World War 1 Background PDF

[]{#anchor}Background to World War 1 []{#anchor-1}Franco prussian war (1870-71) - The franco prussian war was fought between France and Germany - Germany won, claiming territory in Alsace-Lorraine - Germany made powerful alliances with other European powers to secure its place in Europea...

[]{#anchor}Background to World War 1 []{#anchor-1}Franco prussian war (1870-71) - The franco prussian war was fought between France and Germany - Germany won, claiming territory in Alsace-Lorraine - Germany made powerful alliances with other European powers to secure its place in European politics - This resulted in the development of two major alliances which were believed to prevent war (Concept known as balance of power politics) - This concept refers to preventing any single country becoming too dominant through alliances Alliances before world war 1 The two alliance were: - - Europe in the lead up to war - Europe was seen was peaceful in 1901, with Queen Victoria's descendants marrying into royal families across the continent - Tsar Nicholas II or Russia, King George V of Engl=and and Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany were all first cousins - Despite the close relations, tensions and rivalries still existed beneath the surface - Europe seemed prosperous during this time, transformed by the industrial revolution. Advances in technology, healthcare, sanitation and improved living standards - Yet, conditions remained harsh for working-class families and women still lacked voting rights. Governments also feared the rise of new political movements (socialism & anarchism) []{#anchor-2}Causes of World War 1 []{#anchor-3}Factors of MAIN Militarism is when countries believe in having strong military and armed forces - Before world war 1, many European nations competed to have the biggest empires and the largest armies - By 1900, Britain had the biggest and most powerful navy worldwide - When Germany started building its own navy, Britain became suspicious - They both started a race to build the most powerful battleships called "Dreadnoughts" - This arms race showed that Europe was getting ready for war, even though the leaders talked about peace Alliances are agreements between several countries to support each other during war - Starting in the 1870s, Europe\'s most powerful countries formed two big alliances which became stronger and more official over time - Germany began this by worrying that France would want revenge after losing in the Franco-Prussion wars - So in 1879, Germany joined with Austria-Hungary and in 1882 Italy joined them to form the Triple Alliance - This made France nervous so they made an alliance with Russia in 1894 - This alliance was strong because it meant Germany would have to fight on both sides if there was a war - Leaders though that countries wouldn\'t fight if they risked pulling in many other countries but instead these alliances made tensions worse over time The alliance system before WW1 extended far beyond Europe - British colonies automatically joined the Triple Entente due to their ties to Britain - Japan became involved through a treaty with Britain - Bosnia-Herzegovina was included in the Triple Entente because Russia supported its bid for independence This global alliance system meant that conflicts involving any member could quickly escalate into a widespread war Imperialism is when a country works to gain and keep control over other lands, regions or territories - This is usually done for economic reasons (making money) or strategic reasons (like military advantage) Nationalism is when people have a strong pride and love for their own country - it can be positive when people feel united by shared language and cultures - It can also be negative when it leads to the belief that one's own nation is better than others []{#anchor-4}Scramble for Africa - The scramble for Africa was when European countries raced to take over parts of Africa in the late 1800s and early 1900s - They wanted Africa's lands and resource s - This competition made European countries distrust each other and form alliances, which helped lead to world war 1 - FOR EXAMPLE in 1905 and 1911 Germany tried to stop France from getting more colonies in North Africa. France, With Brittain's help, defended its territories, leading to conflicts that added to the tensions before world war 1 []{#anchor-5}Outbreak of World War 1 []{#anchor-6}The Balkan States - The Balkans is a region in southeastern Europe that includes countries like Romania, Serbia, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria - Before World War 1, these Balkan states were politically unstable - Three powerful Empires were actively involved in the region; Austria-Hungary, the Russian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire - Europe was already on the brink of war for many years before World War 1 - The "spark" that set off this tension happens in the Balkan states []{#anchor-7}Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - In 1908, Austria-Hungary took control of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The people there, like the Serbs, didn\'t feel connected to Austria or Hungary and wanted their own nation. - They