The Era of the Great War World War I 1914-1918 By 1914
Most of the world was colonized by Europe Therefore affected by events in Europe
This also creates tension and nationalistic fervor among European powers Second Industrial Rev (Germany) had created powerful new industrial weapons Ships…airplanes
Militarism
Cities had HUGE populations=potential for massive casualties By 1914
Nationalism was on the rise- every nation in Europe wanted to be the top PLUS, Nationalism in the Balkans fueled by the decline of the Ottoman Empire
Newly unified GERMANY and Italy, which upset the balance of power previously maintained in Europe. By 1914
To counter the threat that Germany would face with a two front war, famous General Von Schlieffen created a plan:
In the event of war
Attack and defeat France while Russia mobilizes Move troops by train to Russia to engage them. By 1914
Tensions and insecurity prompted the creation of an intricate Alliance System (Germany) Triple Alliance
Triple Entente
Wilhelm II had fired Bismarck, who had maintained alliances skillfully
This resulted in the German nightmare scenario: alliance between FRANCE and Russia Causes of WWI in a nutshell:
M-Militarism
N-Nationalism I-Imperialism A-Assassination
Assassination: The Spark
Tensions in the Balkans were referred to as a “powder keg” Serbia and others were hoping to create a Slavic state
This is impeded by the Berlin Conference in 1878: Austria-Hungary is given “protection” of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Assassination: The Spark
A-H had some control over B-H, but could not annex it. However, in 1914, it did
This ruins Serbian and Balkan hopes for a pan-Slavic state. Also makes Russia angry
Assassination: The Spark
Austrian Archduke Franz-Ferdinand visits capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sarajevo While there, assassinated by Serbian Gavrilo Princip
This provides the spark…
Blank Check
Germany issues Austria a “Blank Check” Mobilization
June 28, 1914- Assassination
July 28- Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia July 29- Russia mobilizes
August 1- Germany declares war on Russia August 1- France mobilizes
August 1- Germany declares war on France
Switch-Ups
Schlieffen Plan involves invasion of neutral Belgium GB joins when it is attacked
Italy declares itself neutral, Ottoman Empire joins Germany and Austria-Hungary Central Powers
Britain, France, Russia, Japan Allied Powers
Stalemate
Schlieffen Plan fails
Germany unable to take France Western Front becomes stalemate Trench warfare
Massive casualties, little progress
A World War
Because of colonial ties, this conflict was widespread 40 countries involved
America hoping to remain isolationist America Joins the War
Sinking of Lusitania (1915) by German submarine 100 Americans die
Warned to “unconditionally” stop submarine warfare
Germany tried to impose a blockade on Britain, further making USA angry Finally- Zimmerman Note
April 2, 1917 America joins the Allies Armistice
America joins Allies, Russia leaves Allies Russian Revolution 1917
Bolsheviks USSR
Turns tide of the war
November 11, 1918, armistice is signed Impact: The Great War
8.5 million dead 20 million wounded Flu epidemic Total war
Entire economies prepared for war Price controls
women in factories Rations
Impact: The Great War
Women earn the respect of their governments (GB, USA) Earn the right to vote shortly after the end of the war. “The war to end all wars.”
The Versailles Treaty
The Big Four: GB, France, USA, Italy France especially angry
Hoped to cripple Germany so that it was no longer a threat.
America (Wilson) hoped to create peace by way of the Fourteen Points Balance of power
Conflict Resolution League of Nations The Versailles Treaty
Sentiments of revenge and anger won out
War Guilt clause Reparations Limited military
Alsace and Lorraine returned to France The Versailles Treaty
The hope: a newly weakened Germany would never again threaten the peace and stability of Europe. The reality: an angry Germany suffered economic catastrophe, which created anger, which was funneled by a dictator into creating a hateful and nationalistic empire.
League of Nations Wilson’s idea
Hoped for international fairness and peacekeeping League of Nations
Peace keeping, humanitarian, rejection of war as a means to solve conflict. Complaints would go to a panel, which would decide a course of action. League of Nations
Lacked support Weak
Guess which country refused to join? The Interwar Years
After 4 years of Misery…20 Years of Misery...Before More Misery Peace?
Post war Europe at peace, but unstable
League of Nations tried to impose stability but was weak
Locarno and Kellogg-Briand Pact attempted to remove war as an option for solving international tensions…
Governments
Democracies begin to falter
Many countries in Eastern and Central Europe fall under the spell of political extremists.
Why?
Government
Even countries with strong democracies (GB, France) were put to the test Slow economies as a result of war
Debt
France relied heavily on German reparations. Unemployment
Why?
Great Depression
1929 New York Stock Exchange collapse signals the beginning of the Great Depression
Bank failures
25-35% unemployment
Profoundly affects European economies as well- recovery was based on heavy American investment in Europe.
