WW1 – The Great War

First Causes

Nationalism : loyalty to one’s country , huge widespread of nationality in Europe just before the war (one did not care of other countries, willing to take any action for the interests and promotion of their own country) Especially relevant in Bosnia, which was recently taken in control of

Austria, Bosnians wanted to be free from Austria and join Serbia; Austria not ready to let go

Alliances: created two mutual hostile camps in Europe  Germany and France were enemies both made alliance with other countries GERMANY with AUSTRIA-HUNGARY and ITALy called the TRIPLE ALLIANCE or CENTRAL POWERS & FRANCE with RUSSIA and BRITAN called the TRIPLE ALLIANCE

- Created suspicion and fear

Imperialism: cause of many disputes amongst great powers of Europe, competition for colonies led to frequent clashes among powers

Militarism: power of strong armies and navies to decide issues (if a nation was strong, no enemy would dare to attack)

- Ideology lead to arms race: each country produced larger and more deadly weapons than rivals to become most powerful in Europe

- Britain become nervous of Germany when they began building a big navy

- Countries were really suspicious of each other

Triggers of War

Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

28 June 1914: Serbian terrorist group the Black Hand members planned and killed archduke and archduchess Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo, first attempt with a bomb , the second successful attempt was done by two shots by Gavirlo Princip

Austria-Hungary ultimatum: Austria blamed Serbian government of the death, and tried to use is as an attempt to destroy all Serbian-Bosnian nationalism 3 demands1. Put down all nationalist hatred against Austria- Hungary2. Punish all those involved in the assaination plot3. Allow Austro-Hungary officials into Serbia to help crush Black Hand

Agreed all to last, AH took it as a full refusal and declared was against the Serbs

World War Begins

Russia as Serbia’s ally and France as Russia ally start mobilizing troops against AH

Germany feels threatened by neighbors and order them to stop mobilizing, they refuse and Germany declares war against Russia on Aug 1, 1914 and France on the 2nd

Germans plan to attack France through Belgium Britain was under agreement to protect and keep Belgium out of the war Belgium was invaded by the Germans and Britain declared war on them Canada officially in war with Britain

Canada in War 3000 regular army men were assisted by recruits, with sense of patriotisiim

and excitement, some because they didn’t not have another job in a week 10 000 people joined

General Hughes set up Valcartier training camp , issued with Ross rifle but turned into being insufficient in trench warfare and was critised for being antagonized against francophone , he leaves his position in 1916

Four Great Battles of WW1 (Canada)

Ypres (spring 1915): First time toxic gas was used Germans launched at French, Algerian and Can. Trenches After frenzy of panic, Canadian soldiers soaked their urine on

handkerchiefs and saved the line, Now both sides used deadly gases, after Ypres more effective gas mask

were developed

Somme (summer 1916) Largest battle of the war Can. Troops in British command First day Brit forces lost 57 000 , July 1rst @ Beaumont Hamel 90% of

NFL Royal regiment Lost Kept forcing soldiers over trench, to get killed by machine guns

Vimy Ridge (spring 1917) Battle transformed the Canadian forces “image” 1rst time all 4 Can forces fought together , commanded by Arthur Currie Greatest victory because was tried by the Brits and French, but

Canadians only ones to do successfully Currie strategized , made through preparations , made full scale model

and practiced maneuvers The attack was well prepared

Passchendaele Currie was promoted, and General Haig called him up to capture

Passchendaele Belgium area, which was once beneath the sea Very waterlogged, soggy, muddy wet area Very hard to move through the mud It was a bitter victory , got soon lost later back to the Germans

16 000 died, looked as a disaster

War @ Sea 1914 GB had largest fleet in the world but Germany was building enough t

threaten the Brits The submarine was invented, threatening Brit shipping, the Germans wanted

to set up a naval blockade; began sink all ships 1915, German sub sunk the Lusitania – an unarmed Brit luxury linear which

was crossing the Atlantic with 2000 passengers 1198 ppl died including some Americans

Provoked American emotions Sub was most feared German weapon Brits developed the convoy system – where anti torpedo boat escorted supply

ships to England Largest battle between fleets took place @ Jutland on the Danish coastline in

May 1916, 149 Brit battleships meet 99 German ones GB suffered more loses, but still won; this was the last naval battle

War in the Skies Airplanes very still primitive and unreliable First used for observation and reconnaissance but war progressed and used

as bombing devices GERMANY : 400 FRANCE : 156 and GB: 113 Most famous: Billy Bishops Among 7 best pilots of Britain 4 were Canadian

Last 100 Days 1918 German realizes that unrestricted submarine warfare did not help

situation but made it worse US has now entered the war German, Austria Hungary and Turkey all at point of collapse German tried to attack before American reinforcements arrive Germans poured into France, stopped in 80km from Paris On Aug 8th Can troops spearheaded the Allied attack with help with the new

American arrivals Slowly but surely Germans began to retreat, they won back France and

Belgium 11 Nov 1918 Germans formally surrendered

Home front Suffragist rose: a group of woman organized a movement to improve the lot

of women in Canada as regards to the right to vote (Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy)

Wartime Election Act: established in 1917 this law gave the right to vote to some woman – those who were a mother, sister or wife of the soldier in the armed forces

Dominion Election Act : established in 1920, this law accorded the right to vote and run for elections to most woman in Canada

Elections Act and rights given to woman to support conscription Conscription passes military service bill which made all able body men serve

in the arm forces

Francphones, farmers and Irish Canadians felt ignored and were against conscription

Union government: political alliance between the Conservative + some liberals who wanted conscription

After bitter campaign in 1917 Borden was reelected w/ only 3 seats in Québec

Versailles Treaty Restricted German army and navy Loss a lot of territories (the Germans) They were to accept all guilt of WW1 They were to pay reparations: must pay for all the damages

Impact on Canadai. National prideii. National independenceiii. International prestigeiv. Ethnic rupture (Anglophones, and francophone) due to conscriptionv. Economic boomvi. Greater independence for womanvii. Post war inflation and unemployment