started a movement for independence. The Russian Empire supported the Serbs because they wanted Bosnia-Herzegovina to join Serbia - The emperor of Austria-Hungary knew there were tensions in the Balkans - He thought a royal visit might help, so he sent his nephew, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina on a goodwill visit - On June 28, 1914, during the parade, a 19-year-old Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princip shot and killed the Archduke and his wife []{#anchor-8}The July Crisis - The "July Crisis" was a period of confusion and rushed negotiations among European powers after the assasination of archduke Franz Ferdinand - Austria-Hungary gave Serbia 10 demands in response to the assasination. Serbia agreed to nine but couldn\'t accept all of them without losing its independence, leading to a breakdown in negotiations - A month later, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, Serbia asked its ally Russia for help and Russia started preparing for war to protect Serbia - ON 31 July, Germany told Russia to stop its war preparations. When Russia didn\'t comply, Germany declared war on Russia. Germany also asked France about its plans - France, an ally of Russia in the Triple Entente, gave a vague response but started preparing for the war as well []{#anchor-9}The Schlieffen Plan - []{#anchor-10}Germany was afraid of fighting enemies on both sides so they used a plan by Alfred von Schlieffen called the Schlieffen Plan - This aimed to avoid fighting France and Russia at the sme time instead it called for German troops to quickly attack France by going through neutral Belgium and defeat France before Russia was ready to fight - Then Germany could focus on Russia alone - The problem was that by violating Belgium's neutrality, Britain was forced to join the conflict - Britain had signed a treaty with Belgium in 1839, promising to defend it if another country invaded so when Germany invaded, Britain joined the conflict []{#anchor-11}Australia's entry into World War 1 []{#anchor-12}A Generation Unfamiliar with war - Before the outbreak of World War 1, Europe had been relatively peaceful for over 40 years - The last major war (the Franco-Prussian War) had been fought in 1871, meaning that a whole generation of young men and women across Europe had grown up with no real experience of war - The same happened with Australia, apart from a small number of soldiers who had fought for Britain in Africa during the late 1800s, Australians had no experience of war and had little understanding of what it meant []{#anchor-13}Australia's Response to European Tensions - In 1914, Australians viewed the prospect of war with excitement seeing it was a heroic and glorious adventure. Both sides of politics agreed that Australia should participate - On August 2, 1914, Australian Prime Minister Joseph Cook pledged Australian navy vessels and 20,000 men to the British military []{#anchor-14}The Great Adventure - When Britain declared war on Germany, Australia automatically became involved, along with other British Empire countries - A wave of enthusiasm swept Australia, prompting men aged 21-35 to rush to enlist to Australian Imperial Force (AIF) - Many feared missing out if the war ended before they could join. Initially the government aimed to send 20,000 men but about 50,000 enlisted by 1914 - Motivations for joining the war were varied. Some demonstrated Australia\'s capability in a global conflict, while others felt a strong loyalty to Britain - Women also played a role, encouraging their loved ones to enlist, admiring the bravery of men in uniform []{#anchor-15}First Nations Australians - Around 1000 First Nations Australians volunteered for service, despite many facing discrimination based on their heritage - Some saw it as a chance for better treatment and wages but unfortunately, when they returned they were denied the benefits which instead were given to other soldiers to help them reintegrate into civilian life []{#anchor-16}Varied Motivations - Not all enlistment motives were noble, some soldiers changed their names or joined to escape responsibilities or dull jobs - For many war, meant adventure, though those who fought war in Africa understood the harsh realities of war []{#anchor-17}Questioning Voices - Some Australian thought that the war was Europe's or Britain's problem, not Australia's - A small group called objectors, including the Women's Peace Army led by VIda Goldstein, actively protested against the war - At first most Australians supported the war enthusiastically but when they saw the harsh realities they began to change their minds []{#anchor-18} []{#anchor-19}The Nature of Warfare []{#anchor-20}The Impact of Technology on World War 1 - Before the war, countries had built up their military supplies, leading to an arms race - During the war, new weapons like machine guns, heavy artillery and chemical gasses were introduced and improved - This technology made the war last longer because both sides had powerful weapons that made it hard for one side to win - The war was very deadly due to advanced weaponry and new technologies []{#anchor-21}Guns and Artillery - Australian soldiers were given British-made rifles