WWI - Grade 12 Study PDF

The Austrian Anomaly (1860-1866): ○ Austria faced military defeats against France and Piedmont, losing Lombardy. ○ In 1866, Austria lost to Prussia, which allied with Piedmont, leading to the Peace of Prague and the loss of Venezia. ○ Austria became nei...

The Austrian Anomaly (1860-1866): ○ Austria faced military defeats against France and Piedmont, losing Lombardy. ○ In 1866, Austria lost to Prussia, which allied with Piedmont, leading to the Peace of Prague and the loss of Venezia. ○ Austria became neither a German nor an Italian power, resulting in unstable governance with the Hungarian Magyars anxious over Slavic instability 46. The Lost Utopia (Congress of Vienna 1815): ○ The Congress aimed to maintain a balance of power among the Great Powers (Germany, Austria, Britain, France, Russia, Italy). ○ Despite collective responsibility for peace, the 1860s-70s saw four major wars. ○ Danilevsky's Pan-Slavism emerged as a significant force, influencing regions like Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia 47. Causes in the West: ○ The outbreak of war was dictated by mutual alliances between France and Russia, ironically formed to maintain peace 48. Main Rivalries: ○ Germany and France over Alsace. ○ Russia and Austria over the Balkans. ○ Britain and Germany over naval and economic power 49. Rigid Diplomatic Framework: ○ Alliances created a rigid diplomatic structure where small conflicts could escalate into larger wars 50. Military Strategies and Mobilization Schlieffen Plan: ○ Formulated by Count Alfred von Schlieffen, aimed for a quick victory over France by invading through neutral Belgium, expecting to defeat both France and Russia within six months 51. ○ The plan required rapid mobilization: France in 15 days and Russia in 6 weeks due to its vast territory and poor transportation 52. Prussian Military Innovations: ○ The Prussian army pioneered concepts of reserve, mobilization, and a general staff, creating a highly trained military force 53. ○ By 1914, Germany had an active army of 750,000 and a reserve of 4.5 million 54. Mobilization Dynamics: ○ Mobilization rates became critical; one country's mobilization triggered a chain reaction among others, making war inevitable 55. Key Events Leading to War Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand:  ○ On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, leading to heightened tensions 56. Austria-Hungary's Ultimatum: ○ Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia that was impossible to accept, escalating the crisis 57. Germany's Support for Austria: ○ Germany pledged support to Austria if Russia or Serbia declared war, forcing both to accept the ultimatum 58. Initial Military Engagements Battle of the Marne: ○ In September 1914, the French counter-attacked, marking "the miracle of the Marne," which cost Moltke his job and Germany the war 59. First Battle of Ypres: ○ German forces attempted to outflank the British and French, leading to entrenched warfare as both sides dug in to avoid heavy fire 60. Trench Warfare: ○ The reality of trench warfare became established, with soldiers facing harsh conditions in muddy, dangerous environments 61. Communication Trenches: ○ Trenches were built for communication and troop movement, often becoming impassable due to artillery fire 62. Health Issues: ○ Soldiers suffered from trench foot due to prolonged exposure to wet conditions, highlighting the grim realities of life in the trenches 63. World War I Detailed Notes Tannenberg (15 August - 15 September 1914) The French urged Russia to commit its army prematurely, three months before it was fully ready 64. The Russians failed to code their orders, allowing the Germans to intercept broadcasts and concentrate their forces effectively 65. Despite being outnumbered, the Germans achieved a significant victory against the Russians 66. Austria-Hungary (August - November 1914) The army was composed of Germans, Magyars, Czechs, Slavs, Poles, and Italian troops, leading to internal disunity and command issues 67. Austria-Hungary mounted two offensives against Serbia, suffering heavy losses of 250,000 soldiers out of 500,000 committed 68. Battles of Attrition (1915-1917) Characterized by heavy losses on both sides, with little territorial gain 69. Notable for the high cost of human life and resources 70. Gallipoli Campaign (1915) Churchill was the main architect of the campaign, with British Commander Hamilton leading the forces 71. Turkish hero Kemal played a significant role in the defense 72. The campaign resulted in heavy casualties, with 250,000 out of 500,000 men committed 73. Second Battle of Ypres (1915) Marked the first large-scale use of gas