The War to End All Wars Just War Theory
Western Philosophy of warfare Wars must have a just cause Related to Enlightenment ideas and Judeo-Christian philosophy World War One At a Glance
Triple Entente Central Powers “Triple Alliance” UK, France, Russia Germany, Austria-Hungary, Colonial Empires with large Ottoman Empire support Japan, USA, Italy also supported 15.5 million casualties Allies 4 million military dead (3 22 million casualties (5.7 million military dead) million civilian) Additional 3.7 million civilian deaths Most in Russia (Stats incomplete) Winners and Losers
Triple Entente Central Powers Winners Alliance cannot agree how to Losers approach the end of the War Italy a Loser Germany Even though on the winning side, Punished for the war receives no help or compsensation Russia a Loser Ottoman Empire 8 million casualties Collapses and fails Destroys Russian Monarchy completely Japan a Loser No expansion of Empire Causes of World War 1
M-ilitarism A-lliances I-mperialism N-ationalism Causes of World War 1--Militarism
Militarism Shift in European thinking about the role of militaries Total War All aspects of a society were channeled into war effort Professional Soldiers replace militia Industrial Revolution produces large quantities of supplies and new equipment for military Fabian Socialists saw war as an opportunity to alter boundaries established in Congress of Vienna after Napoleon (1815) The War to End All Wars Causes of World War 1--Alliances
Mutual Defense Alliances Countries in Europe began to sign agreements to protect one another if they are attacked.
Triple Entente England, France, and Russia
Central Powers Germany and Austria-Hungary Causes of World War 1--Imperialism
Berlin Conference (1884) greatly benefits England and France
By 1914, most desirable land has been claimed Wars began to break out among colonies Major world powers began to clash over imperial claims Germany specifically wants more colonies and power Berlin Conference Failed for Germany Causes of World War 1--Nationalism
Many countries had developed a strong sense of national identity British—Slightly elitist and proud of their empire French--Proud of revolutionary ideas that challenged the status quo Germans—Prussian military might and strong sense of industrial power (blood and iron) Patriotism vs. Nationalism Causes of World War 1—Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand was crowned prince of Austria Assassinated by a Serbian Terrorist organization (The Black Hand) Serbia (Serbs) and Austria (Germanic) both have cultural connections and Defense Alliances with Russia and Germany. Austria declares war on Serbia Russia declares war on Austria Germany declares war on Russia England and France declare war on Germany WW1 Map World War 1: Impact of Technology
Industrialized Warfare Factories make mass-production possible Uniforms, bullets, guns, and other war supplies can be made quickly
Many weapons used on a large scale for the first time. World War 1: Impact of Industrial Revolution
Mass Production of Weapons
Social Changes Warfare before the Industrial Revolution Soldiers were farmers who signed up for short- term After Industrial Revolution Career soldiers World War 1: Impact of Technology
Repeating weapons Both sides employ machine guns and semi- automatic rifles Gave large advantages to defenders
Grenades Used to clear holes in razor wire or to attack enemy trenches World War 1: Impact of Technology
Artillery Bombardment could be 24/7 against enemy positions
With unlimited supply, accuracy didn’t matter Rail Guns like the “Big Bertha” could fire shells over 10 miles
Sulphur mustard “mustard gas” could be fired in shells and vaporized to burn enemy soldiers World War 1: Impact of Technology
U-boats
Used extensively by the Germans in WW1 to threaten shipping
Effectively cancelled the advantage of the British navy
Bi-Wing Aircraft
Used as scouts and occasionally to drop bombs or attack enemy positions
High Propaganda value A New Battlefield: Trench Warfare
Trench Warfare
Fortifications were common in warfare for thousands of years
Large Defensive Advantage with Machine Guns
As positions became more permanent, trenches became more extensive
Eventually became massive networks that were miles long, with several supply and reinforcement trenches
Hundreds of Miles of French Countryside in the Western Front A New Battlefield: Defensive Advantage
Entrenched Machine Guns
Could effectively stop advancing armies with limited manpower
Enhanced further by land mines and razor wire
Required new tactics, strategies, and technology
Tanks, grenades, and bombardment all adopted to counter trench warfare A New Battlefield: An Old Foe
Disease
#1 killer of soldiers in World War 1
Trenches
Breeding ground for bacteria
Dead bodies, rats, human waste, and water all collected in the trenches. A New Battlefield: Bombardment
Long-Range Artillery was able to fire at will
Ammunition no longer scarce, so firing occurred as frequently as they could reload
Accuracy was not good
Chemical Weapons
Mustard gas used
Burned the lungs when inhaled Desolation
No Man’s Land The space between trenches After 2 years of fighting in the same place, the land was ruined by constant bombardment Razor wire used extensively to slow enemy advances Often, dead men were left in trenches or no man’s land Evolution of Tactics
Sending soldiers “Over the Top” was ineffective Reliance on bombardment
Americans tended to ignore British and French commanders Attacked head-on
By WW2, French had built massive defensive trench system called “Maginot Line” Germans adopted “blitzkrieg” as a totally new strategy Impact on Soldiers
Spent up to 6 weeks in the trench before being moved to support roles Lived, slept, and spent all of their time in the trenches Trench Foot Caused by bacteria in the water Trench Mouth Smoke, tobacco, and lack of oral hygiene Shell Shock Doctors thought brain function was impacted by loud noises and explosions World War 1: Russia
Not fully industrialized
By 1917, poor management by the Tsar (Nicholas II) led to Russian Revolution
Outgunned
Poor Wartime Management
Communist Ideas
When the Bolsheviks took over the government, Russia withdrew from WW1
Signed peace treaties with Central Powers
Leaked details of Sykes-Picot Agreement World War 1: America
America neutral from 1914-1917
Germans officially banned all shipments of war supplies to Allied Nations
Germany began “unrestricted submarine warfare” against all ships to Allied Powers
Lusitania sunk in 1915 killing over 1,000 passengers
Allies had been using passenger ships to transport weapons
Woodrow Wilson wins re-election in 1916 by promising not to get US involved in European War World War 1: America
Wilson wants to help shape peace after the war
14 Points, including a League of Nations
Zimmermann Note sent to Mexico from Germany
Proposed an alliance only IF the US declared war on Germany
Offered New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona if Central Powers won World War 1: America
Zimmermann Telegram and German Submarine Warfare give Wilson justification to involve US Declares War (Germany only) in April, 1917 US impact is minimal (only 350,000 casualties) Initially, American commanders refuse to listen to experienced commanders Surge of fresh troops does have big impact The End of WW1: Treaty of Versailles
Germany surrenders unconditionally in Nov, 1918
France demands reparations for damage caused by fighting
Germany given sole responsibility
Establishes a League of Nations
Based on Wilson’s 14 Points
US President (Wilson) unable to get Senate to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, so US never joins
German army and navy severely restricted. All u- boats sunk.
