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com/ AP European History

The Great War (World War I)


World War I brought about the demise of great empires such as Russia, Austria-
Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. Others experienced a decline in power,
such as Great Britain and France. It was the first “total war,” involving mass
civilian populations in a war effort that involved rationing, war plants, and
propaganda. A.J.P. Taylor is a traditionalist-type historian who looks at the
“whole picture,” such as the long-term causes of the Great War. Stoessinger looked
at the personalities behind the leaders. For example, he noted the indecisive
nature of Nicholas I and Frederick Wilhelm’s mercurial nature. CAUSES OF THE WAR
The long-term causes of the Great War were militarism, nationalism, imperialism,
and systems of alliances. Militarism consisted of the escalating arms race between
Great Britain and Germany, with Germany building a navy to rival that of the
British navy. Build-up of arms and weapons, including artillery shells, bombs,
rifles, and artillery, caused international pressures in Europe to worsen. The
system of alliances resulted in many countries being pulled into the war because
of their allies. In the Dual Alliance, Germany allied with Austria-Hungary (Italy
joined in 1882). Additionally, in the dreikaiserbund, Otto von Bismarck formed an
alliance between Russia, Austria, and Germany. Later, in the Triple Alliance
Germany allied with Austria and Germany to create the Central Powers. Italy would
switch sides in 1915. In the Entente-Cordiale, France allied with Britain. In
1907, Britain allied with Russia. As a result, the Triple Entente emerged between
Russia, England, and France. They, along with the United States, became the Allied
Powers. Imperialism is the political and economic domination of one country by
another. Each European country was competing for overseas possessions in order to
expand their economies. In the Moroccan Crisis, Germany attempted to break up
relations between France and Britain. In 1905, the French made the Sultan promise
reforms in the police and army under the guidance of French experts. Germany then
pledged support for a Moroccan independence movement. The Germans demanded the
resignation of Delcassé, the influential Foreign Minister of France. They also
demanded an international conference on Morocco. The French agreed to both the
resignation and conference. Britain warned Germany that an attack on France could
lead to British intervention.
http://guidesbyjulie.blogspot.com/ AP European History

The Great War (World War I)


At the Algeciras Conference, Germany was nearly isolated, with only Austria-
Hungary as a supporter. In the Second Moroccan Crisis, the German government sent
a gunboat, the Panther to the port of Agadir. This pressured France, as Germany
wanted the French Congo for German recognition of a French protectorate over
Morocco. Britain once again supported France and Germany backed down for minor
concessions in equatorial Africa. Nationalism caused leaders and countries to take
action in the interests of national pride. An example was the pan-Slavic movement
that sought to unite all Slavic peoples. Similarly, Italy was interested in
fulfilling the Irrindentia – the idea of one Italian government ruling the Italian
people. Otto von Bismarck said that Europe would be thrown into war because of
“some damn fool thing in the Balkans...” While in Sarajevo, capital of the
Austrian province of Bosnia, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian
throne, was assassinated by Gavrilio Princip. This was part of a plot by the
“Union or Death” organization, better known as the Black Hand society, a terrorist
group dedicated to pan-Slavism. The monarch of Austria, Franz Joseph, is aging –
Austria is really controlled by Leopold von Bercholt and Conrad Holtzendorff. They
would like to go to war in order to regain Austria’s old glory. Kaiser Wilhelm of
Germany, led by his emotions, issues a blank check, guaranteeing German support to
eh Austrians. As a result, Bercholt and Holtzendorff issue an ultimatum to Serbia
that is meant to be rejected. They quickly declare war on Serbia, resulting in
Germany also declaring war. Germany had believed Russia would not support their
fellow Slavs because regicide had been committed – they were wrong, and Russia
began mobilization. Germany declared war on Russia. In accordance to their
previous treaty, France supported Russia and declared war on Germany, followed by
Britain declaring war on Germany. Despite the NickyWilly telegrams between the
monarchs of Russia and Germany, the war could not be stopped. Germany Kaiser
Wilhelm II Chancellor: Theobold Bethman-Hollweg Chief of Staff: Helmuth von Moltke
Austria Franz Joseph Foreign Minister: Count Leopold von Berchtold Chief of Staff:
Conrad von Hötzendorff Russia Nicholas II Foreign Minster: Sergei Sazonov Minister
of War: Vladimir Sukhomlinov
http://guidesbyjulie.blogspot.com/ AP European History

The Great War (World War I)


COURSE OF THE WAR In the Schlieffen Plan, Germany tried defeat France in six weeks
by holding off Russia, invading France through Belgium, and seizing Paris.
However, the Belgians resisted, the Russians mobilized quickly, and the French
counterattacked at the Battle of the Marne River. This eventually ended up in a
stalemate at the western front, with the war becoming a war of attrition. At the
Eastern Front, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff won important victories
over the Russians. After the czar abdicated, Alexander Kerensky of the provisional
Russian government continued the war. Once the Bolsheviks under Lenin seized
power, the Russians withdrew the war. At this time, the United States entered
supporting the Allies. It is important to note that the Germans’ unrestricted
submarine warfare and their sinking of the Lusitania, which had carried two
Americans, were important factors contributing towards America’s entry.
Additionally, the Zimmerman Note had promised Mexico some of its former holdings
if it entered the war on Germany’s side. END OF THE WAR By the end of the war,
Germany was running out of supplies. A provisional German government, which later
became the Weimar Republic, signed an armistice on November 11, 1918. At the Paris
Peace Conference, in January 1919, the Big Four were Woodrow Wilson of the United
States, David Lloyd George of Britain, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Vittorio
Orlando of Italy. They made all of the decisions, with the Central Powers
excluded. The Treaty of Versailles ended the war with Germany. Ceded territory to
the Allies – parts of Germany, overseas colonies, and control of the Saar to
France Germany was blamed in the “war guilt” clause The German army and navy were
cut to a token force of 100,000 soldiers The Rhineland was to be demilitarized and
occupied Germany had to pay damages totaling $33 billion.

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