History WWI Study Guide
Trench Warfare
-A form of warfare in which opposing armies fight each other from trenches dug in the battlefield. -This was a technique used throughout the war in which trenches were dug by each side. Soldiers would stay in the trenches and fire their weapons into the field (no man's land) between the two sides. In many cases this caused a stalemate as no one wanted to venture into the land between the two sides (they would be like sitting ducks, easy targets). This type of warfare became the main form of warfare on the Western Front. It was only really used during World War I.
The Berlin Conference
-A meeting from 1884-1885 at which representatives of European nations agreed on rules for the colonization of Africa -Meeting where Europeans agreed on set rules for colonizing Africa -this was significant because Imperialism is one of the four long term causes of WWI
Pan-Slavism
-A movement to promote the independence of Slav people. Roughly started with the Congress in Prague; supported by Russia. Led to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. -a movement to create a nation state of Slavic people -The belief (held by Russia) that they were the protectors of the Slavic people (the Slavs). Directly prior to World War I, Serbia was threatened by Austria-Hungary. Serbia was a Slavic country, meaning that Russia saw it as their duty to protect it. As Russia had announced themselves as protectors of the Slavs, they saw it as their duty to ally with Serbia and protect it from Austria-Hungary. This was one of the short-term causes for World War I.
Absolutism
-A political system in which a ruler holds total power. -the political doctrine and practice of unlimited centralized authority and absolute sovereignty, as vested especially in a monarch or dictator. The essence of an absolutist system is that the ruling power is not subject to regularized challenge or check by any other agency. -During the 1700's the Hohenzollern Monarchy established Prussia as a leading power in Europe by ruling it as an absolute monarchy. The Hohenzollern Monarchy held power of Prussia and present-day Germany up until the end of WWI in 1918 when the last Hohenzollern monarch, Kaiser Wilhelm II (William) was forced to abdicate (step down) because of his role in starting WWI.
Fourteen Points
-A series of proposals in which U.S. president Woodrow Wilson outlined a plan for achieving a lasting peace after World War I. Rejected by almost everyone. -I. That when countries talked about peace and treaties, those discussions should be public. Everyone from other leaders to the common people should be able to hear the talks. II. Seas are free, and can belong to no nation. III. To remove all economic barriers and promote free trade between all nations. IV. All countries agree to reduce their weapons of war. Countries should only keep enough weapons to protect their people. V. That a fair and impartial party would look at all colonial claims. VI. Russia would be free. The Russian people would be free to develop their own form of government. VII. Belgium, which Germany had invaded, should be given back to the Belgian people. VII. All French territory taken by Germany should be given back to the French people. The land that France and Germany would share the land that both claimed in a way that benefitted the countries and the people living in the area. IX. The Italian people can live within established borders of Italy as they choose. X. The people of Austria-Hungary shall have the right to create their own country and government. XI. The people of the Balkan States shall have the right to create their own country and government. XII. The people who live in Turkey shall have the right to create their own country and government. Their laws must protect the rights of all people who live within their borders. XIII. The people of Poland shall have the right to create their own government and live in their own country. Their country will have its own deep water port. XIV. The world will create a League of Nations. Representatives to the League of Nations will come from every country. This league will deal with disputes between nations so that no country will ever have a reason to go to war. 1. Open diplomacy without secret treaties 2. Economic free trade on the seas during war and peace 3. Equal trade conditions 4. Decrease armaments among all nations 5. Adjust colonial claims 6. Evacuation of all Central Powers from Russia and allow it to define its own independence 7. Belgium to be evacuated and restored 8. Return of Alsace-Lorraine region and all French territories 9. Readjust Italian borders 10. Austria-Hungary to be provided an opportunity for self-determination 11. Redraw the borders of the Balkan region creating Romania, Serbia and Montenegro 12. Creation of a Turkish state with guaranteed free trade in the Dardanelles 13. Creation of an independent Polish state 14. Creation of the League of Nations
Reparations
-As part of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly lead to a severe depression in Germany. -payment for war damages and damages after a war -Germany was the one who was forced to take sole responsibility for the war -contributed to WWII when Germany refused to meet these demands (Germany had to pay a significantly high amount of money that they just finished paying for in 2010) and refused to take responsibility in the Treaty of Versailles
Schlieffen Plan