with bayonets at the start of World War 1 for close fighting - Machine guns were greatly improved and could fire up to 600 bullets per minute making them deadly - Facing one matching gun was like facing 250 soldiers with rifles. However they often overheated, were heavy and hard to move in the mud - Heavy artillery guns, similar to cannon, were also widely used. They could fire large shells over long distances, usually in an arc or hit targets from above. These guns were difficult to move and often got stuck in the mud - The shells often contained shrapnel, which scattered metal shards when they exploded above the ground []{#anchor-22}Gas - In April 1915, Germany introduced flamethrowers and poison gas as weapons in World War 1 - Chlorine gas, blown over enemy trenches, burned and destroyed the airways of anyone without a gasmask, causing severe pain and death - Other gasses like mustard and tear gas were also used, causing blisters inside and outside the body - Poison gas attacks were so terrible that chemical and biological weapons were banned in 1925 by the Geneva Protocol []{#anchor-23}Tanks - During World War 1, tanks were first introduced by the British at the Battle of Somme in 1916 - However early tanks faced significant challenges due to mechanical unreliability and difficulties in muddy terrain - Despite these setbacks, ongoing improvements in design and battlefield tactics by 1917 enhanced their effectiveness setting the stage for the evolution of armored warfare []{#anchor-24}Aircraft and Zeppelins - Aircrafts played a transformative role in World War 1, initially used to locate enemies it later adapted into combat planes armed with machine guns for aerial dogfights - German zeppelins, large hydrogen-filled airships, conducted the first aerial bombing raids over England in 1915 []{#anchor-25}War at Sea - During World War 1, controlling the seas was crucial for trade and communication - German submarines, called U-boats, used to sink Allied ships carrying vital goods, causing fear among sea travelers - Mines laid in the North Sea made it dangerous for ships, impacting trade for neutral countries like Norway and Sweden []{#anchor-26}Trench Warfare []{#anchor-27}What were trenches? - Trenches were long, narrow ditches dug into the ground - They were 2 meters deep and wide serving key roles in military strategy []{#anchor-28}Layout of Trenches - The front-line trench, about a kilometer from the enemy, faced direct combat - Behind it were support trenches with supplies, reserve trenches with emergency resources and communication trenches for movement - Trenches were vital for protection but subjected soldiers to harsh conditions and prolonged combat []{#anchor-29}Condition in the Trenches - Trenches were harsh and dangerous places - The tranches were often muddy, cold and filled with rats making life miserable - Flooding and disease, like trench foot, were common problems - The conditions were tough and the threat of enemy attacks was always present, making life in the trenches extremely difficult for soldiers - Many soldiers struggled with the trauma of witnessing the devastation and loss []{#anchor-30}The Western Front []{#anchor-31}What was the Western Front? - The Western Front was a major battleground during World War 1, stretching from Belgium to Switzerland - It became well-known for trench warfare - Life in the trenches was hard, with soldiers facing mud, barbed wire and the constant danger of enemy attacks - This led to a long and exhausting stalemate, where neither side could win easily - New weapon like tanks and chemical gasses were used on the Western Front, these weapons also caused many deaths adding to the heavy loss of life in the war\ []{#anchor-32}The Battle of the Somme - The Battle of the Somme took place along the Somme River in the northern France from July to November 1916 - It was a major offensive launched by the Triple Entente forces in an effort to break through German defenses - The battle began with a massive artillery bombardment intended to soften German defenses before the infantry assault - Despite initial gains, particularly on the first day, the battle quickly devolved into a protracted war of attrition - The term "war of attrition" refers to a strategy where each side tries to wear down the other through continuous losses in personnel and materials []{#anchor-33}No Man\'s land - During the Battle of the Somme, No Man\'s Land was the area of land between the opposing trenches that were heavily fortified and often littered with barbed wire - It was a dangerous zone were soldiers faced significant risks when advancing or retreating - The Battle of the Somme resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. - By the end of the campaign, total casualties exceeded 600,000 for the Triple Entente and 500,000 for the Germans []{#anchor-34}Humanity Amidst Conflict - There were instances were soldiers from opposing sides participated in informal truces and activities such as playing soccer together in No Man\'s Land - The most famous example occurred during Christmas when soldiers from the British and German trenches briefly set aside hostilities - These truces serve as a reminder of the shared humanity during the