History Notes (LSC) (2) PDF

Underlying causes of WWI Changes in Europe in the mid-19th century - The Ottoman Empire is defeated in the Crimean War (1853-56) - Germany Defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) - The unification of Germany and Italy took place (1871-) - Germany’s power rose...

Underlying causes of WWI Changes in Europe in the mid-19th century - The Ottoman Empire is defeated in the Crimean War (1853-56) - Germany Defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) - The unification of Germany and Italy took place (1871-) - Germany’s power rose rapidly due to: 1. France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War 2. Britains’ Splendid Isolation policy Colonial rivalries - Germany was afraid that France would take revenge. Therefore: 1. Germany implemented Dreikaiserbund in 1873 with: Russia Austria-Hungary 2. Later, the Dreikaiserbund is replaced by the Triple Alliance with: Austria-Hungary Italy - France allied with Russia and Britain to form the Triple Entente (they all hated Germany) - Compared to Triple Alliance countries, Triple entente countries have a wider access to the oceans - European powers scramble for colonies in Africa and Asia-Pacific regions NOTE: Sudan and Morocco were 2 places with the most conflicts - Countries sparked conflicts on colonies, worsening relationships between countries Arms race - European powers increased their military expenditure - Russia, Austria-Hungary and Germany introduced conscription (強制當兵） - New weapons such as: Dynamite, grenades, guns, fighter jets, submarines - The first dreadnought (submarine) was built by Britain in 1906 - Countries held resisting attitudes in disarmament conferences - Countries were less willing to solve problems by peaceful means International Crises before the outbreak of WWI - 1905-06: The First Moroccan Crisis - Germany VS France Morocco had a strategic value of linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean France ended up victorious as Germany was isolated - 1908: Bosnian Crisis - Austria-Hungary VS Serbia & Russia Austria-Hungary annexed Herzegovina & Bosnia As Germany supported Austria-Hungary, Russia & Serbia backed down The worsening relationship of Austria-Hungary and Serbia lead to the Sarajevo Assasination - 1911: The Second Moroccan Crisis - Germany VS France France ended up victorious again as Britain supported France (Triple Entente) - 1911-12: The Italian-Turkish War - Italy VS The Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire was defeated. Italy sealed the victory - 1912-13: The Two Balkan Wars - Small nations among the Balkan Peninsula The First: Balkan states defeated the Ottoman Empire. Austria-Hungary insisted to form an independent state named Albania The Second: Several Balkan states joined The Ottoman Empire and defeated Bulgaria. Serbia grew rapidly and gained a lot of land  Extreme nationalism (underlying cause) - Countries emphasized on foreign expansion to show off their abilities - Stressed on rational superiority - It can be described as violent and aggressive Countries’ national goals Country National goals France 1. Take revenge against Germany for the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War 2. Regain Alsace-Lorraine Russia 1. Pan-Slav Movement - unite all Slavs 2. Gain a warm sea port of the Black Sea 3. Support the Greater Serbia Movement Britain 1. The Splendid Isolation policy 2. Safeguard economic and colonial interests 3. Suspicious towards German Naval Expansion NOTE: GBR had the strongest navy at that time 4. Signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 NOTE: the treaty is the first ever equal footing in history Germany 1. Avoid a two-headed war (被人夾擊就死定） 2. Prevent France from taking revenge 3. Promote Pan-Germanism Austria-Hungary 1. Uphold multiracial empire and territory integrity 2. Eliminate all independent movements in the Balkans region Serbia 1. Promote the Greater Serbia Movement 2. Expand territories by gaining countries controlled by The Ottoman Empire NOTE: The Ottoman Empire was extremely weak at that time 3. Gain an outlet to the Sea Immediate cause of WWI The Sarajevo Asssasination - Date: 28th June, 1914 - Venue: Sarajevo - Capital city of Bosnia - Victim(s): Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife - Murderer: Princip - Responsible parties: 1. Austrian Emperor - Franz Joseph I 2. Serbia Responses of European powers 1. Austria Hungary: Denounce