World War I Beginnings

Causes and Conditions

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Twenty- Four Hours on the Western Front pg 377

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Alliances Set Up Disaster

Triple Alliance Germany Austria-Hungary Russia Italy (later)

Germany wanted to try and make sure France did not have allies

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Dismisses Bismarck Very effective politician Did not want to share power/ prestige with anyone

Decides that Britain is a threat Naval build-up Forces Britain into an alliance of their own

Triple Entente

Britain, France, Russia How can Russia be in both

Britain sees German buildup as threat and wants to ensure defense

Powder Keg of Europe

BalkansHistory of Ethnic uprisings and disputesOttoman Empire Collapsing

New Countries being formed around nationalistic uprisings

Serbia and the Slavs

Large Slav population Hopes to unite all Slavs including those in Austria-Hungary

Russia supported Slavic independence (Triple Entente)Austria felt threatened by it (Triple Alliance)

Fight for Territory and Nations

Ottoman decline leaves power vacuum in the Balkan region Austria annexes Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908

Because they were backed by Germany, Russia and Serbia could not fight back

Serbia slowly gains strength and continues to seek to unite all Slavs including those in Bosnia and Herzegovina

KABOOM

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Heir to Austro-Hungarian Throne Travels to Sarajevo Assassinated by The Black Hand

The Black Hand

Union and Death Sole purpose to eliminate Austrian influence in the region Selects their assassins to attempt to kill the Heir Serbian Government is aware of the plot

Assassination Dilemma

Prime Minister must make a decisionIf the attempt is successful the links to the Serbian government could be discovered and an all out war declaredIf he warns the Austrians he will be seen as a traitor by his countrymen AND admitting that he was aware there were anti-Austrian movements in the country

The Decision

Weak attempt to stop the assassins at the boarder failedPurposefully vague diplomatic warning that did not specifically implicate the Black Hand"Some young Serb might put a live rather than a blank cartridge in his gun and fire it."

The Plan

Seven Men 4 pistols 6 bombs

The Aftermath

Assassin a Serbian LETS PUNISH SERBIA

Germany looking for an excuse Gives Austria its complete backing

Austria delivers an ultimatum to the Serbian Government

Stop all Anti-Austrian activity Allow for Austrian officials to investigate assassination

I DO BELIEVE THIS MEANS WAR!

Serbia sends a counter offer but Austria not willing to considerWar declared on July 28th 1914

Russia is Serbia's ally Mobilizes troops that day to the Austrian border

Ummm…. pssst guys this could be bad… can’t we please play nice?

Alliances Backfire

Once war was declared there was no backing out of the secret alliances and one after another the countries of Europe were drawn in

The War to End All Wars

First Modern WarTechnological AdvancesBrutality Total War