harsh realities of war []{#anchor-35} []{#anchor-36}The Gallipoli Campaign []{#anchor-37}Overview - The Gallipoli Campaign was an attempt during WW1 to break the stalemate on the Western Front, by attacking Turkey, an ally of Germany - Initiated by Winston Churchill, the campaign aimed to open a new front against the Ottoman Empire - The Campaign took place on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey and was the first major battle involving Australian troops []{#anchor-38}Formation of the ANZACs and training in Egypt - IN 1914, Australia and New Zealand troops were sent to Egypt for training due to overcrowded camps in England - Soldiers trained while they anticipated action in Europe against Germany. They were deployed against Turkish forces instead []{#anchor-39}The Gallipoli Landing - The campaign began in March 1915, with an attempted naval assault on the Dardanelles ( narrow strait in northwestern Turkey that forms a natural boundary between Europe and Asia ) - It was aimed to allow Allied forces to move troops and equipment through the Black Sea - The naval attack failed due to underwater mines, leading to heavy Allied losses with many ships destroyed or damaged - The plan was to launch an attack on the Gallipoli Peninsula to secure control of the Dardanelles and eventually take Constantinople (now Istanbul) from the Ottomans - Despite initial hopes for a quick victory, the campaign faced significant challenges, including difficult terrain, well-fortified Turkish defenses and harsh weather conditions - The steep, rugged terrain made it extremely difficult for the ANZACs to move inland - They were exposed to relentless Turkish gunfire at the top - The ANZACs managed to secure the beach, only gained a small amount of territory - Over the months, both sides grew to respect each other - They even sometimes stop fighting to bury the dead and even exchange goods []{#anchor-40}Conditions - Living conditions were tough for the ANZACs. The Turkish soldiers held the high ground - The hot summer and freezing winter made things even worse. Rain flooded the trenches, turning the battlefield into a muddy mess - Water was scarce and had to be rationed - Food was limited with rations mostly containing canned meat and hard biscuits.Fresh food was rare - Disease was a big problem with more soldier getting sick than injured by enemy fire - Parasites in their clothing caused itching and there was no way to wash their clothes properly []{#anchor-41}Who won? - The Gallipoli campaign ended in failure for the Entente with Turkey winning - They Couldn\'t capture the land they aimed for and had to withdraw their troops by January 1916 - THe ANZAC spirit was shown during the Gallipoli Campaign where Australian and New Zealand soldiers demonstrated bravery, friendship and determination despite the harsh conditions - The Turkish forces successfully defended their land []{#anchor-42}The Turkish Perspective - The Turkish soldiers had little formal training and still showing great courage and determination in defending their homeland - The campaign was a major victory for Turkey and helped boost the reputation of their leader. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who later became the founder of modern Turkey []{#anchor-43}The End of The War []{#anchor-44}Russia Withdrawal - After the failure of the Gallipoli campaign, the stalemate on the Western Front dragged on through 1916 to 1918 with little change - In 1917, Russia was struggling with its own internal problems, including a revolution - Because of this, Russia decided to leave World War 1 - THey made a deal with Germany called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to officially end their involvement in the war - This allowed Germany to focus more of its forces on the Western Front []{#anchor-45}The United States' Involvement - Although the United States didn\'t join the war right away, by 1917, they were drawn in due to German actions like attacking American ships - The U.S declared war on Germany in April 1917 - The arrival of fresh American troops and supplies boosted the morale and strength of the Entente, helping them in the final stages of the war []{#anchor-46}Events on the Western Front - By early 1918, after years of heavy fighting and losses, the arrival of Americans made a big difference - The now stronger Entente, began pushing back against the Alliance Powers, slowly gaining upper hand The Battle of Amiens - On August 8, 1918 which was a crucial turning point - The battle marked the start of a series of Entente victories, often referred to as the "Black Day of the German Army" because it showed that the German forces were no longer able to hold their ground - This battle played a key role in the eventual defeat of Germany []{#anchor-47}Armistice (1918) - The ruler of Germany, Kaiser (emperor) Wilhem decides to abdicate on November 9, 1918, escaping to the Netherlands who were neutral - Two days later, two low level German politicians signed the peace treaty called the armistice, took effect at 11am on November 11, 1918 - This lift a bitter legacy in Germany, where it was perceived as a humiliating defeat and a betrayal by politicians who chose to sign this - This