World War I

1. World War I The Guns of August Section 2 chp 14 pp. 380-382

2. 2 Setting the Scene * • Member of an Austrian Noble Military family she was an anti war novelist. Nicknamed “Peace Bertha” • 1913 wrote “the great European disaster is well on its way. If so many seeds have been sown, surely the weeds will sprout up soon and surely so much stockpiled gunpowder will explode.” • Eight days after her death on June 20, 1914 an assassination set off WWI. Bertha von Suttner

3. 2 Assassination in Sarajevo* In 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary announced he would visit Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. • At the time, Bosnia was under the rule of Austria-Hungary. But it was also the home of many Serbs and other Slavs.

4. Serbian Outrage News of the royal visit angered many Serbian nationalists. • They viewed Austrians as foreign oppressors. • The date chosen for the archduke’s visit was a significant date in Serbian history. On that date in 1389, Serbia had been conquered by the Ottoman empire. On the same date in 1912, Serbia had freed itself from Turkish rule. • Members of the Unity of Death, a Serbian terrorist group known as the Black Hand, vowed to take action. “Our decision was taken almost immediately. Death to the tyrant?”

5. The Fatal Shots • Arch Duke Francis Ferdinand ignored warnings of anti-Austrian unrest and on June 28, 1914 rode through the streets of Sarajevo in an open car along with his wife Sophie. • Along the route there were Black Hand members stationed to try to kill the Arch Duke and Duchess • At one point a bomb was thrown at the car but hit the one behind it and injured an officer riding in it • Later that day Ferdinand asked to visit this officer little did he know the Black Hand was still waiting for an opportunity • As the car took off Gavrilo Princip shot two times into the car killing the Arch Duke and Duchess.

6. The Conflict Widens * • The news of his nephews death shocked the aging Austrian emperor, Francis Joseph. Still, he was reluctant to go to war. His government in Vienna, however, saw the incident as an excuse to crush Serbia for good.

7. A Harsh Ultimatum After the assassination of the archduke, Austria sent Serbia an ultimatum, or final set of demands. Serbia agreed to most, but not all, of the terms of Austria’s ultimatum. As a result, Austria declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914

8. From Capital to Capital • A war between a major power and small country should of ended up being just that a “summer war” as most wars were in Europe • Instead because Germany backed Austria by Kaiser William II advising Francis Joseph to take a strong stand and Russia’s backing of Serbia by telling Germany to make sure Austria backs off • Russia mobilizes, or prepares its military for war • Germany declares war on Russia • Russia appeals to France for help, the French people rally with the idea of defeating Germany. Germany demands France stay out of the conflict, France refuses • Germany declares war on France • By early august the battle lines are drawn

9. The Schlieffen Plan • Neutrality, a policy supporting neither side in war. Great Britain and Italy were neutral for a while. • General Alfred von Schlieffen of Germany had created a plan of attack against France. The plan was designed to avoid a two front war, fighting Russia on one side and France on the other. • The Schlieffen plan called for a quick defeat of the French and then concentrating on the much larger Russia • The plan required German armies to go through Belgium then swing south behind French lines. • On August 3 Germany invaded Belgium, which Britain and other nations had pledged to protect, with the invasion Great Britain declared war on Germany

10. The Schlieffen Plan

11. Europe Goes To War • Austria Hungary July 28, 1914 • Serbia July 28, 1914 • Germany August 1, 1914 • Russia August 1, 1914 • France August 2, 1914 • Belgium August 3, 1914 • Great Britain August 4, 1914 • Montenegro August 5, 1914 • Japan August 23, 1914

12. 2 The Historians’ View How could an assassination lead to all-out war in just a few weeks? Today, most historians agree that all parties must share blame. • Each of the great powers believed that its cause was just. • Once the machinery of war was set in motion, it seemed impossible to stop. • Although leaders made the decisions, most people on both sides were equally committed to military action.