The beginning of the 20th century saw Britain as one of the great world powers under King Edward VII and later King George V. In 1917, George V changed the royal family's surname to Windsor. World War I began in 1914 when Germany invaded Belgium to attack France, drawing Britain into the war in defense of Belgium's neutrality. The war was the first major blow to British imperial power, with German U-boats sinking merchant ships and nearly causing starvation in Britain by 1915. The United States entry into the war in 1917 after Germany resumed unrestricted submarine warfare ended Germany's hopes, and it surrendered in 1918.

1. The beginningof the20thcenturyin GB. WW I

3.  Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Edward
VII, who reigned from 1901 till 1910,
after the reign of his mother wasn’t
given a great deal to do and in the
absence of a job he chose to engage
himself in the pleasures of smart
society. His eldest son died at the age
of 28 and his second son succeeded him
as George V (he reigned from 1910 till
1936)

4. George V
 In 1917 George V changed his family’s surname
from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. King
George V was an admirable “institutional
monarch”. He started a tradition of attending
the annual football Cup Final match at Wembley
Stadium. At the beginning of the 20th century
Britain was still one of the greatest world
powers.

5. World War |

6.  The colonies in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and
South Africa obtained such complete control over
their internal affairs that in 1917 they were granted the
new status of dominions. This select group of nations
within the empire was often referred to as the British
Commonwealth. In Europe Germany was now
becoming very united and strong. The danger of war
with Germany had been clear from the beginning of
the 20th century, and it brought France and Britain
together.

7.  Central Powers
Germany and Austria-Hungary
 the Allies
France, Britain and Russia

9.  Germany tried to attack
France by marching through
Belgium (a neutral country
since 1839). Britain joined
the war in defense of
Belgium. The Central Powers
were joined by Turkey (1914)
and Bulgaria (1915). The
Allies were joined by Italy
(1915), Romania (1916) and
the USA (1917). Thus,
practically the whole of
Europe was fighting. The
First World War had started.

10.  For Britain, it was the first time that civilians were actively
involved in the war effort. From 1916 all able-bodied men aged
between 18 and 41 had to go into the army and women replaced
them in their jobs. So, World War I was the first major blow to
British imperial supremacy. Beginning with 1915, German
submarines started sinking merchant ships which carried
supplies to Britain. Being an island state, Britain had always
depended on imported goods. 40 per cent of Britain’s merchant
fleet was sunk during the war. There was one period in the
course of the war when for six weeks the British population was
on the point of starvation.

11.  Then in 1917 Russia withdrew from the
war and made peace with Germany (as
there was the Bolshevik Revolution of
1917). After that the German generals
hoped for victory against the Allies. But
German submarine attacks on neutral
ships drew America into the war against
Germany.

12.  The arrival of American troops
in France ended Germany’s
hopes, and it surrendered in
November 1918. By the Treaty
of Versailles Germany had to
admit guilt for the war. The
allies claimed huge financial
compensation. After the war,
the dominions signed the
peace treaties for themselves
and joined the newly formed
League of Nations as
independent states equal to
Britain

13. The End