The Great War, also known as World War 1, lasted from 1914 to 1918 and involved 65 million soldiers from across Europe and its colonies. Trench warfare led to the deaths of over 8.5 million soldiers while another 21 million were wounded. New weapons like machine guns and poison gas contributed to unprecedented casualties. The war started after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary led countries to take sides through a system of alliances. The United States initially remained neutral but entered the war in 1917 after German U-boats sank American merchant ships.

1. The Great War 1914 -1918

2. The War to End all Wars From 1914 – 1918 a titanic war spread across Europe and throughout the colonies. 65 million soldiers were sent into combat.

3. More than 8.5 million soldiers died in the struggle. 21 million soldiers were wounded. Almost 8 million were MIA or taken prisoner. 10 – 15 million civilians perished under the harsh wartime conditions.

4. Machines of Death Because of the industrial revolution modern weapons were used on the battlefields of Europe. Machine guns, poison gas, grenades, tanks, trench mortars, rifles, and planes caused a mass slaughter.

5. Not Just a job, an adventure!

6. Victims of the madness!

7. Trench warfare Soldiers used shovels to dig 25,000 miles of defensive trenches to stay below the line of fire. Suicidal charges across no man’s land were used to attack the enemies lines.

8. Outdated tactics These tactics led to the slaughter of millions of soldiers as they were mowed down by machine gun and artillery fire. Mustard and phosgene gases also took their toll.

9. Causes of War 1914 There were several underlying problems that existed in Europe prior to 1914 that contributed to this destructive war.

10. Militarism In 1914 Europe was described as a powder keg ready to explode. The counties of Europe had conscripted large numbers of soldiers into the military. Germany 11 million soldiers Great Britain 9 million soldiers France 8 million soldiers Russia 12 million soldiers. United States 200,000.

11. Conscription = Draft

12. Nationalism Countries such as Germany, France, Austria Hungary, and Britain carried out policies designed to strengthen their power at the expense of their neighbors. Ethnic groups like Serbians, Poles, and Czechoslovakians, started violent uprisings in order to fight for self rule against Germany and Austria Hungary.

13. Nationalism = Extreme patriotism

14. Imperialism In 1914 France and Britain controlled most of the Worlds Colonies and did not permit the Germans to trade in their ports. The German government dreamed of taking control of these vauable colonies and resourceds.

15. Colonial empires 1914

16. Alliances In order to discourage attack, Britain, France, and Russia formed a defensive alliance know as the triple entente. Germany, Austria Hungary, and Italy formed the Triple Alliance Russia secretly pledged to defend Serbia. Britain secretly pledged to defend Belgium.

18. The powder Keg explodes In June of 1914 Archduke Fanz Ferdinand was in a parade in Bosnia the southern province of Austria Hungary. Gavriola Princip a Serbian terrorist shot him and his wife dead. They did this in an attempt to get Serbians to revolt against the crown and rejoin the nation of Serbia.

19. Bad idea!

20. Chain Reaction The terrorist group that killed the leader was called the black hand. They trained in Serbia. As a result to the death of their next king, Austria Hungary declares war on Serbia.

21. War Expands The Russian king honored his alliance with Serbia and sent troops to the border to prepare to invade Austria Hungary.

22. Here come the Hun. The Germans next sent troops to attack Russia to defend their ally. The Germans decided to attack France from the north by crossing through Belgium. This was done to defeat Paris early and avoid a two front war. Britain came to the aid of Belgium and France.

23. The British in France

24. Italy? The Italian government decided to join France, Britain, and Russia when they were promised land and colonies for switching sides. Turkey and Bulgaria fearing Russia joined the Central powers Romania, Montenegro, and Greece joined the allies. Fighting extended into the colonies.

26. The Germans stopped In the first battle of the Marne River the German army was stopped only miles outside of Paris. The Germans outran their supply lines Both sides began digging defensive trenches. For the next three years a stalemate existed as both side slaughter each other in suicidal frontal attacks. Millions died.

27. Where was the U.S.? President Woodrow Wilson attempted to keep the U.S. out of the war. The U.S. followed an Isolationist foreign policy. Despite this policy American banks lent money to the allies to fight. U.S. businesses sent food, steel, and war supplies to the allies. Supplies sent to Germany were taken by the British Navy when the set up a blockade.

28. Tension grows In 1915 the Germans build a fleet of U- boats to stop neutral countries from trading with the allies. On may 7 th the British passenger liner the Lusitania is sunk off the coast of Irleland.

29. Violation of International law The Germans sunk the ship because it carried hundreds of cases of ammunition that were being smuggled from NY city. 1,198 people died as the ship sunk in 15 minutes. The Americans lost 128 innocent civilians. The Germans did not give the passengers time to get into life boats.

30. Americans are pissed! President Wilson protest and demands that the Germans stop the attacks.

31. 1916 Closer to War In 1916 the Germans sink a French passenger ship named the Sussex. They mistake it for a British troop ship. 80 Americans are wounded and several are killed. The Germans issue the Sussex pledge promising to stop attacks on passenger ships and U.S. ships in the war zone.

32. The Big Push In the February of 1917 the Germans planned a big attack towards Paris. They decided to risk bringing the Americans into the war by violating the Sussex pledge and starting unrestricted u-boat warfare. The Germans needed to cut off supplies from neutral countries to break the stalemate. Wilson protests and continues to send ships to France and England.

33. In the spring of 1917 four U.S. merchant ships were sunk by German U- Boat attacks.

34. Catch me riding dirty. At the same time the British intercept a telegram sent from Germany to Mexico. The Zimmerman telegram is an attempt by Germany to form an alliance with Mexico to attack the U.S. On April 6 th Wilson asks Congress to declare war.

35. Not ready? The U.S. has only 100,000 soldiers ready to fight and 100,000 additional national guard troops. As a result millions volunteer to serve and millions of men are drafted under the selective service act. War bonds and a federal income tax are used to fund the build up.