The Great War lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. Nearly 8 million soldiers were killed and over 22 million were wounded. The spark that ignited the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria by the Serbian nationalist group The Black Hand in 1914. Major battles like the Battle of Verdun resulted in over 650,000 casualties combined.

2. General
Information…
• Started on July 28, 1914
• Ended on November 11, 1918
• Almost 8,000,000 dead.
*** Russia the most = 1.7 million
• Almost 22,000,000 wounded…..
• Map of Europe greatly
changed .

5. Reasons for start
of war…
• Extreme nationalism – pride in
country
• Imperialism
• Militarism – building up military
• Alliance system - <KEY REASON>
–European powers formed rival
alliances to protect
themselves
–PROBLEM? One event could

8. The Black Hand..
• The main objective of
the Black Hand was the
creation, by means of
violence, of a Greater
Serbia.
• Its stated aim was: "To
realize the national
ideal, the unification of
all Serbs. This
organization prefers
terrorist action to
cultural activities; it will
therefore remain
secret."

9. The spark that lit
the fuse….
• The one event that started the Great War
happened in the Balkans.
• The Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Austria) was
assassinated while visiting Serbia.
• The Black Hand was responsible….

12. Kaiser Wilhelm II
“You will be
home
before the
leaves
have
fallen
from the
trees!!”

17. Battle of Verdun
• the longest and one of the bloodiest engagements
of World War I. February 1916 – December 1916
• Two million men were engaged.
• The intention of the Germans had been a battle of
attrition in which they hoped to bleed the French
army white.
• In the end, they sustained almost as many
casualties as the French; an estimated 328,000 to
the French 348,000.

19. Map 31.1: Major U.S. Operations in France, 1918

20. Figure 31.1: Approximate Comparative Losses in World War I

21. 4. What was the job of
George Creel during the war?
 His job was to
sell America the
war.
 Creel tried to
“whip” up
support for
Wilson’s ideas
 Help US raise
money to fight