led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles []{#anchor-48}The Impact of WW1 On Europe []{#anchor-49}Cost of life - The loss of life during WW1 was huge - Around 40 million civilians died during the war, especially in places like England, France, Germany and Belgium where many battles took place []{#anchor-50}Redrawing The Map - The post war treaties led to many borders being redrawn and new countries being formed - Eastern Europe: Emergence of Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Finland from the Russian Empire - Central Europe: The ending of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leading to the establishment of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia - Middle East: Fall of the Ottoman Empire, resulting in the independence of Turkey - Colonial Territories: Loss of overseas territories by colonial powers due to transfers to other countries or colonial revolutions Independence movements, especially in Asia, the Middle East and Africa []{#anchor-51}Economic Cost of War - Many countries faced costs like rebuilding, clearing battlefields and helping soldiers - After the war, unemployment rose in Europe. Many soldiers returned home but couldn't get their old jobs back due to health issues or because the jobs no longer existed []{#anchor-52}Shifts in power - Because of many monarchies in Europe ending, new countries such as Poland and Austria had to form new governments - This was a difficult time with governments struggling to build something new while dealing with the costs of the war - Globally, countries like Britain and France lost power as they faced challenges in rebuilding and losing colonies - Meanwhile the US and Japan became more powerful on the world stage []{#anchor-53}The Russian Revolution Reason for the revolution include - 1. 2. 3. 4. - In 1917 after many defeats, soldiers and workers started riots - Tsar Nicholas II gave up power and later him and his family were killed - The Bolsheviks led by Lenin took control leading to the start of the Soviet Union and a new communist government []{#anchor-54}The Appeal of Communism - Communism is a system where everything is owned collectively by the community or government - It aims to create a classless society where wealth and property are shared equally amongst everyone Positives: - Equality - Community spirit - Every citizen can keep a job Negative - No freedom of religion - No freedom of speech - The government owns everything []{#anchor-55}Treaty of Versailles - The Treaty of versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in the Versailles palace outside of Paris - Germany was never part of meetings, instead the treaty was imposed on them rather than being a result of negotiation - The treaty affected all defeateud countries such as Australia, Hungary and turkey (Ottoman Empire) but Germany was specifically affected as the main aggressor of the war Four main parts of the treaty towards Germany 1. Forced acceptance of Guilt 2. Reparations 3. Loss of territory and land 4. Economic and political sanctions []{#anchor-56}German Responses to the Treaty - Germany's pride as a nation was destroyed by the War Guilt Clause - This also placed economic hardship on Germany since they were forced to pay for the rebuilding of other nations - Many Germans felt that average citizens were being punished for a war they didn\'t want - This fueled the rise for extremist movements []{#anchor-57}Anti-German Sentiment In Australia []{#anchor-58}Background - Before World War 1, many Germans settled in Australia and were well integrated and had become Australian citizens by the time war broke out - Settled mostly in places like South Australia and NSW []{#anchor-59}The Outbreak of War - When war began in 1914, suspicion towards German Australians increased - THey were seen as potential threats or spies - German Australians faced hate campaigns and life became harder during the war []{#anchor-60}Government Response - The Australian government introduced the War Precautions Act to increase control over German Australians - Enemy Aliens (people from enemy nations) had to register with the government and follow strict rules like reporting to the police []{#anchor-61}Internment Camps - During WW1, the Australian government set up internment camps to hold people it considered a threat to national society - These people were called enemy aliens meaning they came from countries that were in war with Australia like Germany and Austria-Hungary - Nearly 7000 people were placed in these internment camps - Some of these people had lived in Australia for many years or were even born there but were still seen as potential enemies because of their heritage []{#anchor-62}Other Reactions - German schools were closed and towns with German names were renamed - People of German descent were prevented from joining the army or having government jobs - Many Australians refused to work with or buy from German owned businesses basically boycotting them []{#anchor-63}Propaganda and Public Sentiment - Anti-German propaganda such as posters and cartoons encouraged Australians to view Germans negatively - These often displayed Germans as dangerous or barbaric feuling fear and anger towards them