warfare against Canadian troops 74. Lusitania Incident (1915) The Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine, resulting in approximately 1,260 deaths 75. The sinking raised tensions and was seen as a grave crisis by Washington 76. Gallipoli Landings The landings at Suvla Bay were part of the Gallipoli campaign 77. T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) Lawrence fought alongside Arab forces against the Turks, becoming a notable figure in the Middle Eastern campaigns 78. Easter Rising (April 1916) Irish rebels seized public buildings, proclaiming the Irish Republic, but were quickly suppressed by British forces 79. Battle of Jutland (May 30, 1916) A naval confrontation where the British lost 14 ships and 6,000 men, while the Germans lost 11 ships and 2,500 men. Both sides claimed victory 80. Verdun (1916) The battle aimed to "bleed France white," resulting in 800,000 casualties over eight months 81. The French motto during the battle was "They shall not pass" 90. Brusilov Offensive (1916) A significant Russian offensive against the Austrians, which initially broke through on a 200-mile front but eventually stalled 82. Passchendaele (1917) Associated with General Haig, marked by heavy casualties and muddy conditions 83. U.S. Entry into the War (1917) Following the Zimmerman Telegram and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, the U.S. declared war on April 6, 1917 91. Air Warfare Featured prominent figures like the Red Baron, with advancements in aerial combat 92. End of the War The armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, marking the end of hostilities 84. Kaiser Wilhelm's reign ended, leading to the establishment of a Socialist Republic in Germany 93. World War I Overview and Key Events 1914 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand: The assassination on June 28, 1914, was a pivotal event that escalated tensions leading to the war 9. Austria-Hungary's Ultimatum to Serbia: Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia that was impossible to accept, further inflaming tensions 10. Formation of Alliances: The Triple Alliance (Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France, Russia) set the stage for a larger conflict 11. Battle of the Marne: In September 1914, the French counter-attacked, marking a significant turning point known as "the miracle of the Marne," which ultimately cost Germany the war 12. 1915 Gallipoli Campaign: Led by Churchill, aimed to secure a sea route to Russia. Resulted in 250,000 casualties out of 500,000 men committed, leading to Churchill's dismissal 22. Second Battle of Ypres: First large-scale use of gas warfare against Canadian troops 23. 1916  Battle of Verdun: Aimed to "bleed France white," resulting in 800,000 casualties over 8 months. French forces famously declared, "They shall not pass" 24. Battle of the Somme: Notable for the introduction of tank warfare and heavy casualties, with the highest casualties in a single day, totaling 60,000 soldiers killed or wounded 33. 1917 U.S. Entry into the War: Following the Zimmerman Telegram and Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare, the U.S. declared war on April 6, 1917 36. Russian Revolution: Russia withdrew from the war, significantly altering the balance of power 85. Passchendaele Campaign: Associated with General Haig, marked by heavy casualties and muddy conditions 34. 1918 Armistice Signed: On November 11, 1918, the armistice marked the end of hostilities, leading to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm and the establishment of a Socialist Republic in Germany 41. Hindenburg's Statement: Expressed the dire situation of the German army, indicating a need for peace 42. Casualties and Impact Casualty Statistics: The war resulted in significant loss of life across various nations, with Russia suffering approximately 1,700,000 killed and 4,950,000 wounded 86. The total casualties for all allies were approximately 37,494,186 87. Historiography of WWI Traditionalist View: Attributes responsibility for the war primarily to Germany, referencing Clause 231 of the Treaty of Versailles 43. Revisionist View: Suggests a more balanced perspective, considering the roles of other nations and the complex web of alliances 88. Counter-Revisionist View: Examines the implications of German policies and the broader European context leading up to the war 44. Cultural Impact Propaganda: Played a crucial role in rallying support for the war effort, highlighting the need for allies 27. Zeppelin Raids: Bombing raids on London highlighted the war's reach beyond the battlefield 89. Air Warfare: Featured prominent figures like the Red Baron and advancements in aerial combat 38.