The Schlieffen Plan

1. The Schlieffen Plan Germany’s plan to “hit first”, if theyshould feel war is inevitable

2. I. The BackgroundIn 1904, France and Britain signed a treaty of “friendly understanding”. The goal of the treaty was to encourage co-operation against the threat of Germany. The German military began to fear the possibility of a combined attack from France, Britain (and later Russia). II. The IdeaIn 1905, Alfred von Schlieffen(a German general) argued that if war took place it was vital that France was defeated quickly. If this happened, Britain and Russia would be unwilling to carry on fighting. The Schlieffen Plan required that Germany surprise France by marching through the neutralcountries of Belgium and Luxemburg.

3. Pair Share What was the Schlieffen Plan and do you think it was a good plan? Why or Why not?

4. III. The OutcomeThe Schlieffen Plan would be used after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, but it would not be successful. The Belgium Army was destroyed, but it fought hard enough to stall the Germans. This gave the French enough time to realize Germany’s intentions and ruined the surprise attack. IV. The ControversyAfter the war the Germans would be harshly criticized and penalized because It was against international law for a country to use a neutral country for any military operation. If a country declares itself “neutral” no other country may use them for military purposes.

5. Pair Share What was the outcome and the controversy with the Schlieffen Plan? What went wrong?

6. A quick German Victory was now impossible. • The Germans are now forced to fight a two front war. • Western Front—Britain, France, U.S. etc. • Eastern Front—Russia

7. Alfred von Schlieffen, German Army Chief of Staff

10. Pair Share What do you think the problem is with fighting a two front war? Why do you think the Germans tried to avoid this?

11. THE WAR STARTS AND RUSSIA, WHICH IS NOT INDUSTRIALIZED, IS FORCED TO FIGHT GERMANY (VERY INDUSTRIALIZED) ALL ALONE.

12. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION BEFORE WWI, RUSSIA HAD A CZAR [KING]. AT THE END OF WWI RUSSIA IS A COMMUNIST NATION, THE CZAR IS OUT OF POWER AND THEY NO LONGER CALL THEMSELVES RUSSIA. THEY CALL THEMSELVES “THE SOVIET UNION” WHAT HAPPENED ????

13. THE 3 FACTORS THAT CAUSED THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION I. WWI GOES VERY WRONG FOR RUSSIA 2. THE CZAR MAKES SOME BAD DECISIONS 3. RASPUTIN

14. I. WWI GOES VERY WRONG FOR RUSSIA A. UP TO 2.5 MILLION RUSSIANS WERE KILLED DURING THE WAR B. RUSSIA BECAME BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF THE COST OF THE WAR C. PEOPLE BEGAN TO STARVE. MANY HAD LOST THEIR SONS OR FATHERS TO THE WAR

15. Pair Share How does WWI go wrong for Russia? How does this lead to Revolution?

16. 2. THE CZAR MAKES SOME BAD DECISIONS A. HE DRAGGED HIS COUNTRY INTO A WAR THEY COULD NOT WIN B. HE LED HIS OWN ARMIES ON THE FRONT LINE AND THEREFORE TOOK THE BLAME FOR ALL LOSSES C. HE TOLD HIS ARMY TO SHOOT RUSSIAN CIVILIANS THAT RIOTED [INCLUDING WOMEN]

17. Pair Share What are the bad decisions that the Czar makes? How does that lead to Revolution?

18. 3. RASPUTIN … MORE DETAILS LATER

19. II. THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION (1917) A. REVOLUTION #1: CZAR GIVES ORDER FOR TROOPS TO FIRE UPON RIOTING CROWDS (INCLUDING SOME COMMUNISTS). THE SOLDIERS REVOLT AND THE CZAR ABDICATES (RESIGNS). B. A NEW GOVERNMENT “THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT” IS FORMED WHICH INCLUDES COMMUNISTS AND SOME WHO USED TO WORK WITH THE CZAR C. REVOLUTION #2: LENIN LEADS BOLSHEVIK’S (COMMUNISTS) AND OVERTHROWS “THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT”

20. Pair Share Who is the Father of Communism in Russia and who are the Bolsheviks? Use these questions to explain the basics of the Russian Revolution.

21. 3. RASPUTIN Holy Man Con Man OR

22. NO OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR THE FALL OF THE ROMANOV DYNASTY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION THAN GREGORY RASPUTIN. SOME SAID HE WAS A HOLY MAN. OTHERS SAID HE WAS A FRAUD, A CON MAN. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

23. RASPUTIN BORN JANUARY 10, 1869 A PEASANT VERY LITTLE EDUCATION

24. MONK? RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE AT 19 YEARS OLD RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ADOPTED THE ROBES OF A MONK BELIEVED IN “SIN TO DRIVE SIN OUT”

25. OR SKUNK? VILE? DRUNKARD THIEF WOMANIZER

26. THE CZARS FAMILY:THE ROMANOVS NO MALE HEIR TO THE THRONE THEN ALEXIS WAS BORN

27. BUT… ALEXIS SUFFERED FROM HEMOPHILIA Czar Nicholas II and Tsarevich Alexis Nicholaievich, c.1913

28. RASPUTIN GOES TO ST. PETERSBURG [RUSSIA’S CAPITOL CITY] SELF PROCLAIMED HOLY MAN HELD GREAT POWER OVER THE ROMANOVS STOPPED ALEXIS’ BLEEDING CONTROVERSY ABOUT HOW HE DID IT

29. RASPUTIN’S INFLUENCE INCREASES THE CZAR IS AWAY FIGHTING THE WAR RASPUTIN IS AT ALEXANDRA’S SIDE MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT RUSSIA RASPUTIN CLAIMS THAT THE ROMANOV’S FUTURE DEPENDS ON HIM THE ELITES AND ROYAL FAMILY FEAR FOR RUSSIA’S FUTURE

30. CARTOONS OF THE DAY SHOW WHAT THE ELITES AND ROYAL FAMILIES THOUGHT OF RASPUTIN Scurrilous cartoon depicting Nicholas and Alexandra as puppets of Rasputin, c. 1915.

31. Pair Share Discuss with your partner the details of Rasputin’s rise to power in Russia.

32. PATHWAY TO DEATH INVITATION TO ROYAL FAMILY HOME RASPUTIN IS DRUGGED POISONED BEATEN SHOT THREE TIMES THROWN INTO A FROZEN RIVER

33. Analyze the Cartoon

34. Pair Share Discuss the details of the death of Rasputin and how it only adds more confusion to his story

35. THE REST OF THE STORY SUPPORTERS OF THE CZAR ARE JUBILANT 80% OF THE RUSSIAN POPULATION THOUGHT RASPUTIN WAS A MAN OF THE PEOPLE. MOSTLY PEASANTS LIKE RASPUTIN (rags to riches). THE ROMANOVS LOSE THE THRONE WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER RASPUTIN’S DEATH