World War 1 Causes and Events

Causes of WW1

• Long-term causes of WW1 include complex alliances, imperialism, nationalism, and militarism
• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist

Consequences of the Assassination

• Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which led to the declaration of war
• Russia mobilized its army in support of Serbia, prompting Germany to declare war on Russia and subsequently France
• Britain, bound by a treaty to defend Belgium, declared war on Germany after Germany invaded Belgium

The Schlieffen Plan

• The Schlieffen Plan was a German military strategy to avoid a two-front war by quickly defeating France and then focusing on Russia
• The plan failed due to Russian mobilization, French resistance, and British intervention

Life in the Trenches

• Soldiers in WW1 lived in trenches, which were dirty, cramped, and exposed to harsh weather conditions
• Trench warfare led to a stalemate, with soldiers on both sides dug in for years

The Battle of the Somme

• The Battle of the Somme was a disastrous British offensive on July 1, 1916, intended to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun
• The battle resulted in over 60,000 British casualties on the first day alone, with little territorial gain

Mistakes of the Battle of the Somme

• The British underestimated German defenses and overestimated the impact of artillery bombardment
• Insufficient reconnaissance, inadequate artillery support, and poor communication contributed to the disaster
• General Haig, the British commander, was criticized for his rigid tactics and failure to adapt to circumstances

General Haig and Responsibility

• General Douglas Haig was the British commander during the Battle of the Somme
• Haig was criticized for his role in the devastating losses during the battle, with some attributing the disaster to his strategic decisions

WW1 Weapons

• Weapons used in WW1 included machine guns, tanks, poison gas, and artillery
• Trench warfare led to the development of new technologies, such as flamethrowers and mortars

Assess your knowledge of the long-term causes of World War 1, including the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, the Schlieffen Plan, and major battles like the Battle of the Somme. Learn about life in the trenches and identify weapons from the war.