Lecture on World War I

Pre-War Alliances

• Triple Entente: France, Britain, and Russia, formed due to fear of Germany.
• Triple Alliance: Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy, formed due to mutual interests and fear of encirclement.

Outbreak of War

• 1914, June 28: Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip.
• Austro-Hungary issues ultimatum to Serbia, leading to war declaration.
• Russia mobilizes in defense of Serbia.
• German support for Austro-Hungary leads to escalation; Germany declares war on Russia and France.
• Schlieffen Plan: Germany's strategy to quickly defeat France via Belgium.

Major Battles and Campaigns

• First Battle of the Marne: Allied counter-attack stops German advance to Paris.
• Trench Warfare Begins: From the English Channel to Switzerland.
• Naval Blockades: British implement a blockade on Germany; the first use of submarine-launched torpedoes.
• Eastern Front: Russian defeat at Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes.
• Gallipoli Campaign: Allied attempt to seize Dardanelles fails.

Global Involvement

• Japan declares war on Germany, seizes Tsingtao.
• Fighting in African colonies: German forces led by Lettow-Vorbeck conduct guerrilla warfare.

Notable Events of 1915

• Lusitania Sinking: German U-boats sink British passenger liner, causing American outrage.
• Poison Gas: First used by Germans at Second Battle of Ypres.

Battles of Attrition and Stalemate

• Verdun and the Somme: Massive casualties without decisive breakthroughs.
• Brusilov Offensive: Russian advance creates temporary advantage.
• Italy joins Allies, declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Changes in 1917

• US Entry into the War: Triggered by unrestricted submarine warfare and Zimmerman Telegram.
• Russian Revolution leads to Russia's military decline.
• Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele): Heavy casualties with little gain.

Conclusion of the War

• 1918 Offensives: German spring offensive fails; Allies begin 100 Days Offensive.
• Armistice: Signed on November 11, 1918.

Post-War Consequences

• Treaty of Versailles: Imposes harsh terms on Germany, redrawing European boundaries.
• League of Nations is formed.
• Significant loss of life and widespread destruction.