World War I “The Great War”

1. World War I“The Great War” 1914-1918

2. REVIEW! • MAIN • Archduke Franz Ferdinand shot June 28th, 1914 • Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia a month later • Russia defends Serbia • Alliance system holds • all out war

4. Two Front War • Germany, the real power of the Central Powers, wants to avoid a two front war • Schlieffen Plan: beat France, then take on Russia • Failstrench warfare

5. Bloody Stalemate • Many on both sides thought war would end by Christmas • Battle of the Marne (Sept. 1914): Pushes German offensive back

6. Key Battles • Battle of Verdun: longest battle of War, French lost 550,000 • Battle of the Somme: consumed nearly 620,000 causalities in four months, tanks introduced • Gallipoli Campaign: in the Balkans • intended to supply Russians, failed

7. USA HELP!!!! • Allies desperate for US aid • US declares war on April 6th, 1917; joins allies • See ya Russians! • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, 1918

8. Don’t forget Japan… • Originally join Allied Powers in 1914 • Job: keep German fleet occupied in Pacific • Germany focuses on Europe; Japan scoops up territory in Pacific….. • Think WWII???????

9. End of Fighting • John J. Pershing, Commander of American Expeditionary Forces • Marshall Ferdinand Foch French commander • 2nd Battle of the Marne (March 1918): Germans push to within 50 miles of Paris • Battle of Chateau-ThierryUS troops save Paris • Allied Summer Offensive 1918 • Battle of Argonne Forest, end of Central Powers • November 11th, 1918 Cease-fire

12. “Bloodiest War in History” • Allied causalities: • 5.1 million KIA • 12.8 million wounded • 4.1 million MIA • Central Powers causalities: • 3.3 million KIA • 8.3 million wounded • 3.6 MIA • Civilian causalities (famine, bombing, massacres, flu) • 14.7 million