1. The Causes of WW1The Causes of WW1
MMilitarismilitarism
AAllianceslliances
IImperialismmperialism
NNationalismationalism
SSignificantignificant
individualsindividuals

2. Militarism 1.Militarism 1.
 Germany wasGermany was
competing with thecompeting with the
UK to buildUK to build
battleships.battleships.
 The British feared anThe British feared an
attack on their Empireattack on their Empire
 Armies and NaviesArmies and Navies
were growing.were growing.

3. Militarism 2.Militarism 2.
 Germany was competingGermany was competing
with Russia and Francewith Russia and France
to expand their armiesto expand their armies
18801880 19141914
 GermanyGermany 1.3m1.3m
5.0m5.0m
 FranceFrance 0.73m0.73m
4.0m4.0m
 RussiaRussia 0.40m0.40m
1.2m1.2m

4. Alliances 1Alliances 1
 By 1914 all theBy 1914 all the
major powersmajor powers
were linked by awere linked by a
system ofsystem of
alliances.alliances.
 The alliancesThe alliances
made it moremade it more
likely that a warlikely that a war
would start.would start.
 Once started, theOnce started, the
alliances made italliances made it
more likely tomore likely to

5. Alliances 2Alliances 2
 Triple alliance: Austria-Hungary,Triple alliance: Austria-Hungary,
Germany and Italy.Germany and Italy.
 Triple entante: Britain, France andTriple entante: Britain, France and
Russia.Russia.

6. Imperialism 1Imperialism 1
 All the great powers wereAll the great powers were
competing for colonies / territory.competing for colonies / territory.
 The British feared Germany inThe British feared Germany in
Africa.Africa.
 The Austrians feared Serbia /The Austrians feared Serbia /
Russia in the BalkansRussia in the Balkans

7. Imperialism 2Imperialism 2
 Late nineteenth and early twentiethLate nineteenth and early twentieth
century great deal of colonization ofcentury great deal of colonization of
Asia and Africa by European powers.Asia and Africa by European powers.
 These colonies were useful for trade.These colonies were useful for trade.

8. NationalismNationalism
 This was an age when all nationsThis was an age when all nations
wanted to assert their power andwanted to assert their power and
independence.independence.
 In Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia andIn Europe Slavs, aided by Serbia and
Russia, wanted to be free of AustrianRussia, wanted to be free of Austrian
rule.rule.
Serbia’s
national
flag

9. Significant Individuals 1.Significant Individuals 1.
 Kaiser Wilhelm IIKaiser Wilhelm II
 Built up German armyBuilt up German army
and navyand navy
 Aggressive foreignAggressive foreign
policypolicy
 Determined to makeDetermined to make
Germany a top nation.Germany a top nation.
 Distrusted by otherDistrusted by other
powerspowers
“Germany must have
its place in the sun”
“The world belongs to
the strong.”

10. Significant Individuals 2Significant Individuals 2
 Count BerchtoldCount Berchtold
 Austrian PrimeAustrian Prime
Minister.Minister.
 During the JulyDuring the July
Crisis, decidedCrisis, decided
on a very toughon a very tough
ultimatum forultimatum for
SerbiaSerbia
“Were the Serbs to
agree to all the
demands, this would
not be to my liking”

11. Significant Individuals 3Significant Individuals 3
 Bethmann HollwegBethmann Hollweg
 German PrimeGerman Prime
MinisterMinister
 Gave very strongGave very strong
support to Austriasupport to Austria
during the July crisisduring the July crisis
while Kaiser waswhile Kaiser was
cruising on his yachtcruising on his yacht
“The Austrian demands
are moderate. Any
interference by Britain,
France and Russia would
be followed by
incalculable
consequences”

12. The Crisis 1.The Crisis 1.
 28 June 191428 June 1914
 Heir to AustrianHeir to Austrian
throne Franzthrone Franz
Ferdinand visitsFerdinand visits
Sarajevo.Sarajevo.
 Capital of Bosnia,Capital of Bosnia,
recently grabbedrecently grabbed
by Austria.by Austria.
 Hotbed of SlavHotbed of Slav
nationalismnationalism
Seal of the
Black Hand
group

13. The Crisis 2.The Crisis 2.
 ““Black Hand”Black Hand”
terrorists attack theterrorists attack the
Arch DukeArch Duke
 Bomb attempt failsBomb attempt fails
in morningin morning
 Gavrilo PrincipGavrilo Princip
shoots Archduke andshoots Archduke and
wife in thewife in the
afternoon.afternoon.
 Austrians blameAustrians blame
Serbia forSerbia for
supportingsupporting
terrorists.terrorists.

14. The Crisis 3.The Crisis 3.
 Austrians, supported byAustrians, supported by
Germany, send Serbia aGermany, send Serbia a
tough ultimatum.tough ultimatum.
 Serbia agrees to all butSerbia agrees to all but
two terms of thetwo terms of the
ultimatum.ultimatum.
 Russia mobilises herRussia mobilises her
troops to support Serbiatroops to support Serbia
 Germany demands thatGermany demands that
Russia stands her armiesRussia stands her armies
down.down.
 Germany declares war onGermany declares war on
RussiaRussia
“Demands must be
put to Serbia that
would be wholly
impossible for them
to accept …”

15. Why did Britain get involved?Why did Britain get involved?
 Britain hadBritain had
EntentesEntentes withwith
France and Russia.France and Russia.
 Only “friendlyOnly “friendly
agreements” butagreements” but
French and RussiansFrench and Russians
given impressiongiven impression
Britain would fight.Britain would fight.
 The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan
Sir Edward Grey
British Foreign Secretary
… “There’s some devilry
going on in Berlin”

16. The Schlieffen PlanThe Schlieffen Plan
 Germany’sGermany’s
military plan tomilitary plan to
defeat Francedefeat France
and Russia.and Russia.
 ““Knock out blow”Knock out blow”
aimed at Franceaimed at France
first.first.
 Avoid FrenchAvoid French
defences bydefences by
invasion ofinvasion of
Belgium.Belgium.
 Germans thoughtGermans thought
Britain would notBritain would not
intervene.intervene.

17. Britain’s ReactionBritain’s Reaction
 1838- UK had signed a1838- UK had signed a
TreatyTreaty to protectto protect
Belgium.Belgium.
 Britain also scared ofBritain also scared of
Germany controllingGermany controlling
Channel portsChannel ports..
 Did not wantDid not want GermanyGermany
to defeat France andto defeat France and
dominate Europedominate Europe..
Britain next?Britain next?
 UK issuedUK issued ultimatumultimatum toto
Germany to withdrawGermany to withdraw
troops from Belgium.troops from Belgium.
War declared August 4War declared August 4
19141914