Serbia & Seek help from Germany 2. Germany: Offered Austria-Hungary a blank cheque 3. Russia & France: Mobilization to threaten Serbia 4. Serbia: accepted the Ultimatum by Austria-Hungary except the last Britain’s participation - As Germany marched through Belgium to attack France, Britain joined the war to uphold the Treaty of London, which safeguarded the independence of Belgium NOTE: Belgium was a neutral and independent country at that time  Timeline (From mid-late 19th Century ----- Early 20th Century) Before WWI 1853-56: The Crimean War: Russia VS the Ottoman Empire, GBR, FRA, Austria, Prussia 1870-71: Franco-Prussian War - France VS Germany 1871: Unification of Germany & Italy 1873: Dreikaiserbund / Three Emperors League - Germany & Russia & Austria-Hungary 1879: Dual Alliance - Germany & Austria-Hungary 1882: The Triple Alliance - Germany & Austria-Hungary & Italy Strive for influence in Tunisia - France VS Italy 1898: Rivalry for influence in Sudan: France VS Britain 1902: Anglo-Japanese Alliance - Britain & Japan 1904: Entente Cordiale - France & Britain 1905-06: The First Moroccan Crisis - France VS Germany 1907: Anglo-Russian Entente - Britain & Russia Triple Entente - France & Britain & Russia 1908: Bosnian Crisis - Austria-Hungary VS Serbia & Russia 1911: The Second Moroccan Crisis - Germany VS France 1911-12: The Italian-Turkish War - Italy VS The Ottoman Empire 1912-13: The Two Balkan Wars - Small nations among the Balkan Peninsula 1914: - June 28th : The Sarajevo Assasination - July 1. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (28-07) 2. Russia began to mobilise its troops to support Serbia (30-07) 3. Germany asked Russia and France to stop mobilising and remain neutral respectively (31-07) - August - Germany declared war on Russia & France (01-08) 1. Germany marched through Belgium according to the Schlieffen Plan (03-08) 2. Britain declared war on Germany to uphold the Treaty of London (04-08) Start --- end of WWI 1915: Western and Eastern fronts are developed Trench warfare was developed in the Western front - February : Germany started the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - April : Italy joined the side of the Allied Powers Germany promised territorial gains - May : The sinking of the Lusitania (Britain, with USA people onboard) - October 1. Germany & Austria Hungary defeated Russia, but failed to make it surrender 2. Bulgaria joined the Central Powers - November : The Central Powers captured Serbia 1916: - July : War in the air began - September : Britain started to use tanks - September - December : Trenches are dismantled due to the invention of tanks 1917: - The Allied Powers started gaining advantage over the Central Powers - February : Germany restarted the Unrestricted Submarine Warfare - April : USA joined the war as Germany persuaded Mexico to attack USA - October : The Bolshevik Revolution forced Russia to withdraw from the war 1918: - Russia signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany - November 9th : Kaiser William II (King of Germany) abdicated An armistice was signed with the allies (winners of the WWI) - September - December 1. The Central Powers are defeated 2. Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary surrendered in order 1919-20: The Paris Peace Conference The Ultimatum Austria-Hungary sent to Serbia 1. Dissolve all anti-Austrian organisations 2. Remove all anti-Austrian words in official documents 3. Remove all military & government officials who conducted propaganda 4. Allow Austria-Hungary to send representatives to Serbia for the joint suppression of all anti-austrian activities - Serbia accepted the ultimatum in full except the last The Schlieffen Plan (1914 August) - The reason to implement this is to: Prevent a two-front war against France & Russia NOTE: Germany is located BETWEEN France & Russia Details of the plan 1. When Russia offered mobilization after the Sarajevo Assasination, It is expected that it will take around 4 weeks 2. Therefore, Germany should defeat France in the Western Front 3. Thus, Germany should move to the Eastern Front to fight the Russians NOTE: defeating France in 4 weeks in unrealistic Why was the plan unsuccessful ? 1. Britain entered the Western Front to aid France, so Germany failed to defeat the Anglo-French Coalition 2. The Western Front became a stalemate (僵持戰) as the trench warfare was developed 3. Russian mobilization was faster than expected (