Pre-War Tensions and Causes (1914)

• European powers on collision course due to competing interests
• France wanted territory back from Germany
• Germany building large navy, making Britain uncomfortable
• Two empires (Austria-Hungary, Ottoman) facing internal independence movements
  • Various ethnic groups declaring independence with Russian support
• Military technology significantly advanced since last major war
• All nations eager for conflict

Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

• Austria-Hungary Archduke Franz Ferdinand visited Sarajevo
• Serbs and Bosnians in Austria-Hungary territory opposed Austrian rule
• Initial assassination attempt failed
  • Assassins threw bombs at open-top car with published route
  • Missed archduke, killed officers behind him
• Second attempt successful
  • Archduke visited injured officers in hospital
  • Driver took wrong turn, got stuck beside failed assassin
  • Assassin shot and killed archduke

Declaration of War and Alliance System

• Austria-Hungary blamed Serbian government for assassination
• Germany supported Austria-Hungary's war declaration
• Austria-Hungary sent impossible demands to Serbia
• Serbia refused demands, Austria-Hungary declared war
• Alliance system activated:
  • Serbia protected by Russia
  • Russia allied with France
  • France had alliance with Britain
  • Montenegro joined conflict
• Britain initially hesitant, decided to stay out

German Schlieffen Plan

• Germany's strategy: defeat France quickly before Russia mobilized
• Plan assumed Russia would be slow to prepare due to size
• Intended to send all troops to France at lightning speed
• After defeating France, move troops east to defeat Russia
• Problem: France had strong fortifications along German border
• Solution: march 750,000 troops through neutral Belgium to bypass French defenses

Belgian Resistance and British Entry

• Belgium refused to allow German passage
• Belgian forces fought back effectively, slowing German advance
• Britain declared war on Germany for invading neutral country
• German forces committed atrocities in Belgium
• German uniforms featured spikes and skulls, poor propaganda image
• Allied propaganda campaign influenced world opinion, especially America

Early Military Tactics and Uniforms

• French soldiers wore bright blue uniforms with red trousers
• Easily spotted by Germans with superior artillery
• French marched in columns, vulnerable to German guns
• All nations entered with outdated military mentality
• Forced to update uniforms and tactics during conflict

Eastern Front Developments

• Russia mobilized faster than expected
• Germany forced to send troops east to defend against Russians
• Austria-Hungary chief of staff proved ineffective strategist
• Austria-Hungary ignored German advice, required constant German support
• Serbia successfully repelled Austrian invasion attempts
• Germany nearly destroyed Russian Second Army in north

Western Front Stalemate

• Germans advanced within sight of Paris
• French commander-in-chief ordered armies to stop retreating
• Gap opened in German lines during battle
• German armies forced to retreat to avoid flanking
• Both sides dug defensive positions
• "Race to the Sea" - both sides moved north trying to outflank
• Trench systems established from coast to Switzerland

Trench Warfare System

• Two opposing trench lines with "no man's land" between
• Attack pattern:
  • Artillery bombardment for days (hundreds of thousands of shells)
  • Psychological effect: shell shock in soldiers
  • Infantry assault across no man's land (muddy, cratered, barbed wire)
  • Machine gun fire from defending trench
  • Thousands of casualties per attack
  • Wave after wave until success or retreat
• Months of fighting for meters/kilometers of land
• Trench conditions: corpses, mud, poisonous water, rats, disease, terrible smell
• Millions of soldiers endured these conditions for years