WWI: M.A.N.I.A Causes

• M-A-N-I-A is an acronym to remember the 5 causes of WWI: militarism, assassination, nationalism, imperialism, alliances.

Militarism

• European powers engaged in an arms race during the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to tension.
• Great Britain and Germany were the most responsible for militarism.

Assassination

• The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered WWI.
• Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist and member of the Black Hand, assassinated the Archduke.
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia and issued an ultimatum, leading to war.

Nationalism

• Serbian nationalism was fueled by the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the desire to unite all Serbs.
• Serbian nationalists aimed to control Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Imperialism

• Imperialism increased tension among European countries as nations like Britain and France expanded empires.
• Serbia felt mistreated by Austria-Hungary due to imperialistic tensions.

Alliances

• The alliance system drew more countries into the war after Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
• Countries felt threatened and compelled to join alliances.

Number of Deaths and Casualties

• The total number of military deaths ranged from 9 to 11 million, and civilian deaths ranged from 6 to 13 million.
• The Triple Entente/Allies lost approximately 6 million soldiers, while the Central Powers lost about 4 million.
• Germany suffered the most deaths on the Central Powers side, and Russia lost the most on the Allied Powers side.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne.
• His assassination in Serbia triggered World War I.

Gavrilo Princip

• Gavrilo Princip was a Bosnian Serb student linked to the Serbian nationalist group, the Black Hand.
• Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, sparking WWI.

Black Hand (Serbia)

• The Black Hand was a Serbian nationalist group formed in 1911.
• They aimed to liberate Serbs under Austro-Hungarian rule and create a unified Serbian state.
• The group's ideals led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Czar Nicholas II

• Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland, and Grand Duke of Finland.
• His army was disorganized and performed poorly during World War I, leading to blame for casualties.
• His reign marked the end of the Romanov dynasty and the Russian Empire.
• He and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks.

Woodrow Wilson

• Woodrow Wilson was the U.S. President during World War 1.
• Wilson initially declared American neutrality but later led the U.S. into the war after the sinking of the Lusitania.
• He was viewed as a decisive wartime leader.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

• Kaiser Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia until 1918.
• His reign saw Germany become a major economic and military power.
• His policies and promotion of militarism contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

Franz Joseph I

• Franz Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary until 1916.
• His ultimatum to Serbia after Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination triggered Austria-Hungary's entry into World War I.
• His declaration of war on Serbia initiated the alliance system.

Georges Clemenceau

• Georges Clemenceau was a French statesman and Prime Minister who played a central role in the Third Republic.
• He played a major role in shaping the Treaty of Versailles.

Raymond Poincaré

• Raymond Poincaré was a French statesman who served as President and Prime Minister of France.
• He worked to strengthen ties with Great Britain and Russia before the war.
• He advocated for harsh terms on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles, including reparations.

King George V

• George V was King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India from 1910 until 1936.
• He served as a figurehead for the British Empire during WWI.
• He visited front lines, fostered unity, met Allied heads of state, inspected troops, and visited the wounded.

David Lloyd George

• David Lloyd George was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom until 1922.
• During WWI he focused on increasing munitions production, implemented the convoy system, and established rationing.
• He believed in a middle ground to meet with the Germans during the peace treaty negotiations.

Trench Warfare

• Trench warfare involved opposing sides attacking, counterattacking, and defending from trenches dug in the ground.
• Trenches provided protection but also created difficult warfare conditions.

No Man's Land

• No Man's Land was the dangerous area between opposing trenches, characterized by shell holes and barbed wire.
• Crossing it was extremely dangerous due to exposure to enemy fire.

Allies and Central Powers

• Major Allied powers included the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the U.S.
• Main members of the Central Powers included the German Empire, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

Schlieffen Plan

• The Schlieffen Plan was Germany’s military strategy to quickly defeat France by invading Belgium, then turn to fight Russia.
• The plan failed because Belgium resisted, Britain defended Belgium, and Russia mobilized faster than expected.
• Germany reducing the military size for the plan likely contributed to it failing.

In Flanders Field Poem

• The poem likely describes WWI fighting through a soldier's perspective, inspired by violence and glimpses of peace.
• The author was a WWI fighter.
• The poem reflects how the land was filled with graves of lost soldiers.

Key Battles

• Verdun, Marne, Somme, Passchendaele (Ypres)

Verdun

• The Battle of Verdun was the longest WWI battle, resulting in immense casualties and a stalemate between French and German armies.

Marne

• The First Battle of the Marne was a crucial Allied victory that halted the German advance on Paris.
• It prevented a potential quick German victory and led to trench warfare.

Somme

• The Battle of the Somme was a major battle on the Western Front.
• British and French forces launched a large-scale offensive against German positions, resulting in huge casualties and limited territorial gains.

Passchendaele-Ypres

• The Battle of Passchendaele was a costly campaign fought in the Ypres salient of Belgium.
• The Allies struggled to gain ground against the Germans, resulting in massive casualties and little strategic gain.

WWI Results and Conclusions

• The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 imposed harsh terms on Germany, fueling resentment and instability and aided the rise of WWII.
• The League of Nations was established.
• Empires fell, and new nations were created.
• Germany was blamed for the war and lost territory and colonies.
• Germany had to pay reparations, and its army was severely reduced.

New War Weapons

• U-boat
• Tank
• Airplane
• Grenades
• Flamethrower
• Poison gas(mustard gas)
• Artillery guns
• Machine gun