Impact of Great Depression
In democratic France and GB, strong leadership was lacking Modern Welfare State
Unemployment Social security “the dole”
Impact of Great Depression
In less democratic states, the tensions of economic catastrophe drove countries into the arms of fascist (right-wing) leaders
Case in point: Germany, Italy Germany
Required to make reparations payments to France When unable, began to print money
Then, the Great Depression strikes
Fascist leader Hitler tells Germans who they can blame for their troubles Jews
Communists Versailles Treaty Italy
Similar case as Germany (no reparations) Fascist leader Mussolini
Another Threat: Communism in Russia 1917: Russia becomes Soviet Union Lenin, Bolshevik Revolution
Lenin alters Marx’s original communist predictions Marx said communist revolution would begin in GB Clearly it started in Russia
Marx believed that the workers would overthrow the capitalist class
Since Russia was not very industrialized, Lenin united workers with Russia’s HUGE base of agricultural workers.
Another Threat: Communism Under Lenin
Created an economic compromise to pure communism NEP (New Economic Policy)
Hybrid form-allows SOME private trade (capitalism) within the communist state 1921-1928
Another Threat: Communism Lenin died 1924
Stalin
Unbelievably oppressive Removed NEP
Collectivization of agriculture- giving up private property and working on state-run farms
Don’t want to play? Liquidation
Soviet economic growth astounding: 400% while the rest of Europe was suffering Depression.
Another Threat: Communism
Rapid, state sponsored industrialization came at a cost Collectivization of agriculture resulted in the Great Famine 6 million starved to death
Stalin also used Purges to rid USSR of “enemies” another 10 million Gulags- unknown
True number killed by Stalin is unknown Communism: Why the Worry?
Why did people worry so much about Communism in Russia (USSR)? Major premise of Communism is that it should spread
Lenin advocate of this idea
Stalin embraced “Socialism in One Country”- perfect Communism in the USSR before trying to spread it elsewhere
Right-wing (fascist) dictators used the “threat” of communism to whip their populations into a fear-based frenzy.
Italy Mussolini Black shirts Totalitarianism Germany
After WWI, Germany under the control of the Weimar Republic Very weak, hated- associated with the Versailles Treaty
Economic troubles: hyperinflation, unemployment Weak leadership
Germany
Hitler and the Nazi Party Beer Hall Putch (Munich Prison
Mein Kampf Germany
Legality strategy
Election in 1932 made the Nazi party the dominant party in German politics 1933 Hitler appointed himself chancellor
Enabling Act- allows Hitler to rule as dictator, suspending the constitution.
Germany
Outlawed all political parties Took control of press, media
Ended unemployment with public works, and re-armament Concentration camps built for political opponents
Germany
Pursued policies against “undesirables” especially Jews Jews disallowed from legal and teaching professions Businesses boycotted/destroyed
Nuremberg Laws- stripped Jews of their citizenship and forbade marriage between Jews and non-Jews
The Second World War Blitzkrieg
War begins Sept 1, 1939 when Hitler invade Poland B & F declare war on Germany
Polish resistance could not fight off German attack “Blitzkrieg” or “Lightning War” Tanks, armored vehicles, overwhelming force
Stalin takes Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania Phony War
Hitler’s success in the East allows him to turn his focus to the West and begins to make plans to invade France.
B & F try to weaken Germany by stopping German sea trade. Iron from Scandanavia
October, 1939-April, 1940 very little fighting Phony War
Sitzkrieg
WINSTON CHURCHILL! May, 1940
Fall of France
May, 1940 Hitler strikes the west.
The Netherlands, Belgium and France quickly fell to the Germans Remember the stalemate on the Western Front during WWI?
What was NEVER accomplished in WWI was accomplished in 6 weeks in WWII. British army forced to flee from France back to England from beaches of Dunkirk Germany took control of most of France, and established a puppet government called “Vichy France” or “Vichy Regime”
Has Hitler won? Most of Europe occupied, only Britain left to fight!?
Italy Jumps In!
It looks like Hitler is going to win the war! Mussolini jumps in on Hitler’s side, June 1940 Germany prepares for an invasion of Britain Difference: Britain is an island!
German Air Force: Luftwaffe
British Air Force: RAF (Royal Air Force)
Germany bombed military sites, factories, London. People of London endured months of air raids.
Major strength of Churchill: maintaining morale and resolve
Churchill
"We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air. We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!"
—House of Commons, 4 June 1940, following the evacuation of British and French armies from Dunkirk as the German tide swept through France.
What quality is Churchill displaying here?
Churchill
The Battle of France is over. I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted
science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, 'This was their Finest Hour.'
—House of Commons, 18 June 1940, following the collapse of France. Many thought Britain would follow.
