Pre-WW1 Europe: Britain, Germany, France

Overview of Pre-WW1 Europe

• Imperialism and industrialization heightened tensions among European powers.
• This led to conflicts over land and resources.
• Major powers possessed individual ambitions and rivalries.
• These contributed to the instability preceding World War I.

Britain - "The Boss"

• Adopted a policy of Splendid Isolation.
• Britain focused on empire maintenance instead of European conflict interference.
• The strongest navy and a booming economy made Britain the envy of Europe.
• King George V was the monarch.

Germany - "The Envious Rival"

• Otto von Bismarck unified Germany.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II subsequently took power
• Germany resented Britain due to the perceived blockage of German expansion.
• Germany had a powerful army and economy.
• Germany lacked overseas colonies.

France - "The Revenge Seeker"

• France was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War from 1870-1871.
• Germany gained Alsace & Lorraine from this defeat.
• France deeply resented Germany, seeing war as unavoidable.
• Raymond Poincaré served as the President.

Russia - "The Raw Muscles"

• Russia desired greater status in Europe through military power.
• Russia supported Slavic nations like Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania against Austria-Hungary.
• Czar Nicholas II was the leader.

Austria-Hungary - "The Instigator"

• The empire had significant ethnic tensions.
• Many nationalities within the empire wanted independence.
• Austria-Hungary feared internal rebellion; looked to Germany for support.
• Franz Joseph was the leader.

Key Takeaways from Pre-WW1 Tensions

• Imperialism and industrialization fueled competition among European powers.
• France sought revenge, Germany sought power, and Britain desired isolation.
• Russia pursued military dominance.
• Austria-Hungary was fearful of internal collapse.
• These tensions collectively made war seem almost unavoidable.

Causes of World War I - MANIA

• MANIA = Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism
• A = Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

M - Militarism (Long-term Cause)

• Nations glorified military power leading to large standing armies.
• An arms race emerged related to military technology which increased tensions.
• Defense expenditures (1910-1914):
  • France increased by 10%.
  • Britain increased by 13%.
  • Russia increased by 39%.
  • Germany increased by 73%.

A - Alliances (Long-term Cause)

• Nations entered secret treaties promising mutual defense.
• By 1907, two major alliances formed.

The Triple Alliance (Central Powers)

• Germany's leader was Kaiser Wilhelm II.
• Austria-Hungary's leader was Franz Joseph I.
• Italy's leader was Vittorio Orlando.
• The Ottoman Empire was also included.

Triple Entente (Allied Powers)

• Russia's leader was Czar Nicholas II.
• France's leader was Raymond Poincaré.
• Britain's leader was David Lloyd George.

Final Sides in WW1

• Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
• Allied Powers included Britain, France, Russia, USA, Italy, Serbia, and Belgium.

N - Nationalism (Long-term Cause)

• Extreme pride and patriotism was present in each country.
• Nationalism created international tensions and competition related to land, trade, and power.
• France vs. Germany over Alsace-Lorraine is one example.

I - Imperialism (Long-term Cause)

• Competition for colonies led to conflicts & rivalries.
• The Industrial Revolution increased the need for land/resources.
• Major European Colonies:
  • France colonized Vietnam and parts of Africa.
  • Britain colonized parts of Africa, Australia, India, Canada, and Hong Kong.
  • Germany colonized parts of Africa and Asia.

A - Assassination (Short-term Cause)

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in June 1914.
• Princip was a Serbian nationalist.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia which triggered the alliance system leading to WW1.

Summary of Causes

• MANI represents the long-term causes: Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, and Imperialism.
• A represents the short-term cause
• The short term cause was the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Rivalries, arms races, secret alliances, and colonial competition made war inevitable.

The Point of No Return

• This refers to the chain reaction leading to WW1
• Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the assassination; declares war.
• Germany pledges support for Austria-Hungary.
• Russia pledges support for Serbia.
• Germany declares war on Russia for backing Serbia.
• France pledges support for Russia.
• Germany declares war on France
• Germany invades Belgium to reach France quickly.
• Britain supports Belgium and then declares war on Germany.
• WW1 begins as alliances pull nations into war.

