The First World War (The Great War)

Introduction

• Quote by Sir Edward Grey: “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
• European continent prepared for war in the summer of 1914
• Significant global changes and long-lasting consequences

Context Before WWI

Early 20th Century Europe

• Europe at a crossroads: Old Victorian ideas vs. new ideas like socialism and democracy
• Increased technology, communication, literacy rates
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungarian Empire recognized the dying old ways
  • Surrendered throne for love, worked to stabilize the empire
  • Diplomacy with Russia
• Ethnic and nationalist tensions high, especially in Balkans with Serbia and Austro-Hungarian territories
• Allied networks: Serbia and Russia (with France), Austro-Hungary and Germany

Rising Militarism and Imperialism

• Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II: Militaristic and imperialistic ambitions
  • Vast army and powerful navy
• Arms race in Europe between major powers
  • Britain’s Royal Navy, French army, German militarization, Russian army

Immediate Causes of WWI

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• June 28, 1914: Assassination in Bosnia by the Black Hand
  • Resulted in anger and fueled nationalist sentiment

July Crisis and Declaration of War

• Austro-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia
  • Rejected ultimatum led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia on July 28, 1914
• Cascade of war declarations in early August:
  • Germany declared war on Russia and France
  • Britain entered war on August 4, 1914, after German invasion of Belgium

Early Phase of the War

Fluid Warfare and Initial Battles

• British Expeditionary Force lands in France
• New technologies such as reconnaissance aircraft emerged
• Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Ottoman Empire forming the Central Powers

Expansion of Conflict

• Fights extended to Africa, Middle East, Far East
• Examples of early battle locations: German colonial territories, naval battles near Australia

Developments During the War

Trench Warfare

• Trench life: Difficult conditions, rain, mud, disease, limited rations
• Typical trench: 7ft deep, 6ft wide
• Innovations for trench warfare: Zigzag patterns to minimize damage
  • Daily routine in trenches: Stand-to, repairing trenches, downtime, stand-to at dusk

New Technologies and Tactics

• Machine guns: Devastating effect, changing traditional battle tactics
• Development of tank warfare, airplane reconnaissance, and fighting
  • Machine guns on airplanes, synchronized propeller guns

Key Battles and Offensives

• First Battle of Ypres (October-November 1914)
• Eastern Front and Russian setbacks
  • Austro-Hungarians initially succeed but fail to capitalize

Key Events of 1915-1916

Chlorine Gas and Galapagos Campaign

• Introduction of chemical warfare
• Failed Gallipoli campaign led by Winston Churchill
  • Heavy casualties among Australian and New Zealand troops

Naval Warfare

• Battle of Jutland (May 31, 1916): Major naval battle between Britain and Germany

The Somme Offensive

• July 1, 1916: Largest battle, high casualties
  • Introduction of tanks in warfare

Later Stages and Internal Strife

Domestic Unrest and Revolutions

• Irish Easter Rebellion (1916)
• Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire
• Russian February and October revolutions in 1917 leading to the Bolshevik government
• French army mutinies (1917)

U.S. Entry and Impact (1917-1918)

• U.S. neutrality ended; U.S. declared war on Germany (April 6, 1917)
• American Expeditionary Force arrived in significant numbers by 1918

Conclusion and Aftermath of WWI

End of the War

• Germany faced internal revolutions and leadership changes
• November 11, 1918: Armistice signed, ending the Great War

Immediate Consequences

• Over 17 million dead, 20 million wounded
• Russian Civil War, formation of the Soviet Union
• Collapse of Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, leading to new nations and conflicts

Long-lasting Impact

• Treaty of Versailles harsh terms on Germany
  • Rise of Adolf Hitler and WWII seeds sown
• Post-war geopolitical changes and rise in nationalism

Legacy

• Long-lasting impacts felt throughout the 20th century
• Continued geopolitical restructuring and conflicts derived from WWI events