-Attack plan by Germans, proposed by Schlieffen, lightning quick attack against France. Proposed to go through Belgium then attack France, Belgium resisted, other countries took up their aid, long fight, used trench warfare. -this was extremely significant because this strategy allowed for Germany to make a move on France early in the war. However, it was deemed unsuccessful because Germany was unable to quickly defeat France and move on to Russia (which was the original purpose of the plan). -It was also significant because it led to Great Britain becoming involved in the war because they were not going to allow Germany to treat Belgium in that manner
Compare the Eastern Front and Western Front as theaters of war
-Geographically, the Eastern Front was much larger than the Western Front. It stretched from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. By contrast, the Western Front comprised just a few hundred miles. The larger size of the Eastern Front meant that trench warfare never developed to any substantial degree there. The Western Front was small enough to be entirely blocked off by trenches. As a result, fighting on the Western Front was much more static than in the East. The fighting in the West turned into a stalemate, where armies would fight viciously for very little strategic gain. -As a result of this difference, tactics were very different. The nature of the trenches on the Western Front meant that defensive tactics were more often employed. On the Eastern Front, the lack of defensive fortifications meant that offensives and counter-offensives were more often employed. -The nature of the nations on each front also played a difference. On the Eastern Front, Russia had a massive army. Even before the war began, Russia had a standing army larger than any of the other combative nations. However, Russia was plagued by internal strife. This led to the Russian revolution of 1917, which eventually led the country to sue for peace with Germany. The British and the French on the Western Front had to quickly raise their armies once the war started. This accounted for the initial successes of Germany in that region. France and Great Britain did not have the internal divisions that Russia had. Therefore, once they were able to deploy to the battlefield, they managed to put up an effective enough fight to wear down their enemy.
Armistice
-The agreement by both sides of a war to stop fighting for a period of time. -the war ended with an armistice, an agreement in which both sides agree to stop fighting, rather than a surrender. For both sides, an armistice was the fastest way to end the war's misery and carnage -the Germans had started making overtures about an armistice in early October. At first they tried to go through U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, fearing that the British and the French would insist upon harsh terms. But that end run didn't succeed. the Germans finally sent a radio message to Marshal Ferdinand Foch, commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, requesting permission to send a delegation through the lines to negotiate an armistice, and asked for a general cease-fire. Foch ignored the cease-fire request, but gave the Germans permission to come. There wasn't much of a negotiation. When the Germans asked if he had an Allied offer, Foch responded, "I have no proposals to make." His instructions from the Allied governments were to simply present an as-is deal. French General Maxime Weygand then read the terms that the Allies had decided upon to the Germans. In the agreement that was signed in June, vanquished Germany was forced to accept harsh terms, including paying reparations that eventually amounted to $37 billion. That humiliation and the lasting bitterness it engendered helped pave the way to another World War two decades later. The Allies wouldn't have given Germany better terms because they felt that they had to defeat Germany and Germany could not be allowed to get away with it," Cuthbertson said. "There's also a sense that an armistice has to ensure that the enemy are not strong enough to start the war again any time soon."
Why did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand lead to the start of hostilities?
-The assassination set off a rapid chain of events, as Austria-Hungary immediately blamed the Serbian government for the attack. As large and powerful Russia supported Serbia, Austria asked for assurances that Germany would step in on its side against Russia and its allies, including France and possibly Great Britain. On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the fragile peace between Europe's great powers collapsed, beginning the devastating conflict now known as the First World War. -Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by a member of the "Black Hand", a Serbian nationalist group. Archduke Ferdinand was next in line for the Austrian throne; it was a huge shock to his uncle Franz Joseph. Upon hearing of the assassination, Franz Joseph still did not want war; however, the government in Vienna did. Joseph was required to deliver the Serbians a harsh ultimatum in order to avoid war. The Serbians refused to meet all the demands; thus, Austria and Serbia would go to war. In 1914 Austria declared war, the Russians would quickly declared war on Germany after they agreed to help Austria with all of the supplies and soldiers that they needed. Thus, the tangle of alliances started to take hold, bringing many countries into a fight they otherwise would have avoided.
Why did the government of Tsar Nicholas II collapse in February and March 1917? How did the war help bring about revolution in Russia?
