The document provides background information on the First World War from 1914-1918. It describes how the war introduced the concept of "Total War" where entire countries mobilized their resources. New weapons like tanks, airplanes, poison gas, and machine guns were used. The war resulted in over 9 million casualties and 6 million disabled. It caused massive economic damage and displaced millions of refugees. Leading up to the war, Germany's Chancellor Bismarck had established a complex system of alliances in Europe that broke down and led to the outbreak of war in 1914.

1. FIRST WORLD WAR
1914-1918
German soldier with a gas mask.

2. First World War or the “Great War”
• The First World
War was named by
its contemporaries
as the “Great War”
but, Why?
• For many
reasons...

3. This war had characteristics that not other
war had showed before:
• It was the first
conflict in history to
put in arms
countries from all
around the world.
• Frontlines stretched
through out the five
continents and the
war had
consequences all
around the world.

4. The conflict introduced a new concept of war, “Total War”. This
meant using all the resources of the country, both human and
economic, to beat the enemies.
British women working in a weapon factory.

5. During the war new weapons were developed and new ways of
conducting battle were introduced to break the stalemate that
came down after the Battle of Marne in 1914.
Bigger and more powerful canons like this one were developed during the war.

6. Tanks and fighters
appear for the
first time
U-boats
More powerful canons Poison Gas
Machineguns

7. BUT ITS CONTEMPORARIES SPECIALLY REMEMBER
THIS WAR AS THE GREAT WAR BECAUSE OF...

8. ... ITS BRUTALITY AND DEVASTATING EFFECTS.
9 million casualties And a higher number of injured 6 million disabled
57.000 British soldiers died in the Battle of Somme on
French soldiers charging in Verdun the first day. 420.000 between July and November.

9. Soldiers wounded by sulphur mustard.

10. The city of Ypres (Belgium) after the German bombardments.
For the first time in history civilians were also a target in the
war...

11. Saint Quentin ruins
...The purpose was to demoralize the enemy

12. Lens’ ruins

13. Not quite finished yet...
...First World War also supposed...

14. Russian women
MILLIONS DISPLACED...

15. REFUGEES

16. BELGIANS REFUGEES

17. ...AND AN ECONOMIC DISASTER.
The industry was severely
damaged.

18. Most of the countries’ infrastructure was destroyed (bridges, railways,
factories, etc) and their economies virtually bankrupt due to the war effort.

19. BUT...
HOW COULD THIS
HAPPENED?

20. To be able to understand the process that led
Europe and the whole world to war, we must
bear in mind several factors.
And that is what we
are going to learn in
the following days.

21. 1. Causes of the First World War.
• There are many LONG-TERM SHORT-TERM
factors that we CAUSES CAUSES
must bear in mind • Bismarck’s • Conflicts and
to understand the Systems. rivalries
outbreak of First • Colonial between
countries
Causes.
World War. To • Economic built up.
make it easier to Causes. • The
understand, histori • The Arms ambitions
and fears of
ans have divided Race.
Germany.
• Ideological
these factors in: Causes. • The Balkan
Crises

22. A. The Bismarck’s Systems
• During the last third of the
19th century the European
policy was dominated by the
German chancellor Bismarck.
Once Germany was unified in
1871 his goal was to
consolidate the power and
prestige of the new nation in
the European Concert.
• Due to this, Bismarck
developed an aggressive
diplomacy with two goals:
– To undermine UK’s
leadership in the European
Concert.
– To isolate France whom
they considered their
traditional enemy.
Otto von Bismarck

23. The Bismarck’s Systems
• The first part of the
plan was easy to
accomplish due to UK’s
policy of avoiding
getting involved in
European politics.
However, for the
second part Bismarck
had to develop a
complicated system of
alliances that would
determine the system
of alliances before the
outbreak of war.
• These game of
alliances are known as
the Bismarck’s
Systems

24. The First System (Entente of
the 3 Emperors (1873-1878)
• In 1873 Bismarck
organised a meeting with
the 3 emperors (Wilhelm I
of Germany, Franz Joseph I
of Austria-Hungary and
Alexander II of Russia.
• The objective of the
meeting was to establish
an alliance with them that
would ensure his rearguard
in the case of the outbreak
of war with France.
• Bismarck justified the
alliance alleging that
France as a republic was a
thread for their
monarchical regimes.

25. Problems with the Entente
• The alliance was precarious because of Austrian
and Russian rivalries in the Balkans.
• Russia invades the Ottoman Empire in 1878
breaking the treaty.
• The international community forces Russia to
retreat.
• Austria-Hungary gets control of Bosnia-
Herzegovina.
• Germany is forced to choose between keeping its
alliance with Austria-Hungary or Russia.

26. The Second System (The
Double Alliance 1879-1887)
• In 1879 Germany renews
its treaty with Austria-
Hungary. It’s a military
agreement to provide aid
in case of war.
• The Double alliance will
prove to be the longest
one as Germany entered
the war in 1914 due to it.
• To reinforce the system
Bismarck signs a new
treaty with Russia in 1881.
• Finally in 1882 makes
another treaty with Italy.
This new treaty is called
“The Triple Alliance”.
• At this stage Bismarck
holds the greatest power in
Europe.

27. Problems with the system
• Italy has rivalries with Austria-
Hungary in Croatia.
• Russian and Austrian rivalries in the
Balkans have increased.

28. The Third System (1887-1890)
• The third system
tried to solve the
problems.
• Germany renews
its treaty with
Russia. The
“Reinsurance
Treaty”.
• Germany also
renews “The Triple
Alliance” with Italy.

29. Problems with the system
• However Bismarck’s effort to isolate France from
1888 Russia is provided with cheap loans by
France.
• Moreover in 1890 the new Kaiser Wilhelm II
decides not to ratify the “Reinsurance Treaty”
with Russia. France signs a military, economical
and financial treaty with Russia ”Franco-Russian
Alliance” (1892).
• Meanwhile Italy secretly signs a treaty with Great
Britain in 1887.
• In addition in 1904 Great Britain signs a treaty
with France “The Entente Cordiale”
• Finally the Anglo-Russian treaty in 1907 sets the
“Triple Entente”.

30. THEREFORE BY 1914 THE SYSTEM OF
ALLIANCES WAS AS FOLLOWS:
CENTRAL POWERS OR
“THE TRIPLE THE TRIPLE ENTENTE
ALLIANCE”
• GERMANY • GREAT BRITAIN
• AUSTRIA-HUNGARY • FRANCE
• ITALY • RUSSIA
Politicians at the time called this system of alliances the
“Balance of Power”