World War I Overview

World War I

• World War I began in 1914, and global peace dissolved rapidly
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, Bosnia, by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip
• Princip's actions triggered a chain reaction of events leading to war
• Serbia was blamed for the assassination and Austria-Hungary sent a harsh ultimatum
• The assassination sparked conflict, involving Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy (Triple Alliance), and France, Russia and the United Kingdom (Triple Entente)
• Germany initiated a two-front war against France and Russia, utilizing the Schlieffen Plan

The Great War

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand sparked World War I in Sarajevo, Bosnia, in 1914
• Nationalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina sought to end Austro-Hungarian rule
• Serbia was blamed and faced an ultimatum, leading to global conflict
• Germany backed Austria-Hungary with a "blank check" assurance of support

World War I Begins

• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
• Global peace between European powers disintegrated rapidly
• The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy
• The Triple Entente comprised France, Russia and the United Kingdom
• Germany used the Schlieffen Plan to fight a two-front war, invading France through neutral Belgium

First Battle of the Marne

• The First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 was a crucial engagement
• French and British forces faced the German army, preventing it from reaching Paris
• The battle marked a shift in the war's progress

The Eastern Front

• Russian forces attempted to seize German-held territory but were thwarted by German and Austrian forces
• Late August 1914's Battle of Tannenberg decisively halted the Russian offensive
• From 1914 to 1916, successive Russian offensives failed to breach German lines
• Russia experienced internal unrest, leading to the 1917 Russian Revolution and resulting withdrawal from the war

America Enters World War I

• The United States initially maintained neutrality under President Woodrow Wilson, resisting participation in the war
• In 1915, Germany declared the waters surrounding the British Isles a war zone, sparking subsequent U.S. vessel attacks by German U-boats
• Congress approved a $250 million in arms appropriations in 1917, preparing the US for war

Second Battle of the Marne

• July 15, 1918’s battle marked the last German offensive of the war
• This offensive was conducted in France, involving participation from 85,000 American troops and some British troops
• The Allied forces successfully repulsed the German assault

Treaty of Versailles

• Allied leaders intended to create a post-World War I global security system
• The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919
• The Treaty aimed to establish world peace to prevent another devastating war
• Casualties of World War I numbered close to 20 million soldiers and civilians

World War II

• World War II (1939-1945) involved more than 30 countries
• Estimated 70-85 million deaths resulted from the war
• Political and economic instability in Germany, fueled by lingering resentment from the Treaty of Versailles, facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP)

WWII Axis & Allies

• Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan
• Allied Powers: United States, Soviet Union, Britain, France, China
• These power blocs were key players in the global conflict

War Breaks Out

• In September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, using Blitzkrieg tactics
• Following the invasion, Britain and France declared war on Germany in response
• The Soviet Union invaded eastern Poland under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact

Early Axis Victories

• Germany conquered Western European countries including Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and France
• France surrendered to Germany in June 1940
• Germany initiated Operation Sea Lion to further invade Britain, facing resistance from the RAF

Axis Expansion in the Pacific

• Japan aggressively expanded into Southeast Asia and China
• Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941
• The U.S. entered the war after the Pearl Harbor attack and declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy shortly afterward

Turning Points

• The Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943) marked a major Soviet victory against the German army, while the Battle of Kursk marked the biggest tank battle of the war
• In the Western Front, the Allies defeated Axis forces at El Alamein, leading to German and Italian surrender in North Africa by May 1943

Pacific Theatre

• The Battle of Midway (June 1942) was a pivotal U.S. Navy victory against the Japanese fleet
• The Guadalcanal Campaign (1942-1943) marked the beginning of the Allied offensive in the Pacific and symbolized Japan’s strategic decline

Allied Offensives

• June 6, 1944, marked the Allied invasion of Normandy, France (D-Day)
• Soviet forces advanced through Eastern Europe, liberating key cities and countries under Nazi control
• Allied forces fought up the Italian peninsula, resulting in the deposition of Mussolini
• The U.S. captured key Pacific islands including Iwo Jima and Okinawa, preparing for an invasion of Japan

End of the War

• In April 1945, Soviet forces captured Berlin
• Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30
• Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945
• The U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945), resulting in Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945

Human Cost

• Estimated 70–85 million deaths (including civilians) resulted from World War II
• Millions of people were displaced, cities were destroyed, and economies were devastated
• The Holocaust resulted in the deaths of six million Jews and millions of others

Political Changes

• Germany, Italy, and Japan's totalitarian regimes were dismantled following World War II
• The United States and the Soviet Union emerged as superpowers following the war, leading to decades of geopolitical tension
• The United Nations was established in 1945 to promote international cooperation and prevent future wars

Decolonization

• Weakened European powers led to independence movements in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Economic Impact

• The U.S.-funded Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe
• Japan and Germany's economies became global leaders during the subsequent decades

Explore the key events and figures that led to the outbreak of World War I, including the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This quiz covers the alliances formed and the initial strategies employed at the beginning of the war. Test your knowledge on the complexities that resulted in global conflict.