World War I Origins

World War I Origins

• The Franco-German war between the French Empire and the Confederation of North Germany led to the formation of the German Empire in 1871.
• Alsace and Moselle were annexed to the German Empire, leading to frustration from the French side.

The Rise of Germany

• Germany advanced its industry and economy, and formed alliances with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy.
• Germany began colonizing African territories, leading to the formation of the Triple Alliance.
• The British Empire feared the rise of the German army and navy, and formed alliances with France and Russia, creating the Triple Entente.

The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• A young Serbian nationalist from Bosnia murdered the heir to the throne of Austria and his wife in Sarajevo on June 29, 1914.
• Austria-Hungary accused Serbia of organizing the attack and declared war, leading to a spread of conflict between the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance.

The War Begins

• Germany invaded Luxembourg and Belgium, violating their neutrality, and the French, British, and Belgian armies were forced to retreat.
• The German army turned away from Paris to surround the French army, but were attacked on the flanks and forced to retreat.

The Stalemate and New Fronts

• The war frontlines stabilized, with 700 km of trenches stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland.
• Germany sent troops to the east to fight against a Russian offensive, and the Ottoman Empire decided to support Germany.
• New fronts opened in the Caucasus, Sinai, and Kuwait, with Britain supporting an Arab rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.

Global Involvement

• Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, and Japan went to war against Germany, seizing its colonies in the Pacific and China.
• French, British, and Belgian forces stormed German colonies in Africa.
• Many people from colonized territories were enlisted in European armies, with France mobilizing nearly 800,000 people and the British Empire enlisting 2.7 million men.

Military Innovations

• Germany became the first to organize aerial bombardments, and the air force was used for tracking and reconnaissance, with the first aerial battles.
• Germany launched submarine wars in British territorial waters, sinking ships.
• Both sides used toxic gases, causing many casualties.

The Turning Point and the End of the War

• The United States of America entered the war alongside the Allies after suffering from the commercial blockade in the Atlantic.
• Russia suffered over 1.7 million military casualties, and a revolution led to the signing of a ceasefire with the Central Empires.
• Germany concentrated its troops on the west and succeeded in a breakthrough, but the French army counterattacked and disintegrated German defenses.
• The German army retreated, and the Allies led on all fronts, leading to the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

The Aftermath

• The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, with Germany and its allies held solely responsible for war damages.
• Germany was forced to accept all demands of the victors, pay heavy compensation, and cede roughly 15 percent of its territory to France, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland.
• The humiliation imposed upon Germany left it with a desire for revenge.

World War I Origins

• Franco-German war led to the formation of the German Empire in 1871, causing France to lose Alsace and Moselle.
• The annexation of Alsace and Moselle led to frustration from the French side.

The Rise of Germany

• Germany advanced its industry and economy, forming alliances with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italy.
• Germany's colonization of African territories led to the formation of the Triple Alliance.
• Britain feared Germany's rising army and navy, forming alliances with France and Russia, creating the Triple Entente.

The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• On June 29, 1914, a young Serbian nationalist from Bosnia killed the heir to the throne of Austria and his wife in Sarajevo.
• Austria-Hungary accused Serbia of organizing the attack and declared war.

The War Begins

• Germany invaded Luxembourg and Belgium, violating their neutrality, leading to a retreat of French, British, and Belgian armies.
• Germany's army turned away from Paris to surround the French army, but was attacked on the flanks and forced to retreat.

The Stalemate and New Fronts

• The war frontlines stabilized, with 700 km of trenches stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland.
• Germany sent troops to the east to fight against a Russian offensive, and the Ottoman Empire supported Germany.
• New fronts opened in the Caucasus, Sinai, and Kuwait, with Britain supporting an Arab rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.

Global Involvement

• Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, and Japan went to war against Germany, seizing its colonies in the Pacific and China.
• French, British, and Belgian forces stormed German colonies in Africa.
• Over 800,000 people from colonized territories were enlisted in European armies, including nearly 800,000 in France and 2.7 million in the British Empire.

Military Innovations

• Germany organized the first aerial bombardments, and air forces were used for tracking and reconnaissance.
• Germany launched submarine wars in British territorial waters, sinking ships.
• Both sides used toxic gases, causing many casualties.

The Turning Point and the End of the War

• The United States entered the war alongside the Allies after suffering from the commercial blockade in the Atlantic.
• Russia suffered over 1.7 million military casualties, leading to a revolution and a ceasefire with the Central Empires.
• Germany concentrated its troops on the west and succeeded in a breakthrough, but the French army counterattacked and disintegrated German defenses.
• The German army retreated, and the Allies led on all fronts, leading to the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

The Aftermath

• The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, holding Germany and its allies solely responsible for war damages.
• Germany was forced to accept all demands of the victors, pay heavy compensation, and cede roughly 15 percent of its territory to France, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland.
• The Treaty of Versailles left Germany with a desire for revenge.