-The government of Tsar Nicholas II collapsed because a revolution took place where citizens rioted and demanded several resources and necessities such as food -Economically, widespread inflation and food shortages in Russia contributed to the revolution. -Militarily, inadequate supplies, logistics, and weaponry led to heavy losses that the Russians suffered during World War I; this further weakened Russia's view of Nicholas II. -The government was too focused on the war, and the economic and social problems began to worsen. World War I had affected the Provisional Government negatively, inflation and hunger soared -significant because it led to the rise of the Soviet Union
Franco-Prussian War
-This was a major war between the French and the Germans in 1871 that brought about the unification of Germany. It was caused by Otto Von Bismarck altering a telegram from the Prussian King to provoke the French into attacking Prussia, thus hoping to get the independent German states to unify with Prussia (which they did, thus creating Germany). -The Franco-Prussian War was a war that was fought between Germany and France in 1870 resulted in Germany taking the French territories Alsace and Lorraine. This causes tension between Germany and France that lasted until World War I, and which impacted the amount of blame and anger that France held for Germany. -the Franco-Prussian War set the stage diplomatically for World War I. The nation state of Germany was officially born on 18 January 1871, amid the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors in occupied Versailles. A strong, powerful and confident nation had been created, upsetting the balance of power in Europe. The Treaty of Frankfurt, which ended the war on 10 May 1871, took most of Alsace and parts of Lorraine from the French and gave them to the Germans. This, together with the sting of defeat, stirred French resentment and ensured tension between the two nations. It was that tension which turned a Balkan conflict from a war in eastern Europe into one that engulfed the whole continent.
Blank Check
-This was given to Austria-Hungary by Germany, and gave them the money to do whatever they pleased in order to punish Serbia. Austria-Hungary wanted to go to war with Serbia, but before doing so allied with Germany who gave them the money that they needed. -The "blank check" is an infamous episode in the history of the First World War; the first truly fatal error made by Germany - a promise of unconditional support for whatever action Austria-Hungary might take to punish Serbia. -The "blank check" of July 5 was above all an act of negligence by Germany, in part because it failed to address important details like the timing of all subsequent moves. Berlin expected Vienna to take swift action against Serbia while the Sarajevo murders were still fresh, delivering a sudden fait accompli to the Triple Entente and thus (maybe) decreasing the chances of a wider war. What they got instead were the classic Austrian traits that always drove the efficient Prussians crazy: indecision, prevarication, and delay.
Treaty of Versailles
-Treaty that ended WW I. It blamed Germany for WW I and handed down harsh punishment. -The Treaty of Versailles, signed in June 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in Paris at the end of World War I, codified peace terms between the victorious Allies and Germany. The Treaty of Versailles held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties in terms of loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization. Far from the "peace without victory" that U.S. President Woodrow Wilson had outlined in his famous Fourteen Points in early 1918, the Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany while failing to resolve the underlying issues that had led to war in the first place. Economic distress and resentment of the treaty within Germany helped fuel the ultra-nationalist sentiment that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party, as well as the coming of a World War II just two decades later.
War of Attrition
-a prolonged war or period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear out the other by a series of small-scale actions. -This is a type of war that occurs when the goal of both sides is to wear the other down. Both sides of the war are losers in this case as both have high amounts of casualties. World War I was a war of attrition because the goal of both sides was to wear each other down so that they would surrender and give up. It was mainly about who lost more soldiers as opposed to more tactical approaches. Because of this, World War I had very, very high casualty rates and massive amounts of death. (this was why WWI was so long with every country struggling to make ends meet during combat)
Zimmerman Telegram
-a telegram Germany sent to Mexico to convince Mexico to attack the US, in return they would receive help in getting back territories lost in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, etc back to Mexico -The Zimmerman Telegram was a telegram that was sent from Germany to Mexico asking Mexico to fight the United States along its southern border. This was done so that Mexico would distract the United States so that Germany could take care of its adversaries in Europe. Mexico was to retake all of the territory that it lost in the Mexican-American war. Germany promised to ally with Mexico and help them rebuild following World War I. Britain took note of this message and told the United States about Germany's plan, and it became one of the three main reasons that the United States joined World War I.
League of Nations
-an international organization formed in 1920 to promote cooperation and peace among nations -The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded on 10 January 1920 as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace.[1] Its primary goals included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. When US president Wilson evaluated the war that had devastated Europe he undertook measures to ensure that war would never happen again. Wilson proposed setting up the league of nations as an international body whose sole purpose was to maintain world peace. 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. However, the league had its own weaknesses as listed below. -America refused to join the league, preferring to maintain its isolationist policy and not be too involved with matters in Europe -Germany was not allowed to join the league as punishment for starting the war. Russia was not allowed to join either because of the rise of the communist government causing fear in Western Europe.
Russo-Japanese War
-conflict between Russia and Japan, sparked by the two countries' efforts to dominate Manchuria and Korea -(1904-1905) War between Russia and Japan over imperial possessions. Japan emerges victorious.