Germany powerless to resist other nations in future The End of WW1: Germany
Loses all colonies
Ordered to pay reparations for war Largely financed by America German Economy destroyed by war and debts Enters a depression caused by hyper-inflation
Cedes land to France on border Geneva Conventions
First created in 1925 to regulate chemical and biological warfare
Updated the way that wounded people and medics were treated
WW1 was the first time that the Red Cross existed as a humanitarian organization
Established rules for the treatment of prisoners of war World War 1: Ottoman Empire
Not industrialized at all Mostly opportunistic, trying to expand empire while major Imperial nations busy fighting
Sykes-Picot Agreement between Britain and France divide Ottoman Empire between them Had promised land to Arabs who helped fight Ottomans Russia tells the Arabs about British and French deceit A major reason ISIS targets British and French targets The End of WW1: Sykes-Picot
As per the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Britain and France take over control of Middle East British take control of Palestine and Iraq French take control of Syria Arabs get nothing Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire Ruled by the Turks—Overthrew the Byzantine Empire Followed Sharia Law
Christianity is not illegal, but must be a Muslim in order to have legal rights
Armenia was a small Christian nation east of Turkey Ottoman Empire
Armenian Genocide
In 1915, Armenians refused to serve in army
Community leaders arrested
Men were conscripted (drafted) to be laborers for the army and taken far from homeland
Soon, entire towns were forced to march into deserts with no supplies or shot Ottoman Empire
Germans, Americans, British, and French all aware that the attacks on the Armenians were occurring
Hitler noticed the lack of reaction, and came to believe that the world would ignore genocide.
Roughly 70% of all Armenian Christians are killed (over 1 million)
”Genocide” used in 1943 first to describe this event World War 1: Spanish Influenza
Worst pandemic in world history
Spread by soldiers and supply vessels
Between 1917-1918, approximately 50-100 million people died Named “Spanish Flu” due to propaganda which hid impact in Germany, USA, Britain, and France
Made it seem like Spain was more affected The War on Disease
Alexander Fleming
Doctor in World War 1
Scientist
Knew most of his patients were dying from infection
Sought medicine to treat infections
Accidentally discovered antibiotics
Contaminated Petri dish had mold
Fleming noticed that the mold was killing the bacteria Women in WWI
Critical in factory jobs due to men fighting in war Many women didn’t want to go back to domestic life Support for war effort in rationing and work
Corresponds with the Women’s Suffrage movements that gave equal political rights to women
Served as nurses in the Red Cross in increasingly dangerous places Militarism.A.I.N—After the War
Major advantage to industrialized nations
Cannot win without large industrial base
Germany, USA, Russia, England, France become major world powers due to large populations and industrial capacity
German military severely restricted by Treaty of Versailles M.Alliances.I.N—After the War
League of Nations supposed to take place of Mutual Defense Alliances
In reality, the League is run by England and France
USA refuses to join
USSR (formerly Russia) doesn’t join until the League starts to fall apart Italian input for League of Nations and Treaty of Versailles are ignored despite losing large numbers of soldiers M.Alliances.I.N—After the War
Austria becomes very closely associated with Germany
Both had fought on the Eastern Front against Russia
Austria also knows that it needs help Was unprepared to fight industrial war M.A.Imperialism.N—After the War
Britain and France expand empires
Take Germany’s colonies in Africa
Take Palestine, Iraq, and Syria from Ottoman Empire (Sykes-Picot Agreement)
Prioritizing colonial claims
Begin to grant independence to colonies that don’t have significant trade value M.A.I.Nationalism—After the War
German national pride damaged
Blamed for a war they didn’t start
Forced to pay reparations
Italian national pride damaged
Do not benefit from Treaty of Versailles despite heavy losses helping the Allies M.A.I.Nationalism—After the War
Russia declines into a Revolution
First Communist government
Isolates self from rest of the world
America becomes more isolationist
Willing to trade with other nations, but less involved in political issues M.A.I.Nationalism—After the War
France and England become convinced that they won ultimate conflict
Believe that their political dominance of Europe (through victory and League of Nations) is complete
Reinforced when Germany fails to pay and armies invade Germany and force them
Grow complacent