Life in the Trenches

• WW1 Packs Included: Extra ammo, shovel, canteen, first aid kit, bread rations, bayonet, shaving kit, soap, towel, extra socks, foot powder, metal plates.
• Soldiers lived in trenches dug into the ground.
• Conditions were harsh: mud, rats, lice, and diseases were common.
• Trench foot was a serious condition caused by prolonged exposure to wet conditions.
• No Man’s Land was the dangerous area between enemy trenches.
• Soldiers faced boredom, constant danger, and psychological trauma.

Why Armies Couldn't Go Around Trenches

• Barbed Wire: Thick entanglements made it difficult to advance.
• Tanks: Helped cross trenches but were slow and unreliable.
• Planes: Primarily used for reconnaissance initially.

Weapons of World War I

• Machine Guns: Fired rapidly, making attacks deadly.
• Poison Gas: First used in the Second Battle of Ypres; caused blindness, suffocation.
• Tanks: Introduced in the Battle of the Somme to break through trenches.
• Artillery: Used for heavy bombardment, causing mass destruction.
• Airplanes: Used initially for reconnaissance, then bombing and dogfights.
• Submarines (U-boats): Germany used these to sink Allied ships.

Key Battles of World War I

• Battle #1: Second Battle of Ypres (April 1915), in Ypres, Belgium.
• French and Canadian troops defended against the first chlorine gas attack.
• Canadians used urine-soaked cloths as makeshift gas masks.
• Casualties: 6,036 out of 18,000 Canadians killed.
• Battle #2: The Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916), in France.
• British-led offensive, with Canadians playing a key role.
• The first tanks were used in this battle.
• The Newfoundland Regiment had 90% casualties at Beaumont-Hamel.
• First-day casualties: 57,470 which was the highest single-day loss in British military history.
• All casualties totaled 1.25 million with 24,000 Canadians.
• Battle #3: Vimy Ridge (April 1917), in France from April 9-12.
• Canadian forces were led by General Arthur Currie.
• They used innovative tactics such as creeping barrage and tunnels.
• All four Canadian divisions fought together for the first time.
• Vimy Ridge was captured, marking Canada’s greatest military achievement.
• Casualties: 10,600 Canadians (3,600 deaths and 7,000 wounded).
• Battle #4: Passchendaele (October-November 1917)
• After 3 months of failed British attempts, Canadians were tasked with taking Passchendaele.
• General Currie opposed this battle, knowing the plan was poor.
• The landscape was devastated due to destroyed drainage systems, flooded trenches, and deep mud.
• Canadians constructed kilometers of duckboards to move across the mud.
• Passchendaele was captured in just 3 weeks.
• Casualties: 16,000 Canadians with 4,000 killed.
• Germans reclaimed the area in the spring.
• This symbolized immense suffering and futility of war.

Life on the Home Front in Canada

• Robert Borden was the Prime Minister.
• He was elected in 1911, and led Canada through WWI.

Recruitment of Soldiers

• Men joined for reasons such as patriotism, adventure, duty, and economic security.
• The military offered steady pay of $1 per day.

Total War Effort

• Canadian society contributed to the war effort in its entirety.
  • Victory Gardens were made to ship extra food overseas to soldiers.
  • Rationing limited meat, butter, sugar, and bread.
  • Fundraisers occurred and communities raised money for war supplies.
  • Women in Factories produced weapons and supplies.
  • Care Packages were sent to soldiers on the front lines.
• Production of War Materials:
  • Only one munitions factory existed in 1914.
  • Over 600 munitions factories existed by 1918, employing 250,000 workers.
  • Joseph Flavelle led the Imperial Munitions Board to regulate war production.

Paying for the War

• The war cost $439 million, this is equivalent to over $11 billion today.
• Funded through:
• New Taxes such as personal and business income taxes were introduced.
• Victory Bonds were launched where Canadians lent money to the government with interest.

The War Measures Act

• This gave the government increased power during wartime.
• Censorship was imposed, enemy aliens were monitored, and police powers were expanded.

Enemy Aliens in Canada

• Immigrants from Germany and Austria-Hungary faced discrimination.
• Eighty-five hundred were placed in labor camps with harsh conditions.
• Homes and businesses were vandalized, and they faced job discrimination.

Conclusions

• WWI changed life both on the battlefield and at home.
• Canada gained a reputation as a formidable military force.
• The Allied victory saw great sacrifices from Canadian soldiers and civilians.
• The war’s immense cost in lives and resources deeply impacted Canadian society.