Ultimatum
-final set of demands -An ultimatum is a statement in which a demand is made and two series of events may occur: one, the demand is met or two the demand is not met. In the case of World War I, an ultimatum led to the start of the fighting and the declaration of war. An ultimatum can be seen as a threat. (For example, Austria-Hungary gave Serbia an ultimatum: meet our demands or else we will declare war). As Serbia could not meet the demands of Austria-Hungary, Austria-Hungary declared war.
Was the entry of the United States into World War I inevitable? Or was it a consequence of unforeseen factors?
-the entry of the US into WWI was inevitable because the country was eventually going to be attacked or negatively impacted by this global war in one way or another. -Germany sinking the Lusitania contributed to the US involvement in WWI -another important factor to note is that the entry of the US into WWI was inevitable because the US played a significant role in trade and contributing mass amounts of supplies for other countries to use in the war (this was important as many countries were running very low on supplies, therefore these supplies can drastically change the outcome of the war) -it was also inevitable because it can be assumed that Germany would eventually make a plan that would negatively impact the US in the war, as seen with the Zimmerman Telegram
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
-treaty between Russia and Germany that would end Russia's involvement in WWI in 1917 -Treaty in which Russia lost substantial territory to the Germans. This ended Russian participation in the war (1918). (Russian withdrawal from WWI) -this was significant in that Russia was no longer present as the "protector" of the Slavs -this was also extremely significant because it contributed to the mass expansion of the German Empire, as Russia was forced to give up territories, resources, and men -it also allowed Germany to focus solely on the Western Front
Compare and Contrast the British, French, and German Empires at the beginning of the 20th century.
Comparisons: Each of these three empires held some degree of power at the beginning of the 20th century (although France had less power than Britain and Germany). There was some degree of industrialization in each (particularly in Britain and Germany, though France had fallen slightly behind). Each was wary of the countries around them and had tensions between other countries (Britain was wary of conflict beginning between the other countries, France was angered by Germany as it had taken Alsace and Lorraine, and Germany saw an enemy in everyone). Britain: - Was a fully urbanized and industrialized nation - Landed aristocracy socially dominant - Wealthiest power in the world, but more vulnerable than had ever been - Dependent on trade for wealth, foodstuffs, - Royal navy held country together and ensured the country was fed - Concerned that conflict would break out among neighboring countries France: - Lagged behind in economic development - Revolution had destroyed the three main pillars of French society (monarchy, noblesse, and Church) - Peasants had lands, unwilling to industrialize - Wealthy and culturally dominant, but domestic politics highly volatile Germany: - Most dynamic economy in Europe with a regime that had hardly emerged from Feudalism - Population= agrarian conservatives, industrialists, Bavarian Roman Catholic farmers, and industrial working class - Militarism very important in German society - Pioneering new Industrial Revolution based on chemicals and electricity
Using evidence and referring to specific battles or events, explain which three weapons had the greatest impact on the battlefields of the Western Front.
Machine guns The machine-gun was one of the deadliest weapons of the Western Front, causing thousands of casualties. It was a relatively new weapon at the start of the war, but British and German forces soon realized its potential as a killing machine, especially when fired from a fixed defensive position. The Vickers machine-gun (above) was famed for its reliability and could fire over 600 rounds per minute and had a range of 4,500 yards. With proper handling, it could sustain a rate of fire for hours. This was providing that a necessary supply of belted ammunition, spare barrels and cooling water was available. When there was no water to hand, soldiers would urinate in the water jacket to keep the gun cool! Artillery Artillery was the most destructive weapon on the Western Front. Guns could rain down high explosive shells, shrapnel and poison gas on the enemy and heavy fire could destroy troop concentrations, wire, and fortified positions. Artillery was often the key to successful operations. At the start of the war the British bombarded the enemy before sending infantry over the top, but this tactic became less effective as the war progressed. Before the Battle of the Somme (1916) the Germans retreated into their concrete dugouts during the artillery barrage, emerging when they heard the guns stop. Later in the war, the British used artillery in a defensive way, rather than obliterate enemy positions. The army developed tactics like the creeping barrage, which saw troops advance across no-man's-land behind the safety of a line of shell fire. They also made the most of new technologies like aircraft, sound ranging and flash spotting to locate and neutralize enemy artillery. Gas The Germans first used gas against the French during the capture of Neuve Chapelle in October 1914 when they fired shells containing a chemical irritant that caused violent fits of sneezing. In March 1915 they used a form of tear gas against the French at Nieuport. These early experiments were a small taste of things to come. As the war progressed all sides developed ever more lethal gases including chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas.
