Hist 12 - Causes of WWI video

Summary

World War I, known as the Great War, was sparked by a complex web of alliances, colonial rivalries, and nationalistic fervor. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist was the catalyst, leading Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia. Germany's support for Austria and the subsequent mobilizations by Russia and France set off a chain reaction, culminating in Germany's invasion of Belgium and Britain's entry into the war, marking the beginning of a devastating global conflict.

Takeaways

• 🌍 World War I, known as the Great War, was the most destructive conflict at the time, involving numerous countries and introducing concepts like total war and universal suffrage.
• 🏰 The political landscape of Europe in 1914 was dominated by major powers such as France, Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia, with Britain as a significant naval and colonial power.
• 🤝 Bismarck's strategic alliances and diplomatic efforts isolated France and maintained a balance of power in Europe, but his resignation led to a shift in German foreign policy.
• 🔗 The Dual Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy faced off against the Dual Entente of Russia and France, creating a tense situation where conflicts could escalate quickly.
• 🇬🇧 Britain's policy of 'splendid isolation' ended as it patched up differences with France, leading to the Entente Cordiale and later the Anglo-French Entente.
• 🚢 Germany's pursuit of colonial expansion and a large navy led to a naval arms race with Britain, increasing tensions and military preparedness.
• ⏰ The Schlieffen Plan, designed to quickly defeat France before turning to Russia, was a critical part of Germany's military strategy but had significant flaws.
• 🔥 The Balkans, with its complex mix of empires and nationalist movements, was a volatile region that contributed to the outbreak of war.
• 🔫 The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo was the immediate trigger for Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, escalating the conflict.
• ⏳ The rapid sequence of ultimatums and mobilizations by European powers, particularly Germany's invasion of Belgium, led to Britain's entry into the war and the full-scale outbreak of World War I.

Q & A

What was the significance of World War One in terms of its destructiveness and scope?

World War One was the most destructive war at the time and was called the Great War due to its enormous scope, involving millions of soldiers from dozens of countries around the world.

Why was Germany's Chancellor Otto von Bismarck concerned about France seeking revenge for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine?

Bismarck was concerned because if France could ally with a powerful neighbor like Austria or Russia, Germany's very existence might come under threat.

How did Germany's alliance network change after Bismarck's resignation?

After Bismarck's resignation, Germany's treaty with Russia lapsed, leading to Russia and France becoming allies against an alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy.

What was the impact of the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale on Germany's perception of Britain's foreign policy?

Germany perceived the Entente Cordiale as an anti-German agreement, which led to increased tensions and efforts to break it up.

Why did Germany's quest for colonial expansion lead to conflicts with other major powers?

Germany's quest for an empire brought it into conflict with other major powers as it sought to acquire territories that were already claimed or desired by them.

What was the Schlieffen Plan and how did it influence Germany's strategy in the early stages of World War One?

The Schlieffen Plan was a strategy devised by Germany to quickly defeat France by invading through Belgium and encircling Paris before turning to the Eastern Front to face Russia.

How did the Balkan region contribute to the tensions leading up to World War One?

The Balkans, known as the powder keg of Europe, had complex ethnic tensions and overlapping imperial interests, which made the region prone to conflicts that could escalate into a larger war.

What event in 1914 provided Austria-Hungary with a pretext to assert its authority over Serbia?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist provided Austria-Hungary with a pretext to assert its authority over Serbia.

How did the Schlieffen Plan's reliance on rapid mobilization contribute to the escalation of World War One?

The Schlieffen Plan's reliance on rapid mobilization meant that once the order to mobilize was issued, war was inevitable, as it would trigger a chain reaction of mobilizations by other countries.

What was the role of the 1839 Treaty of London in Britain's decision to enter World War One?

Britain, as a signatory of the 1839 Treaty of London, was committed to guaranteeing Belgium's independence. Germany's invasion of Belgium led Britain to declare war on Germany.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Origins of World War I

This paragraph discusses the historical context leading to World War I, known as the Great War, which was the most destructive conflict at the time involving numerous countries. It highlights the political landscape of Europe in 1914, dominated by major powers like France, Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia. The unification of Germany under Prussia and the subsequent tensions with France over Alsace-Lorraine are explained. Otto von Bismarck's strategy of alliances to isolate France is outlined, as well as the shift in power dynamics following his resignation and the rise of the Dual Alliance between Russia and France. The scramble for colonies and the naval race between Britain and Germany are also mentioned as contributing factors to the war.

