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1 A TOUGH START TO THE 20th

CENTURY. THE FIRST WORLD WAR


1. WHAT LED THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
At the beginning of the 20th centyry, tensions between European countries.
- Germany wanted to create a colonial empire
- France and the UK feared the German expansion
- France and German were confronted by Alsace-Lorrain ( desire of revenge)
- Tha Austro-Hungarian and Russia for the control of the Balkans
- The economic rivalry between between Germany and the UK
The formation of blocs

Germany chancellor Otto Von Bismarck created an alliance system with two min
objectives:
- To isolate France
- To maintain equilibrium in the Balkans
The German emperor Wilhem II favoured a more aggresisive policy ARMED PEACE
-Triple Alliance ( Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy)
- Triple Entente ( france, the UK and Russia)

Everty country increased the size of its army arms race


The crisis in Morocco

Colonialism was a source of conflicts. Wilhem II ( German emperor) spoke in favour of


Moroccan independence against France. Algeciras Conference solved the situation.

Later, Morocco became a Hispano-French protectorate ( what is a protectorate?), and the


alliance between The Uk and France was stregthened. This was the opposite of what
Wilhem II desired.
The Eastern Question

The Ottoman Empire was collapsing and Austria and Russia hoped increase their influence
in the region ( what were the different positions in Balkans?)
2. THE OUTBREAK OF WAR
The trigger: the crisis of the summer of 1914

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed in Sarajevo. In


response, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia but
Serbia rejected some parts. 28th July 1914 Austra-Hungary
declared war on Serbia.

Russia supported Serbia against Austro Hungary


Germany declared war on Russia
France and the Uk declared war on Germany and Austria Hungary

The IWW had begun


A truly global war

Two large blocs confornted ach other:


- The Central powers ( countries?)
- The Triple Entente (countries)

- The two blocs sought new allies, which led to the globalisation of the conflict
- Total War ( what’s the meaning)
3. THE COURSE OF THE WAR
War of movement (1914)

At he beginning of the war Schlieffen Plan to defeate France quickly, but the plan
falied Battle of Marne

Trench warfare, or war of positions ( 1915-1916)

Trenches were built.


- The western front Battle of Verdun and Battle of Somme
- The Eastern front This front was stable
- The Mediterranean and the Middle East British were defeated in Gallipoli
- Other theatres Colonies were involved. Submarine warfare.

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aguiEHJCyEA
The end of the war

1917, two events changed the course of the war.

- The Russian frotn collapsed Brest-Litovsk peace treaty


- UUSS entered the war ( Why?)

The central power surrendered and Germany signed the armistice.


5. PEACE AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF
WAR
The Paris Peace Conference

- The Treaty of Versailles with Germany


- The Treaty of Saint-Germain with Austria
- -The Treaty of Trianon with Hungary
- -The Treaty of Sevres with Turkiye
- The Treaty of Neully with Bulgaria
The treaties had three main goals:

- To prevent the resurgence of Germany as a great power:


- It lost its colonies
- It had to pay a war reparations
- It had to limit its army
-To achieve a balance of power among the victors

-To isolate Russia in order to avoid the spread of revolution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrYhLNQMRro
The creation of the League of Nations

In 1919, the League of Nations was created.


US president Wilson wrote his 14 points.
The objective was maintain the peace a resolve conflicts peacefully. Germany, Russia
and USA did not join the League.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdhxLVlrhI
Demographic consequences

More tha 8 million soldiers died, a further 20 million were injured. Also many civilian
deaths, and the lack of food and poor health services facilitated the spread of a flu
pandemic in 1918 that caused 22 million deaths.

This led to a drop in the birth rate reduction in the working population fewer
consumers

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