How did naval power and the war on the seas shape the course of World War I?
Naval power and the war on the seas was very important to World War I. To begin with, Britain's main source of defense was the Royal Navy, which created a blockade that prevented Germany from getting all of the supplies that it needed. During the war, submarines were introduced which gave an advantage to Germany. Although the actual battles fought at sea during World War I were not very impactful, key events (such as the sinking of the Lusitania) were quite impactful. The sinking of the Lusitania was one of the reasons that the United States was prompted into joining the war (along with Germany's use of unrestricted submarine warfare, which the United States was against). The real impact that naval power had on World War I came in the form of impacting trade. Germany was unable to get the supplies that it needed for its people (mainly because of the British blockade and the British turning the seas into a war ground/restricted territory for Germans). This in turn caused morale to fall in Germany and ultimately led to Germany surrendering.
How did World War I affect the social, political, and economic status of women?
Social: -women increased in social status -women were given more free reign and choice in the household as all the men left to go fight in the war Political: -movements toward women gaining the right to vote in Britain, Canada, Germany, Poland and more Economic: -women increased in status by working regular jobs at factories/industrial jobs while all the men were gone fighting in the war (manufacturing jobs) -women were expected to complete the job that was previously belonging to men, and it led to this shift in roles due to WWI -women replaced the men who left to go fight in the war in terms of jobs in manufacturing, nursing, etc -women replaced men in employment
Compare and contrast the objectives and approaches of the 'Big Three' (Wilson, Lloyd George and Clemenceau) at the Paris peace talks.
The conference was initially intended to work as a preliminary meeting for the Big Three to decide on their terms in preparation for an official peace conference with Germany later on. However, this meeting quickly became the official forum where final decisions were made. The Big Three had different ideas about what the terms of the treaty should be, and this caused problems. Wilson's aims: -to end war by creating a League of Nations based on his Fourteen Points -to ensure Germany was not destroyed -not to blame Germany for the war - he hated the Guilt Clause Clemenceau's aims: -to punish Germany and seek revenge -to return Alsace-Lorraine to France -no League of Nations -an independent Rhineland -huge reparations -to disband the German army so that Germany would never be strong enough to attack France again Lloyd George's aims: -a 'just' peace that would be tough enough to please the electors who wanted to 'make Germany pay', but would leave Germany strong enough to trade land for Britain's empire -to safeguard Britain's naval supremacy
Triple Alliance
This was a military alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (Italy was included in 1882). The agreement between the countries stated that they would support each other if one was attacked by France or Russia. It was renewed in five year intervals. This was important because it helped to set up the alliances that were formed during World War I. Germany and Austria-Hungary were allies (the first on their side) during World War I, and Italy did not get involved until later (and heavily considered entering on the side of Germany).
Triple Entente
This was an informal understanding between Britain, France, and Russia (created in 1907) that they were allies. This set up the other side of the alliances in World War I, those that were against Germany and Austria-Hungary. These alliances between countries were a long term cause of World War I (this alliance in particular proved that Germany's fears that the three powerful countries would become allies against them had a basis).
Explain why trench warfare became the dominant form of warfare on the Western Front.
Trench warfare became the dominant form of warfare on the Western Front because Germany's defensive was so vast. Germany planned on attacking France quickly and with a lot of force, and as France did not have a quickly growing population and had a smaller army, it needed a way to hold off the wall that was Germany's attack. They resorted to trench warfare which created a line of defense that allowed them to hold Germany back. This method continued, causing a stalemate between Germany and the West. The Western Front adopted this technique as a way of holding back the German army (the technique was adopted by France, Britain, etc.).
Explain the four long term causes of WWI.