05:02

🚀 Colonial Rivalry and Military Build-up

This section delves into Germany's pursuit of colonial expansion under Wilhelm II, aiming to become a world power with a large empire for access to resources and prestige. It details Germany's late entry into the colonial race and the resulting conflicts with other powers, exemplified by the Morocco Crisis. The paragraph also covers the arms race among European powers, with a focus on the naval arms race between Britain and Germany, leading to increased military spending and conscription. The concept of war as a policy option and the necessity of a strong army among nations is also discussed.

10:02

⚔️ The Schlieffen Plan and European Alliances

The paragraph explains Germany's military strategy, the Schlieffen Plan, which aimed to quickly defeat France before turning to fight Russia due to the latter's slower mobilization. It points out the plan's reliance on the invasion of Belgium and Luxembourg, which risked drawing Britain into the war. The paragraph also discusses the ethnic tensions within the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Balkan region's volatile political situation, known as the 'powder keg of Europe,' due to the interests of multiple empires and rising nationalism.

15:03

🔫 The Road to War: Assassination and Ultimatums

This section narrates the events leading to the outbreak of World War I, beginning with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist, which Austria-Hungary used as a pretext to issue an ultimatum to Serbia. It describes the support Germany pledged to Austria-Hungary and the subsequent diplomatic crisis. The paragraph outlines the failed attempts at diplomacy, including Britain's proposal for a conference, and the escalating series of ultimatums and mobilizations by Russia, Germany, and France that ultimately led to war.

20:05

🏰 The Outbreak of World War I

The final paragraph describes the immediate events that led to the full-scale outbreak of World War I. It details Germany's ultimatums to Russia and France, the rejection of these ultimatums, and the subsequent mobilizations and invasions. The invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium by Germany and the resulting British ultimatum are highlighted, culminating in Britain's declaration of war on Germany. This marks the official beginning of World War I.

Keywords

💡World War One

World War One, also known as the Great War, was a global war that lasted from 1914 to 1918. It involved many of the world's major powers, organized into two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. The war was one of the deadliest conflicts in history, leading to the mobilization of over 70 million military personnel and causing over 17 million civilian and military fatalities. In the script, World War One is the central theme, with discussions on its causes, including complex alliances, imperialism, and militarism.

💡Triple Alliance

The Triple Alliance was a military alliance established in 1882 among Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. It was a key part of the complex web of alliances that contributed to the outbreak of World War One. The script mentions the Triple Alliance as one of the rival camps that formed in Europe, which Germany considered its true allies, especially after Italy's defection during the Moroccan Crisis.

💡Dual Entente

The Dual Entente was a two-power alliance between France and Russia, formed in 1894. It was a response to the Triple Alliance and was seen as a counterbalance to the growing power of Germany and Austria-Hungary. The script discusses how the Dual Entente was formed out of mutual nervousness and a need to protect against potential aggression from the Triple Alliance, particularly Germany.

💡Entente Cordiale

The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed in 1904 between the United Kingdom and France. It marked a significant improvement in relations and was a precursor to the UK's eventual entry into World War One. The script describes how the Entente Cordiale was not initially a military alliance but was a diplomatic agreement that later hardened into a more formal alliance due to shared interests and the threat posed by Germany.

💡Otto von Bismarck

Otto von Bismarck was a Prussian statesman who served as the first Chancellor of the German Empire from 1871 to 1890. He is credited with unifying Germany and orchestrating a complex system of alliances to maintain peace in Europe. The script highlights Bismarck's strategic approach to diplomacy, particularly his efforts to isolate France and maintain good relations with other European powers.

💡Schlieffen Plan

The Schlieffen Plan was a strategic battle plan developed by the German General Staff, designed to quickly defeat France in a two-front war scenario. It involved a swift invasion through Belgium to outflank French defenses. The script explains how the Schlieffen Plan was a critical factor leading to the outbreak of World War One, as it necessitated actions that would draw other nations into the conflict, including the invasion of neutral Belgium.

💡Arms Race

The arms race refers to the competitive development and accumulation of military technologies and armaments by nations, often in response to perceived threats. The script mentions the naval arms race between Britain and Germany, which was a significant factor in escalating tensions and contributing to the war's outbreak. The arms race is an example of how militarism played a role in the lead-up to World War One.

💡Mobilization

Mobilization in the context of World War One refers to the process by which nations prepared and deployed their military forces in anticipation of war. The script describes the importance of rapid mobilization and how it was a key factor in the escalation of the conflict, as countries rushed to assemble their forces to gain an advantage over their adversaries.

