World War I: Causes to Treaties

Overview

The transcript summarizes the causes, escalation, major fronts, key events, and outcomes of World War I (1914–1918), including postwar treaties and consequences.

Pre-War Tensions and Alliances

• Europe tense circa 1900 due to defensive alliances priming a large war.
• Key rivalries: Anglo-German naval race; French resentment over Alsace-Lorraine.
• Balkan dominance rivalry: Austria-Hungary vs. Russia; Middle East rivalry: Britain vs. Russia.
• Entente Cordiale (France-Britain) coordinated foreign policy; not a mutual defense pact.
• 1905 First Moroccan Crisis: Germany backed Moroccan independence; France retained influence with foreign-run police.
• 1907 Anglo-Russian agreement divided the Middle East; eased their rivalry.
• 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia; angered Russia; raised Balkan tensions.
• Balkan Wars led to new states; by 1913 the Balkans were fragmented and volatile.

July Crisis and Outbreak (1914)

• Archduke Franz Ferdinand assassinated in Bosnia by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb.
• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia; issued ultimatum with demands; Serbia refused.
• Germany gave Austria-Hungary a “blank cheque” of full support.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia (28 July); Russia mobilized to protect Slavs.
• Germany declared war on Russia (1 August) and France (3 August).

War Plans and Early Western Front

• German Schlieffen Plan: hold Russia in East, sweep through Luxembourg and Belgium to take Paris.
• Belgium refused passage; Germany invaded (4 August); Britain entered to uphold Belgian neutrality.
• Italy stayed neutral as its Triple Alliance commitment was defensive.
• First Battle of the Marne halted German advance; ended hopes of a quick war.
• Trench warfare began; “race to the sea” attempted mutual outflanking to the Channel.

Forces and Balance of Power (1914)

• Central Powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary advantaged early; Germany industrialized with many troops.
• Russia large on paper but poorly trained and equipped; forces dispersed.
• France had smaller, well-equipped conscript army; Britain had a small professional army.

Eastern and Other Fronts (1914–1915)

• Russia advanced into Germany but was crushed at Tannenberg by Hindenburg.
• Austria-Hungary failed in Serbia; Russia advanced into its territory.
• Ottoman Empire joined Central Powers; widened the conflict.
• Zeppelin raids hit England; Germany used chlorine gas; warfare methods evolved.
• Gallipoli Campaign (1915) failed; heavy losses, no breakthrough.
• Germany used unrestricted submarine warfare; sank Lusitania carrying people and weapons.
• Italy joined the Entente; fighting on Alpine front stalemated into trenches.
• Fighting spread: British and Russian forces in Ottoman lands; clashes in Africa.
• Japan seized German Pacific colonies; Australia captured New Guinea.
• Serbia fell in late 1915 after Bulgarian entry on the Central Powers’ side.

Major Battles and Campaigns (1916)

• Montenegro conquered; Irish Easter Rising occurred amid wartime strain.
• Verdun: massive casualties; minimal territorial change; attrition warfare.
• Somme: heavy losses; limited gains; first large-scale British use of tanks.
• Jutland: main fleets clashed; British naval dominance held; Germany failed to break blockade.
• Brusilov Offensive pushed Central Powers back in the East; significant Russian gains.
• Emperor Franz Joseph died; Charles I succeeded in Austria-Hungary.
• Tanks introduced by Britain; effective when operational, but breakdowns common.

1917: Exhaustion, Revolutions, and U.S. Entry

• Both sides sought to reshape Europe; mutually unacceptable war aims prolonged conflict.
• Russia: February Revolution toppled Nicholas II; provisional government stayed in the war.
• Austria-Hungary frayed internally; Germany strained by politics and British blockade hunger.
• U.S. President Woodrow Wilson preferred neutrality but sympathized with Entente.
• Unrestricted submarine warfare resumed; Zimmermann Telegram proposed Mexico invade U.S.
• United States entered war against the Central Powers.
• Greece joined the Entente under pressure.
• October Revolution: Communists seized power in Russia; Russia exited war, ceding territory after negotiations.

1918: Final Offensives and Collapse

• Germany’s Spring Offensive sought victory before U.S. troop buildup; gains without decisive result.
• Stalemate persisted; Austria-Hungary continued to disintegrate internally.
• Entente forces advanced into Bulgaria; domestic unrest led to Bulgarian armistice.
• British advanced into Ottoman lands, aided by Arab revolt under T. E. Lawrence’s guidance.
• Britain promised Arab lands for support but did not honor those promises.
• Damascus captured; Ottomans signed armistice (30 October).
• Italy finally pushed into Austria-Hungary; Charles I signed armistice; empire rapidly collapsed.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated; Germany signed armistice (11 November); war ended.

Postwar Treaties and Territorial Changes (1919–1920)

• Treaty of Versailles: reduced German territory; limited armed forces; imposed heavy reparations.
• Treaty of Trianon: split Hungarian half; territory to Romania and new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.
• Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye: divided Austrian half; created Czechoslovakia; land to Poland and Italy (less than promised).
• Bulgaria lost territory; punished by postwar settlements.
• Ottoman Empire slated for major losses; Turkish resistance won; Republic of Turkey formed.
• Remaining Ottoman territories assigned to Britain and France as new mandates.

Human Cost and Legacy

• About 8 million military deaths; Russia, Germany, and France suffered the most.
• War began from imperial pride; leaders sought quick glory; tactics lagged behind technology.
• Tactical inflexibility and new weapons killed many unnecessarily in failed offensives.
• Four empires collapsed; new nations emerged with unstable borders and grievances.
• The war’s greatest legacy was laying conditions that led to World War II.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Entente Cordiale: Agreements aligning France and Britain’s foreign policy; not a defense pact.
• Schlieffen Plan: German strategy to defeat France quickly via Belgium, then fight Russia.
• Blank Cheque: Germany’s unconditional support to Austria-Hungary during July Crisis.
• Unrestricted Submarine Warfare: U-boat policy attacking shipping indiscriminately to starve Britain.
• Zimmermann Telegram: German proposal urging Mexico to attack the U.S. in return for territory.
• Armistice: Agreement to stop fighting; signed by Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire, Austria-Hungary, and Germany in 1918.

Major Events and Outcomes Summary

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review chronology of key battles and offensives to understand shifting fronts.
• Study treaty terms and territorial changes for long-term political impacts.
• Examine causes of stalemate and technological changes influencing tactics.
• Analyze how postwar settlements contributed to conditions for World War II.