Lecture on World War I

Assassination and Alliances

June 1914: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in Bosnia triggered a series of events leading to World War I.
European Alliances: Nations had entered alliances for mutual protection and military support, especially related to colonial conflicts in Africa and Asia.
Alliance Activation: After Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia:
- Allied Powers: Britain, France, Russia, Japan, others.
- Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire.

War was initially popular; lots of enthusiasm among Europeans.
French Response: 98.5% of conscripted men appeared for duty, higher than expected.
Historical Context: Europe hadn’t seen large-scale war since Napoleon, with recent wars (Crimean, Franco-Prussian) being limited in scope.

New Technologies: Machine guns, mortars, long-range howitzers, aircraft, tanks, poison gas, submarines.
Destructive Weapons: Big Bertha howitzers could fire massive shells with delayed timers for maximum impact.
Lack of Experience: European armies were unfamiliar with modern warfare against equally equipped opponents.

Expectation of a Brief War: Many thought war would be short-lived due to technological advantages.
The Schlieffen Plan:
- Aimed for a quick German victory by quickly defeating France before Russia could fully mobilize.
- Relied on rapid movement and strict timetables; failed due to Belgian resistance.

Belgian Resistance: King Albert I defied German expectations and fought against them, delaying their progress.
Allied Mobilization: French and British joined to support Belgium, halting German advances.
Stalemate: Resulted in trench warfare and prolonged conflict.

High Death Toll: Direct combat casualties higher than previous wars due to new technology.
French Losses: 300,000 deaths and 600,000 wounded by end of 1914 alone.
Historical Comparison: French casualties in 1914 exceeded total U.S. military casualties from 1775 to 1917.

Impact of Warfare: The war devolved into a stalemate with heavy casualties resulting from advanced military technology and misjudged strategies.