World war 1 - An Overview

Just an introduction to the event. This slide is not mine.

1. World War 1 : An Overview

2. WORLD WAR I 1914 –
1918
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3. Introduction
World War I was the result of leaders' aggression
towards other countries which was supported by
the rising nationalism of the European nations.
Economic and imperial competition and fear of
war prompted military alliances and an arms
race, which further escalated the tension
contributing to the outbreak of war.
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4. Militarism
The menace of the hostile division between the Triple Alliance (Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy) and the Triple Entente (Britain, France and Russia)
led to an arms race. Acknowledging that Germany was the leader in military
organization and efficiency, the great powers of Europe copied the universal
conscription, large reserves and detailed planning of the German system. itself.
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5. #5

6. Alliances
World War I was caused in part by the two opposing
alliances developed by Germany. In order to
diplomatically isolate France, Bismarck formed the
Three Emperor's League in 1872, an alliance between
Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. When the
French occupied Tunisia, Bismarck took advantage of
Italian resentment towards France and created the Triple
Alliance between Germany, Italy and Austria- Hungary in
1882.
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7. #7

8. Imperialism
Countries competed for economic
expansion in Africa, Asia and in the
Americas
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9. Nationalism
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10. Basic representation
of the alliances
centered on the
Balkans.
The Balkans: The
“Powder Keg” of Europe
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11. Bosnian Crisis of 1908
Another conflict was incited by the Austria-Hungarian annexation of the former Turkish
province of Bosnia in 1908. The Greater Serbian movement had as an object the
acquisition of Slavic Bosnia, so Serbia threatened war on Austria-Hungary. Russia had
pledged their support to Serbia, so they began to mobilize, which caused Germany,
allied with Austria-Hungary, to threaten war on Russia. The beginning of World War I
was postponed when Russia backed down, but relations between Austria- Hungary and
Serbia were greatly strained.
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12. General
Information…
• Started on July 28, 1914
• Ended on November 11, 1918
• Almost 8,000,000 dead.
*** Russia the most = 1.7 million
• Almost 22,000,000 wounded…..
• Map of Europe greatly
changed.

15. Reasons for start
of war…
•Extreme nationalism – pride in
country
•Imperialism
•Militarism – building up military
•Alliance system - <KEY REASON >
–European powers formed rival
alliances to protect
themselves
–PROBLEM ? One event could
drag all countries involved
into a conflict.

18. The Black Hand..
•The main objective of
the Black Hand was the
creation, by means of
violence, of a Greater
Serbia.
• Its stated aim was: "To
realize the national
ideal, the unification of
all Serbs. This
organization prefers
terrorist action to
cultural activities; it will
therefore remain
secret."

19. The spark that lit
the fuse….
•The one event that started the Great War
happened in the Balkans.
•The Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria) was
assassinated while visiting Serbia.
•The Black Hand was responsible….

22. Gavrilo Princip #13

27. Battle of Verdun
•the longest and one of the bloodiest engagements
of World War I. February 1916 – December 1916
•Two million men were engaged.
•The intention of the Germans had been a battle of
attrition in which they hoped to bleed the French
army white.
•In the end, they sustained almost as many
casualties as the French; an estimated 328,000 to
the French 348,000.

29. Map 31.1: Major U.S. Operations in France, 1918

30. Figure 31.1: Approximate Comparative Losses in World War I

31. What was the job of
George Creel during the war?
His job was to
sell America the
war.
Creel tried to
“whip” up
support for
Wilson’s ideas
Help US raise
money to fight

34. Election of 1916
“He kept us out of war!!!!”

36. Cheerful German soldiers on the train to the front
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37. Advance of French soldiers into the war surrounded by an enthusiastic
crowd
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38. #23

39. German soldiers in their trenches near Antwerp (September 1914)
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40. A British trench - the soldier on the right is on guard - the others are
resting.
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41. German storm troopers running through the barbed wire entanglement
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42. German soldiers and horses and mules wearing gasmasks
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43. German soldiers after rat hunting in their trenches
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44. German soldiers lice hunting in the trenches near Reims (1915)
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45. TECHNOLOGY
IN THE GREAT
WAR 1914-1918
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46. #37

47. #38

48. British Machine Guns
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49. Indian Gun Crew
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50. German Artillery
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51. Allied Howitzer
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52. A British Tank
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53. German Zeppelin
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54. #46

55. French Spad
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56. #50

57. #51
Chlorine Gas

58. Phosgene Gas Mask
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59. Blinded by Mustard Gas
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60. In the trenches: Infantry with gas
masks, Ypres, 1917
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61. German Dispatch Rider
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62. German
Carrier
Pigeons in
Gas Protected
Boxes
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63. German Radio at the Western Front
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64. German U-Boat
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