The document summarizes the key causes of World War I and World War II. For WWI, it identifies the main causes as alliances that divided Europe, rising nationalism across countries, industrialized militarism that enabled mass production of weapons, and imperialism. It then describes the specific events and decisions in 1914 that turned the tensions into a war. For WWII, it notes resentment over the Treaty of Versailles, the global economic depression, and the rise of militarism, nationalism and expansionism in Germany, Italy, Japan and the Soviet Union as creating conditions for another war.
A brief overview of the causes of World War 1. The powerpoint starts with key terms my students were required to know (these could be deleted if not needed)
A brief overview of the causes of World War 1. The powerpoint starts with key terms my students were required to know (these could be deleted if not needed)
The First World War - A War to End all WarsJerry Daperro
Preface to The First World War, an illustrated history by AJP Taylor.
“The First World War cut deep into the consciousness of Modern man. It reshaped the political order in Europe. It memorials stand in every town and village. ……. My aim has been to see the war in historical perspective. I have tried to explain what the war was about; particularly, to resolve the paradox that men were passionately engaged in the war and hated it at the same time. Each conuntry fought ostensibly to defend itself yet sought also to conquer and to make great gains.” 1966.
Too many people still believe the greatness of their nations, of course most people love their own country too. Before the start of the Iraq War in 2003, a patriotic friend called me from the US and ask me “Are you not afraid of the coming Iraq war?”, with her rather blinding enthusiasm for the invasion. I did not answer her. Unknown to her, I was marching against the Iraq war. It was the biggest protest march I have ever seen. On that day, 1 million people marched in London to voice their opposition to the war. At least there were 1 million people who did not believed that Iraq had the Weapon of Mass Destruction neither were they able to stop the war, in an otherwise democratic country.
WW1 History 2.0 - A commemoration of Armistice DayJerry Daperro
“The First World War cut deep into the consciousness of Modern man. It reshaped the political order in Europe. It memorials stand in every town and village. ……. My aim has been to see the war in historical perspective. I have tried to explain what the war was about; particularly, to resolve the paradox that men were passionately engaged in the war and hated it at the same time. Each country fought ostensibly to defend itself yet sought also to conquer and to make great gains.” 1966.
Too many people still believe the greatness of their nations over others, of course most people love their own country too. Before the start of the Iraq War in 2003, a patriotic friend called me from the US and ask me “Are you not afraid of the coming Iraq war?”, with her rather blinding enthusiasm for the invasion. I did not answer her. Unknown to her, I was marching against the Iraq war. It was the biggest protest march I have ever seen. On that day, 1 million people marched in London to voice their opposition to the war. At least there were 1 million people who did not believed that Iraq had the Weapon of Mass Destruction neither were they able to stop the war, in an otherwise democratic country.
The Myths of Victory and Failure. German commander Erich Ludendorff suffered a mental collapse before he called for an armistice to end the war, and when he recovered and discovered the terms he had signed onto, he insisted Germany refuse them, claiming the army could fight on. But the new civilian government overruled him, as once peace had been established there was no way to keep the army fighting. The civilian leaders who overruled Ludendorff became scapegoats for both the army and Ludendorff himself.
4. The Environment for the Great
War was created by
• ALLIANCES
In order to balance power and “protect”
themselves, the nations of Europe had
joined in military alliances with other
nations.
5.
6.
7. War was in the air?
• NATIONALISM
Patriotism and loyalty were on the rise
among many groups in Europe.
8. • INDUSTRIALIZED MILITARISM
Nations now had the technology to
mass produce war material in mass
quantities. ((Germany was especially aggressive.)
10. There were of course many other
contributing factors to the outbreak of
WWI, for example:
List of Events:
1870-1871: Franco-Prussian War
1899-1900: Boer War
1900: German Navy Law
1905-6:First Moroccan Crisis
1908: Daily Telegraph article
1908-9:Bosnian Crisis
1911:Agadir Affair (Second Moroccan Crisis)
1912: First Balkan War
1913: Second Balkan War
These are examples of conflicts and increased tensions
between major European powers prior to the outbreak of
the First World War.
11. Game on!
• Assassination of
Archduke of
Austria-Hungary by
a Serbian
nationalist .
• Austria-Hungary
blamed the Serbian
government and
prepared for
invasion.
12.
13. Game on!
• Germany assured Austria-Hungary of
full assistance in a war.
• Austria-Hungary declared war on
Serbia.
• Russia declared war on Austria-
Hungary.
• Germany declared war on Russia and
France.
14. • The Ottoman Empire declared war on
Russia and the other Allies in hopes of
regaining land it had lost.
• Germany moved troops into Belgium to
invade France. Belgians resisted.
15. • Belgium and Great Britain declared war
on Germany and the other Central
Powers.
• AUGUST, 1914 – The Great War began!
16. WWI - “A Family Feud”
Central Powers:
• Wilhelm II - the
Kaiser of Germany
• Franz Joseph - the
Emperor of Austria-
Hungary
Allies:
• Nicholas II - the Tsar
of Russia
• George V - King of
England
• Albert - King of
Belgium
• Wilhelm II, Nicholas
II, and George V were
COUSINS
• Albert was their
SECOND COUSIN
• Franz Joseph was their
GREAT UNCLE
ALSO:
• Alexandra, Nicholas
II’s wife, was a cousin
of Wilhelm II, George
V, and her husband
Nicholas II.
• She was a German
princess.
17.
18.
19. “The War (WWI) was decided in the
first twenty days of fighting, and all
that happened afterwards consisted
in battles which, however formidable
and devastating, were but desperate
and vain appeals against the decision
of Fate.”
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British
statesman, writer. Preface to E. L. Spears,
Liaison 1914 (1930).
20.
21. • In 1917, Russia withdrew because of
revolution/civil war in Russia
• The U.S. joined the Allies because of
the “Rape of Belgium,” German
unrestricted submarine warfare, & the
Zimmerman telegram.
25. The Environment for
World War II was created by:
• Resentment
about the Treaty
of Versailles – in
the peace treaty that
ended WWI, Germany
was “punished”, and
Italy & Japan didn’t
gain the territory they
thought they
deserved.
26. Environment for WAR:
• Global Economic Depression – the
most severe and widespread economic
crisis of history took place in the 1930s.
27. Environment for WAR:
• Economic problems allowed leaders with
radical ideas to gain a following in Germany,
Italy, Japan, Spain, and elsewhere.
28. Environment for WAR:
• German, Japanese, Italian, (& Soviet Russia)
militarism, nationalism, and desire for
expansion led to aggression.
33. Britain, France, and the U.S. did NOT
want war again (for economic, political,
social reasons).
34. And then war
• Japan invaded China in
force in 1937.
• Nazi Germany invaded
Poland in 1939.
• Nazi Germany and Italy
invaded France and
everywhere else they
could.
• Japan attacked Pearl
Harbor in 1941 and
everywhere else they
could.