💡Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was the immediate trigger for World War One. He was killed in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. The script recounts this event as the catalyst that led Austria-Hungary to issue an ultimatum to Serbia, which in turn set off a chain of events resulting in the war.

💡Balkan League

The Balkan League was a military alliance formed in 1912 between Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Montenegro. It was established to counter the influence of the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary in the Balkans. The script discusses how the Balkan League's actions, including the Balkan Wars, increased tensions in the region and contributed to the broader context of European instability that led to World War One.

💡Imperialism

Imperialism is the policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, use of military force, or other means. The script touches on the imperial ambitions of European powers, particularly Germany's late entry into the 'scramble for Africa' and its desire for a large empire, which contributed to the competitive and often hostile international environment that was a backdrop to the war.

Highlights

World War One was the most destructive war at the time, involving millions of soldiers from dozens of countries.

The war introduced concepts like total war, daylight savings, and universal suffrage.

Europe in 1914 was dominated by France, Germany, Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia, with Britain as a major power due to its Navy and colonial empire.

Germany was unified under Prussia's leadership after winning three wars, including one against France, resulting in the seizure of Alsace and Lorraine.

Otto von Bismarck established a network of alliances to prevent France from allying with powerful neighbors, thus isolating France.

Wilhelm II's reign saw the end of Germany's treaty with Russia, leading to a duet alliance between Russia and France against the Triple Alliance.

Britain's policy of 'splendid isolation' ended with the signing of the Entente Cordiale with France in 1904.

Germany's quest for colonial empires led to conflicts with other major powers, including a crisis over Morocco.

The naval race between Britain and Germany was part of a general arms race, with military spending increasing significantly.

Germany's Schlieffen Plan aimed to quickly defeat France before turning to fight Russia, involving an invasion through Belgium.

The Balkans, known as the 'powder keg' of Europe, were a focal point for tensions between Austria-Hungary, Serbia, and other empires.

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by a Serbian nationalist was the trigger for Austria-Hungary to go to war with Serbia.

Germany supported Austria-Hungary with a 'blank check', promising to back them in case of Russian intervention.

Austria-Hungary's harsh ultimatum to Serbia, which Serbia could not fully accept, led to Austria declaring war.

Russia's mobilization to support Serbia prompted Germany to mobilize as well, fearing a two-front war.

Germany's invasion of Belgium, a neutral country, led to Britain declaring war on Germany, marking the official start of World War One.

