World War 1 - 1914

Summary

In 1914, Europe is divided into two alliances: the Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia) and the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy). The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggers a chain of events that leads to World War I. Germany swiftly invades Belgium and France, while Russia mobilizes to aid Serbia. The war spreads across Europe, with trench warfare taking hold. Naval battles, colonial conflicts, and the involvement of Japan and the Ottoman Empire mark the global scale of the war. Despite brief moments of peace, such as the Christmas Truce, the devastation continues.

Takeaways

• ⚔️ Europe is divided into two rival alliances: The Triple Entente (France, Britain, Russia) and The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Italy).
• 💥 The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a 19-year-old nationalist Gavrilo Princip sparks the conflict between Austro-Hungary and Serbia.
• 🇷🇺 Russia mobilizes to defend Serbia, leading Germany to declare war on Russia, fearing its growing power.
• 🇫🇷 Germany implements the Schlieffen Plan, declaring war on France and advancing through Belgium to encircle French forces near Paris.
• 🇬🇧 Britain joins the war after Germany invades neutral Belgium, sending an ultimatum which Germany ignores.
• 🚢 Germany begins a U-boat campaign, introducing submarine warfare as a serious threat to Britain's naval dominance.
• 🇷🇺 On the Eastern Front, Germany achieves major victories against Russia, notably at the Battle of Tannenberg and Masurian Lakes.
• 🛡️ Trench warfare begins on the Western Front as both sides dig in along a 350-mile front after heavy losses and failed offensives.
• 🌊 Naval warfare intensifies as Germany and Britain clash, with Germany scoring early victories but facing challenges from Britain's naval blockade.
• 🎄 The Christmas Truce occurs in some sectors, where soldiers briefly cease fighting to celebrate Christmas and even play football in No Man's Land.

Q & A

What were the two main rival alliances in Europe before World War I?

The two main rival alliances were the Triple Entente, consisting of France, Britain, and Russia, and the Triple Alliance, consisting of Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Italy.

What event triggered the start of World War I?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a 19-year-old Slav nationalist named Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, triggered the start of World War I.

Why did Austro-Hungary declare war on Serbia?

Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia because they accused Serbia of aiding the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and sent an ultimatum with humiliating concessions, which Serbia rejected.

How did Russia's involvement in the war begin?

Russia became involved in the war when Tsar Nicholas II ordered the Russian army to mobilize in defense of Serbia, a fellow Slav nation, following Austro-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia.

What was Germany's Schlieffen Plan?

Germany's Schlieffen Plan was a military strategy designed to avoid a two-front war. It involved a rapid invasion of France through neutral Belgium to encircle and defeat French forces, then turning east to confront Russia.

Why did Britain declare war on Germany?

Britain declared war on Germany after German troops invaded Belgium. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality and sent an ultimatum to Germany demanding their withdrawal, which was ignored.

What was the outcome of the First Battle of the Marne?

The Allies' desperate counterattack during the First Battle of the Marne saved Paris and forced the Germans to retreat. Both sides suffered heavy casualties, with a quarter of a million losses on each side.

What marked the beginning of trench warfare during World War I?

Trench warfare began when both the Allied and German forces dug in along a 350-mile front to protect themselves from deadly machine gun fire and artillery shells after the First Battle of Ypres.

How did the British blockade impact Germany during the war?

The British naval blockade aimed to cut off Germany from contraband goods, including food, in an effort to weaken its economy and force a surrender.

What significant event marked the first use of submarine-launched torpedoes in warfare?

The British cruiser HMS Pathfinder was the first ship in history to be sunk by a submarine-launched torpedo, marking the introduction of a deadly new weapon in naval warfare.