The First World War (8/5/24)

• The two main opposing alliances during World War I were:

  • Central Powers: This alliance consisted primarily of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
  • Allied Powers (also known as the Entente): This alliance included Great Britain, France, Russia (until 1917), Italy (although they switched sides in 1915), the United States (from 1917), and Japan.
• The Central Powers had an advantage over the Allies due to their geographic location, which allowed them to launch surprise attacks on multiple fronts simultaneously. However, this also made it difficult for them to coordinate effectively and maintain supply lines across such vast distances.
• The Central Powers suffered from internal divisions and disagreements among its members, particularly between Germany and Austria-Hungary. These conflicts hindered coordination and communication within the alliance.
• The Central Powers' strategy was focused on winning quick victories through aggressive tactics like blitzkrieg warfare, while the Allies relied more heavily on defensive strategies and trench warfare.
• The Allies had a significant economic advantage over the Central Powers, with access to more resources and greater industrial capacity. They were able to mobilize larger armies and produce more weapons and supplies.
• The Central Powers suffered from internal divisions between its member states, particularly between Germany and Austria-Hungary, which hindered effective communication and coordination among allies.
• The Allies benefited from having a larger population base and greater resources at their disposal, including access to naval power and industrial might.
• The Central Powers faced significant challenges in terms of resources and manpower, with many countries struggling economically and facing shortages of food and supplies.
• The Central Powers faced challenges in maintaining morale among their troops due to harsh conditions and limited resources, while the Allies were better equipped to support their soldiers both physically and emotionally.
• The Allies benefited from having a stronger naval presence than the Central Powers, allowing them to control key shipping lanes and disrupt enemy trade.
• The Central Powers struggled with logistics and transportation issues, making it challenging to move troops and supplies quickly and efficiently.
• The Central Powers lacked access to key ports and shipping lanes, limiting their ability to import goods and reinforce their armies.
• The Central Powers faced challenges in maintaining morale among their troops due to harsh living conditions and shortages of food and medical supplies.
• The Central Powers faced challenges in maintaining supply lines across vast distances, especially given the difficulty of transporting goods by land or sea.
• Alliance Systems


  • Europe was entangled in a web of alliances
  • These agreements obligated nations to militarily support their allies if they were attacked
  • A localized conflict could quickly snowball into a wider war
• Nationalism


  • Intense national pride and a desire for expansion fueled competition and mistrust between European nations
  • Aggressive nationalism made compromise difficult
  • Fostered a belief in a nation's right to dominance
• Militarism


  • European nations glorified military power
  • Engaged in an arms race, stockpiling weapons and building large armies
  • Constant preparation for war created a tense atmosphere and heightened anxieties
• Imperialism


  • European powers competed for colonies and resources around the globe
  • Competition created friction and disputes over territories
  • Laid the groundwork for potential conflict
• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria


  June 1914
• Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

  Ignited the tinderbox of Europe
• Austria-Hungary, backed by Germany


  Used the assassination as a pretext to launch a punitive attack against Serbia
• WWI wasn't caused by one thing. Alliances, nationalism, arms race, competition for colonies, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand all built up tensions, making a small spark explode into a massive war.
• Napoleonic Art of War


  A military approach that dominated warfare in the 18th and early 19th centuries
• Napoleonic Art of War

  • Bold Offensives
  • Professionalized Armies
  • Centralized Command
  • Total War (though not by Napoleon himself)
• Bold Offensives


  Unlike the defensive strategies that came to define 19th-century warfare later on, the Napoleonic style emphasized launching swift and powerful attacks with large armies
• Professionalized Armies


  This approach relied on well-trained, standing armies rather than temporary forces assembled for specific conflicts. Military schools were created to train officers, and armies became more professionalized
• Centralized Command


  Clear lines of communication and a strong central command structure were crucial for coordinating the movements of large armies on different fronts. New communication technologies like horseback messengers and signal flags aided in this
• Total War (though not by Napoleon himself)


  While Napoleon himself didn't advocate for targeting civilians, theorists like Carl von Clausewitz who studied his tactics argued that "total war," including civilian suffering, could be a legitimate strategy
• Napoleonic Art of War


  A military approach that dominated warfare in the 18th and early 19th centuries
• Napoleonic Art of War

  • Bold Offensives
  • Professionalized Armies
  • Centralized Command
  • Total War (though not by Napoleon himself)
• Bold Offensives


  Unlike the defensive strategies that came to define 19th-century warfare later on, the Napoleonic style emphasized launching swift and powerful attacks with large armies
• Professionalized Armies


  This approach relied on well-trained, standing armies rather than temporary forces assembled for specific conflicts. Military schools were created to train officers, and armies became more professionalized
• Centralized Command


  Clear lines of communication and a strong central command structure were crucial for coordinating the movements of large armies on different fronts. New communication technologies like horseback messengers and signal flags aided in this
• Causes of World War I

  nationalism, imperialism, militarism, creation of alliances (Central and Allied Powers); immediate cause: assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to Austrian throne) by a Serb on June 28, 1914
• Triple Alliance, Triple Entente

  the triple alliance was made up of germany, italy, and austria hungary and the triple entente was made up of russia france and great britain. Italy eventually switched sides to the tiple entante, which made up the majority of the world power
• Countries of world war 1

  France, Russia, Britain

  Austria, Germany, Ottoman Empire
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk


  treaty in which Russia lost substantial territory to the Germans. This ended Russian participation in the war.
• Central Powers


  Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Ottoman Empire
• Allies


  Great Britain, France, Russia
• Eastern Front


  In WWI, the region along the German-Russian Border where Russians and Serbs battled Germans, Austrians, and Turks.