World War I Overview

Stalemate and Strategy

• Initial stalemate between Allies and Central Powers.
• War focus shifted from territorial gains to attrition.
• British naval blockade on Germany.

New Frontiers

• Allies and Central Powers sought new strategies:
  • Allies:
    • Australia took German New Guinea.
    • Captured German colonies in Africa.
    • Italy joined Allies for promised lands of Austria-Hungary.
    • Japan seized German territories in East Asia.
  • Central Powers:
    • Ottoman Empire joined, attacking Russia and Suez Canal unsuccessfully.
    • Armenian Genocide occurred.

Chemical Warfare and New Tactics

• Germany:
  • Zeppelin raids and chlorine gas attacks.
  • Sunk civilian ships, including Lusitania.
  • Allies also engaged in chemical warfare.

Expansion of Conflict

• Central Powers:
  • Bulgaria joined for territorial promises, aiding against Serbia.
• Allies Expansion:
  • Portugal entered the war.
  • Naval battle using Dreadnoughts.

Major Battles

• Battle of Verdun: Massive casualties.
• Battle of the Somme: British faced severe losses.
• Russian offensives, initially successful, but faltered.
• Romania entered and was quickly defeated.

Political Changes and Revolutions

• Greek political schism resolved, joining Allies.
• Russian Revolution led to Bolsheviks' rise and Russia's exit from the war.

Entry of the United States

• Germany’s attempted alliance with Mexico (Zimmerman Telegram) failed.
• U.S. joined Allies, shifting the war balance.

End of the War

• Allied counter-attacks succeeded as American troops strengthened.
• Central Powers collapsed sequentially: Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, Germany.
• Armistice on November 11, 1918.

Treaty and Aftermath

• Treaty forced Germany to disarm, accept war guilt, and pay reparations.
• War lessons led to a temporary peace of 20 years before the next major conflict.