Transcripts

World War one was at the time the most

destructive war in all a mystery

involving millions of soldiers from

dozens of countries around the world it

was called the Great War because of its

enormous scope

it introduced the world to the concepts

of total war daylight savings and

universal suffrage how then did it begin

this is Europe today as you can see in

1914 it looked quite different

back then continental Europe was

dominated by France Germany and the

austro-hungarian Empire and Russia

Britain because of her large Navy and

colonial empire was also a major power

until the 1860s Germany had been little

more than a loose collection of states

between 1864 and 1871 the largest of

these states Prussia fought and won

three wars to bring the rest of Germany

under her control in the last of these

wars Prussia defeated France and seized

the French provinces of Alsace and

Lorraine the Chancellor of the newly

formed German nation Otto von Bismarck

knew that France would seek revenge for

the loss of alsace-lorraine if France

could ally itself with a powerful

neighbour such as Austria or Russia

Germany's very existence might come

under threat to stop this from happening

Bismarck established a network of

alliances with all the mainland powers

of Europe except France at the same time

he worked hard to maintain good

relations with Britain France was

isolated and therefore powerless

Vilhelm the second became Kaiser in 1888

and in 1890 he forced Bismarck to resign

days later he led Germany's treaty with

Russia lapse Russia and France were now

alone in Europe against an alliance of

Germany Austria and Italy they were

understandably nervous so in 1894 they

signed the duel on tante in which they

promised to fight side by side if either

was attacked by Germany they also agreed

to mobilize their forces if any of the

Triple Alliance forces mobilized there's

france's isolation had ended and five of

Europe's great powers were now split

into two rival camps the triple alliance

made up of Germany austria-hungary and

Italy and the duel on tante of Russia

and France a dispute between any two of

these powers had the potential to drop

in the other 3 for 40 years Britain had

tried to keep out of European affairs in

a policy called splendid isolation when

France and Russia Britain's two major

colonial rivals signed the duel on tante

Britain decided to patch up some of her

differences with her traditional enemy

France

in 1904 the ant ant cordial was signed

in it France agreed to British control

of Egypt while Britain agreed to French

control over Morocco it was not a

military alliance however the Germans

who had wanted to sign their own

alliance with Britain behaved as if it

was an anti-german agreement and trying

to break it up

in 1905 the German Kaiser paid a visit

to Morocco and declared the Morocco

should be independent of France Germany

hoped that in the ensuing crisis Britain

would refuse to back France and the

intent would collapse

at a conference to solve the crisis

Germany threatened war Britain and

France called Germany's bluff and the

intent was hardened

the conference also exposed a weakness

in the Triple Alliance when Italy

deserted Germany and backed France from

now on the Germans would argue that

Austria was their only true Ally

when vilhelm the second came to power in

1888 Britain Russia and France all had

large colonial empires he wanted Germany

to be a world power with a large empire

as well to have a place in the sun

with a large empire Germany would have

access to raw materials and new markets

as well as added respect and prestige

Germany's bid for colonial greatness was

doomed from the start she had started

too late in the race for colonies all

that was left were some less significant

tracts in Africa a few islands in the

Pacific and parts of China this quest

for an empire brought Germany into

conflict with the other major powers in

1911 French troops were sent to Morocco

to help the Sultan's government and at

the same time strengthen Frances

position they occupied the capital Fez

and the German government thought that

France would take over the entire

country

Germany responded by sending a gunboat

the Panther to Morocco with demands that

in exchange for allowing France a free

hand in Morocco Germany should be given

the whole of the french congo in central

Africa is compensation the British

government was alarmed they saw the

incident as a threat to the ant ant and

were angry at their exclusion from

negotiations Britain's fleet even

prepared for war Germany backed down

accepting two strips of territory in the

french congo far less than they

originally demanded for germany this was

a humiliating diplomatic defeat and

increased the perception within Germany

that she was being encircled by

unfriendly powers

the secretary of the german navy admiral

tirpitz used the crisis to pass a law to

enlarge the German Navy Britain followed

suit and strengthened her military ties

with France the anglo-french on tante

had become almost a military alliance

Oh

towards the end of the 19th century a

warped kind of Darwinism was applied to

nations and empires a commonly held view

at the time was that in the future

strong nations would flourish while weak

nations would be crushed a strong army

became a necessity and war was

considered by all the major powers as a

viable policy option in order to gain or

maintain superiority Britain needed a

large Navy to protect her colonies and

trade routes in 1893 she had adopted a

policy called the to power standard this

meant that the British fleet should be

equal to any two navies in the world put

together

if Germany wanted to have a large empire

she needed a large Navy so through a

series of new laws the Secretary of the

German Navy Tirpitz began to turn the

German Navy from a coastal protection

force into a battle fleet in 1906 the

British Navy launched the HMS

dreadnought a new type of battleship

that could outgun any battleship afloat

Germany started to build his own fleet

of dreadknots so Britain's spent up her

shipbuilding program

the naval race had begun

and

this naval build-up was part of a

general arms race between 1870 and 1914

military spending by the European powers

increased by a massive three hundred

percent and conscription was adopted by

all the continental powers from 1871 by

1914 more than 12 million men could be

called into action in the event of war

reading an army for war is a big

operation troops have to be organized

into fighting units and provided with

weapons clothing and rations then they

have to be transported to the frontline

