WW1: 1914 - 1918 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Causes
Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Other factors
Causes: the “M”
MILITARISM
- military power seen as symbol of international prestige
- glorification of war
- arms race bw powers
- influential MILITARY leaders, weak POLITICAL leaders
- Russia mobilizes troops, spurs Germany to attack Britain/France
Causes: the “A”
ALLIANCES
- Russian agreements with small Slavic nations
- Triple Entente (Allied) vs. Triple Alliance (Central
- domino effect: alliances pull everyone down
Triple Entente
France
Great Britain
Russia
Triple Alliance
Germany
Italy
Austria-Hungary
Causes: the “I”
IMPERIALISM
- British concern with German growth/desire for colonies
- -desire to contain Germany/territorial claims in Africa
- Fight for global dominance in industry
- resources/trade routes in Med.
- Economic rivalries bw British/Germans/French
Causes: the “N”
NATIONALISM
- French want revenge on Germany due to loss in war (1800s)
- France wants Alsace/Lorraine back from Germany
- Pan-slovism in Eastern Europe
- German pride in military/industrialization
- competition bw ethnic groups (struggle in Turkey)
Causes: other factors
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria-Hungary) by Serbian nationalist in June of 1914
- Strategic location of Balkans
- Russia falls apart by Russian Revolution
- Zimmerman Telegram brings US to war
Response to Assassination
Germany gives Russia/France ultimatum to stop mobilization and declare neutrality
Germany declares war
On Russia - August 1, 1914
On France - August 3, 1914
Advantages to Triple Entente
Britain = best navy
US as trading power
lots of colonies
Disadvantages to Triple Entente
divided/can’t communicate
German U-boats = huge threat to British navy
Russia lacks weapons
Advantages to Triple Alliance
intensely industrialized
troops from AH
strong military power from Germany
Disadvantages to Triple Alliance
two fronts: Russia east, France/Britain west
cut off from colonies
Italy switches sides
Balkans
Between Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian empire
- rich in natural resources
- ethnic nationalism instead of political nationalism –> instability
Practices of War
“Total War”
- fight on land, sea, sky
- wear down the enemy with war of attrition (not trying to gain territory)
- trenches (machine guns, tanks, chemical weapons)
- total mobilization of population
Lusitania
May 7, 1915
German u-boats sunk American cargo ship, causing Germany to suspend unrestricted sub warfare
Zimmerman Telegram
January 1917
released to America by Britain in March, causing Wilson to visit Congress
America declares war
April 1917
provide 12 million men, but can’t fight til end of 1917
Wilson’s 14 Points
- No more secret agreements
- free navigation of all seas
- end to economic barriers
- countries to reduce weapon numbers
- decisions regarding colonies should be impartial
6-13. deals with specific nations - League of Nations
Verdun
?
Somme
June-November 1916 Britain vs. Germany
- DONT HAVE WEAPONS so bomb G’s and thought all dead
- G’s hid, surprise attack on B’s when they come to investigate
- overall massacre
Passchendale
July-November
- rain –> mud, drowning
- tanks/planes don’t work
Schlieffen Plan
German plan to attack France and take over, then on to Russia to avoid a 2 front war
- supposed to take 6 weeks
- lost time in Belgium bc they resisted
- gave time for Russia to mobilize