What does Churchill say is at stake in the Battle of Britain?
"This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.“
After the British victory at the Battle of Britain.
what does this tell us about Churchill and his leadership traits? Battle of Britain
Both sides endured heavy losses Heavy civilian casualties in London The British did not give in
Germany gives up Victory!
Thanks a lot, Italy
Italian army defeated by Brits in North Africa Hitler had to divert troops to help his “ally”
Later, the allies will refer to Italy as the “Soft underbelly” of the Axis powers.
Hitler Turns East
22 June, 1941- huge turning point in war Germany invades USSR
Operation Barbarossa Started with Blitzkrieg
Over 3 million German soldiers stormed into the USSR 3000 Tanks
5000 aircraft Stalin shocked Hitler Turns East
Germans captured key Soviet cities and marched inward. By Oct, headed toward Moscow…but then things go wrong…
And the weather is changing
Hitler’s troops were not prepared for the freezing weather Hitler said the campaign would only take 3 months. Second failure for the Germans.
America’s In!
Previously isolationist Dec 7, 1941
“A day which will live in infamy”
Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor Naval Base, HI Surprise attack
America joins the war with GB and the USSR to defeat Japan and Germany (and Italy)
America’s In!
America had been trying to block Japanese expansion in the Pacific Imperialism!
They had taken many of the small islands in the Pacific.
America will use mostly air battles to reclaim specific islands in the Pacific from Japan.
American’s joining the war will tip the balance toward the Allies. Turning the Tide
Summer, 1942 the Germans re-attack the Soviet Union Focus on southern city of Stalingrad
Soviets counterattacked, and the German army was surrounded. Surrendered in January, 1943
Now the German army was on the defensive and the war turned against Hitler. Turning the Tide
1942-43- big years
June: Battle of Midway, America stopped Japanese expansion and began to retake islands from the Japanese.
May, 1943 Germans and Italians driven from North Africa all together. Meanwhile, in Europe
The Final Solution
Part of Hitler’s plan for “Lebensraum”
Jews (and others) in E. Europe were massacred and removed to concentration camps upon invasion by the Nazis.
Death camps, labor camps. The End… is Near: S. Europe
After 1942, the war against Hitler and his allies turned in the favor of the Allies. American and British forces landed in Italy in 1943
“Soft Underbelly”
Germans fought to save it… Rome fell in June,1944
All of Italy under British and American control by 1945. The End…is Near: E. Europe
January, 1944 the Germans give up he siege of Leningrad. 2 years!
Retreat across USSR
The End…is Near: W. Europe Operation Overlord; D-Day
Mission: Take France and use it to take all of Europe Boldest move by the Allies
Led by Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower June 6, 1944
Attacked German held beach at Normandy D-Day Stats
On D-Day, the Allies landed around 156,000 troops in Normandy. 7900 airborne troops.
Operation Neptune involved huge naval forces, including 6,939 vessels: 1,213 naval combat ships, 4,126 landing ships and landing craft, 736 ancillary craft and 864 merchant vessels. Some 195,700 personnel
By the end of 11 June (D + 5), 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had been landed on the beaches.
As well as the troops who landed in Normandy on D-Day, and those in supporting roles at sea and in the air, millions more men and women in the Allied countries were involved in the preparations for D-Day. They played thousands of different roles, both in the armed forces and as civilians.
D-Day Stats
6 June 1944 in Operation Overlord, verified 2,499 American D-Day fatalities and 1,914 from the other Allied nations, a total of 4,413 dead (much higher than the traditional figure of 2,500 dead). Further research may mean that these numbers will increase slightly in future.
Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. This figure includes over 209,000 Allied casualties, with nearly 37,000 dead amongst the ground forces and a further 16,714 deaths amongst the Allied air forces.
The End…is Near: W. Europe
Began to work their way through France. August 25, 1944 Allies reached Paris.
German counter-attack in Belgium Dec, 1944 Battle of the Bulge
Allies win.
The End….is Near: Pacific Island Hopping Campaign
Japanese culture emphasizes bravery and continued fighting. October 1944, Americans invaded the Philippines.
Over 170,000 Japanese were killed. The End: Europe
April 1945, Soviet captured Berlin. Hitler committed suicide
VE Day
The End: Pacific
Americans now in a position to invade Japan.
However, expected tremendous loss because of Japanese cultural ideas about surrendering.
Kamakazi pilots
Anticipated over a million casualties.
Decided to use new technology which had been in development in the USA Atomic bombs
The End: Pacific August, 1945 Hiroshima Nagasaki
Japanese surrendered August 14, 1945 VJ Day
WWII: The Legacy
Deadliest military conflict in the history of the world. 60 million people died
3% of world’s (1939) population
Exposed atrocities carried out by Hitler
THIS is what Neville Chamberlain was hoping to avoid.