as quickly as possible this process is

called mobilization

the faster a nation mobilized the

greater the chance of success in a

conflict the army that mobilized first

might even deliver a knockout blow to

the enemy before they were ready

Germany had the best railway network in

Europe and they plan to use it to move

large numbers of troops quickly in the

event of war Germany thought that war

with France would be inevitable France

wanted revenge for the loss of

alsace-lorraine

the franco-russian on tante meant that

in the event of war Russia would

probably support France the German chief

of staff can't find Schlieffen did not

think the Germany was strong enough to

fight both France and Russia at the same

time estimating that it would take six

weeks for Russia to mobilize she'll even

devised a plan where Germany would crush

France first then move to the Eastern

Front to take on Russia

to defeat France quickly Schlieffen Plan

to avoid the heavily fortified

french-german border by invading through

Belgium the German armies would then

turn in a massive hammer swing and

encircle Paris the plan however had

several major flaws first of all it

called for the invasion of two

neighboring countries Belgium and

Luxembourg as well as France once the

order to mobilize was issued war would

inevitably follow secondly the plan

could not be changed the railways were

too inflexible in order to move 2

million men to the front quickly

thousands of trains had to be

synchronized to change the plan meant

revising the train timetables which

would take at least six months thirdly

by invading Belgium Germany risk

bringing Britain into the war Britain

had earlier signed a treaty guaranteeing

Belgium's independence

finally there was no plan for a war with

Russia only in the event of a war

between Germany and Russia Germany had

to invade France

within the austro-hungarian Empire there

were Czechs Slovaks poles ruthenians

Serbs Croats slovenes and Italians less

than fifty percent of her 50 million

people were Austrian or Hungarian of the

ethnic groups the Slavs were the most

Restless they wanted to join up with

Serbia to form a united Slavic kingdom

thus Austria viewed Serbia as a threat

located at the junction of Europe and

Asia the Balkans were known as the

powder keg of Europe three empires

turkey Russia and Austria Hungary all

had interests in the area combined with

the insurgent nationalism of the Slavs

it seemed that one minor incident could

lead to war

turkey had once ruled over all of the

Balkans but as its Empire weakened the

Serbs Greeks and Bulger's had

established their own nations Russia was

also interested in the Balkans she

wanted an outlet to the Mediterranean

she sided with the Slavs on the basis of

their common Orthodox religion and was

allied with Serbia in 1908 Austria

annexed the provinces of Bosnia and

Herzegovina further fueling Slav

nationalism in the process in 1912

Serbia Greece Bulgaria and montenegro

formed an alliance called the Balkan

League the league uses combined strength

to attack turkey and in seven weeks

drover almost completely out of europe

austria washed on is serbia almost

doubled in size

relationships between Austria Hungary

and Serbia deteriorated rapidly after

the Balkan wars the kings of Serbia and

Montenegro considered uniting to form a

Yugoslavia the Serbian press called for

a united Slavic nation that would

liberate the slobs living under Austrian

rule

Austrian generals called for a quick war

to crush Serbia

in june nineteen fourteen the Austrians

decided to reassert their authority in

the Balkans by conducting army maneuvers

in Bosnia an area that was showing too

great a fondness for Serbia to add

impact to this display of force the

inspector general of the forces and heir

to the Austrian throne Archduke Franz

Ferdinand would attend

he and his wife were assassinated in

sarajevo bosnia is capital by a Serbian

terrorists Gavrilo Princip

pinch it belonged to a Serbian secret

society called the black hand Serbia's

chief of army intelligence was its

leader the Austrians now had an excuse

to go to war with Serbia first of all

however they needed to be sure the

Germany would come to their aid if

russia-backed Serbia Germany did not

want to lose her only Ally so on the

fifth of July the Kaiser and the German

Chancellor beth van hove egg gave

Austria a blank check they agreed to

support Austria if Russia intervened on

the twenty fourth of July almost one

month after the assassination Austria

delivered to Serbia and extremely harsh

ultimatum the Serbs had 48 hours to

reply the Serbs accepted all of the

demands except one which called for an

Austrian led inquiry into serbian

participation in the assassination this

was not good enough for Austria the

british prime minister sir edward grey

called for a conference between the

great powers to settle the dispute but

germany refused to take part on the

twentieth of july Austria declared war

on Serbia the next day Shell's bombarded

the Serbian capital belgrave

Russia now moved to support her allies

Serbia on the thirtieth of July the Czar

ordered Russia's army to mobilize along

her entire border

the german government was alarmed the

schlieffen plan based on the theory that

would take Russia six weeks to mobilize

meant that Germany had to counter with

immediate mobilization time was of the

essence if Germany hoped to avoid a war

on two fronts so on the thirty-first of

July Germany issued an ultimatum to

Russia giving them 12 hours to

demobilize

Germany also issued an ultimatum to

France giving them 18 hours to declare

the neutrality in the event of a war

between Germany and Russia on the first

of August when the ultimatum to Russia

expired germany declared war and began

to mobilize the wheels of the schlieffen

plan were set in motion

trance rejected germany's ultimatum and

commenced mobilisation the next day

germany invaded luxembourg and fired off

an ultimatum to belgium demanding the

right to send troops through the country

to attack France any breach of Belgium's

neutrality was likely to draw Britain

into the war Britain was a signatory of

the 1839 treaty of london which

guaranteed belgian independence also

britain was unlikely to allow germany to

dominate continental europe on the third

of August Belgium rejected Germany's

ultimatum in Germany invaded the next

day Britain sent her own ultimatum to

Germany if Germany did not call off her

invasion of Belgium within five hours

she would sever all diplomatic relations

when the ultimatum expired at midnight

Britain declared war on Germany the

First World War had begun