Militarism: Definition: The glorification of one's military. Also the belief of a nation or its people to build and maintain a strong military, with the intention to use it whenever it is felt necessary. Long/Short: Militarism was a long-term cause of the war; due to the length of time it takes a country to build its military to the strength necessary to wage a major war. Specifics: Germany---Stemming from the invasion of German-speaking peoples lands near the Rhine River by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco-Prussian War, Otto von Bismarck made it his goal to keep the unified German State prepared to defend itself against France. He felt that it was necessary to keep France isolated and weak at all cost. France---Understanding that Germany was building a large military, saw it as a necessity to in turn build a large military to protect themselves against the Germans. Thus, these two nations were building massive military strength to use against each other. The Germans were also threatening the British by building a large Navy, making the British feel insecure about their place amongst the world's elite navies for the first time in nearly a hundred years. Thus, the British would have to respond to this growing threat as well, by building a larger navy. Though these were not the only countries building and perfecting their arsenal, they were the most significant prior to the outbreak of WWI. It does not take long for these countries to find a reason to use their militaries against each other in an attempt to prove who is superior. Alliances: Definition: An agreement between two or more countries to work together for the benefit of each country. Long/Short: Alliances are seen as a long-term cause of WWI. Due to the secret alliances created by between nations, it is inevitable that a disagreement between two nations will lead to the involvement of many nations, who have secretly agreed to help one another. These alliances take time to develop; thus, they are a long-term cause. Specifics: The two major alliances that developed prior to WWI were the Triple Entente (Allies) and the Triple Alliance (Central Powers). The Triple Entente consisted of Great Britain, France and Russia. This alliance was created in an effort to counter the Triple Alliance, which consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. At the beginning of the war, the Triple Alliance will become known as the Central Powers and will not include Italy. Italy finds that it is in their best interest to wait and see what unfolds during the war; thus, allowing them to further their growth as a nation. The Central Powers will eventually consist of Austro-Hungary (1914), the German Empire (1914), the Ottoman Empire (1914), and the Kingdom of Bulgaria (1915). The Triple Entente would become known as the Allied Powers and grow considerably, consisting of the Kingdom of Belgium, Kingdom of Serbia, the French Third Republic, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, the Kingdom of Italy, the Empire of Japan, the United States, the Portuguese Republic, the Kingdom of Romania, the Kingdom of Greece and many others who lent military and financial aid. Nationalism: Definition: Extreme pride in one's nations or state. Often seen by the use of flags, national anthems, and other signature items. Long/Short: Nationalism is a long-term cause of WWI. As many of the other causes, nationalism takes time to create. People are not born with the love of their country and land instilled within them; instead, they must learn to love it. This requires a longer period of time to complete; thus, it is a long-term cause. Specifics: Germany was extremely proud of the military power that they had become after the Franco-Prussian War. As a new unified nation after January of 1871, the Germans felt nearly unstoppable as a world power. The French on the other hand had been embarrassed by the Germans and found it necessary to regain their pride. These feelings of resentment led to the massive militarism between these two nations. Also with the growth of Pan-Slavism or the unification of all Slavic peoples, protected by Russia, the areas around Serbia became very unstable. The Serbians were prepared to create their own independent Slavic state supported by the Russians. This will lead to what we call the "Balkan Powder Keg" or an area in the Balkans that would only take a minor issue to explode into full on war. Imperialism: Definition: Domination by one country over another in terms of the political, economic, or cultural life of the dominated country or region. Long/Short: Imperialism also takes time to develop in terms of establishing the dominance needed to secure another nation/county. Therefore, imperialism is seen as a long-term cause of WWI. Specifics: Many nations from around the globe were competing for control of colonies in order to gain land, resources, and influence. Specifically, Germany was attempting to control lands in Africa, a place that Britain and France were already established. In 1905 and 1911 Germany was attempting to keep France from imposing a protectorate on Morocco. As a result, Britain and France became closer allies in the conflict against Germany. Britain and France quickly found that keeping Germany out of Africa, the Germans would not be able to build themselves into a threatening power.
Total War
-A conflict in which the participating countries devote all their resources to the war effort -A war that involves the complete mobilization of resources and people, affecting the lives of all citizens in the warring countries, even those remote from the battlefields. -this was significant in Germany and Russia because both countries invested all of their resources into the war. For Russia, this contributed to their decline, and for Germany, it led to several issues such as starving soldiers, harsh conditions and harsh winters, etc -Germany goes through tensions and has an internal conflict during WWI because the German citizens are upset with the government for forcing any able-bodied men to fight in the war. Germany ran out of volunteers for soldiers so they began to recruit and force everyone, which the citizens did not particularly enjoy
Why did the Schlieffen Plan fail in its objectives?
The Schlieffen Plan was the plan which called for a quick attack on France so that they could be eliminated as an enemy early on. This plan failed for two main reasons: Russia mobilizing much quicker than expected and the development of trench warfare. Germany expected that it would take Russia months to mobilize , when in reality it only took a couple of weeks. Russia was not a huge threat in terms of weaponry, however it was a threat because of its large population. The development of trench warfare caused a stalemate (as no one wanted to venture in to no man's land between the two sides). This meant that Germany was unable to quickly defeat France and move on to Russia (which was the original purpose of the plan).