the United States as a world power
• The war accelerated the development of modern warfare, introducing new technologies and tactics that would shape future conflicts
• The Treaty of Versailles and the postwar settlement sowed the seeds of resentment and instability, particularly in Germany, contributing to the rise of Nazism and the outbreak of World War II
• The war's impact on art, literature, and culture was profound, with the "Lost Generation" of writers and artists reflecting on the horrors and disillusionment of the conflict
  • Works such as Erich Maria Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" and Wilfred Owen's poetry captured the experiences of soldiers and the futility of war
• The war led to significant social and political changes, including the expansion of women's rights, the rise of socialism and communism, and the redrawing of national boundaries
• The remembrance of World War I, through memorials, ceremonies, and artistic works, continues to shape our understanding of the conflict and its lasting impact on the world
  • The poppy has become an international symbol of remembrance for those who died in the war
• The lessons learned from the war, such as the importance of diplomacy and the dangers of unchecked nationalism, continue to inform international relations and efforts to maintain peace