World War One



I. CAUSES OF THE GREAT WAR

A. Economic

B. Social

C. Intellectual

1. European cultural heritage

2. Ideologies of progress:

D. Political

1. the nation-state: language and race

2. parliamentary government

3. parties: 4. Differing forms
5. Extension of the suffrage

6. Exceptions to democratization

E. Military

1. popular militarism 2. Comparative figures on army increase, 1870-1914: 
                   1870         1914

Russia            700,000     1,300,000
France            380,000       846,000
Germany           403,000       812,000
Austria-Hungary   247,000       424,000
Britain           302,000       381,000
Italy             334,000       305,000
Japan              70,000       250,000
U.S.A.             37,000        98,000
3. military expenditure

F. Diplomatic

1. Alliance System 2. Testing the system 3. Tensions in the Balkans

II. THE CONDUCT OF THE GREAT WAR

A. THE WAR: 1914-1916
1. The Western Front

The Schlieffen Plan (enveloping movement) - failed. It was modified by Moltke which weakened the important right wing; furthermore, the French General Staff under Joffré recovered. This led to the First Battle of the Marne (Sept. 5-12) which totally wrecked the plan. The only thing left to do was to retreat to Aisne. A race to the sea then took place. Of course, Plan17 of the French also failed, as it was bound to.

2. The Eastern Front

Two Russian armies invade, one attacks East Prussia striking north from Poland and another strikes south against Austria-Hungary from Poland. But Hindenburg and Ludendorff defeat the Russians in East Prussia at the Battle of Tannenberg (August 25-30) and the Battle of the Masurian Lakes (September 4-10). This ended the threat of invasion by Russia. But the Russians win victories against the Austrians and take Galicia with fearful losses. Meanwhile the Germans counter-attack in Poland. By the end of 1914 the Russian campaign is at a standstill.

In 1915 the German offensive takes Warsaw and Vilna, delivering 1,000,000 casualties to the Russian. Another Russian offensive in 1916 (Brusilov) is no longer a serious menace to Central Powers.

3. The Balkans

4. Italy

5. The War at Sea

6. German Submarines

B. THE WAR: 1916

1. Verdun and the Somme 2. Russia and Rumania

C. THE WAR: 1917 - The Critical Year

1. Western Front 2. Entrance of the U.S.A. in April 1917 3. Withdrawal of Russia 4. The Russian Revolutions

In the March Revolution In the November Revolution

D. THE WAR AND THE ARMISTICE: 1918

1. The Final German Effort 2. Failure of the Submarine 3. Allied success in the Near East 4. Breakdown in Germany 5. Armistice

E. PEACEMAKING: 1919

1. Wilson is the dominant figure 2. Organization

a. Plenary session - January 18, 1919 - after that rare

b. Work done in committees c. Council of Ten : Big Four (George, Clemenceau, Wilson, Orlando) and Big Three :

- Lloyd George - Clemenceau - Wilson

III. THE CHARACTER OF THE GREAT WAR

A. The character of the the conflict

B. The early illusions

C. The failure of strategy and of military technique

D. Psychological shocks and attrition of morale

E. The Balance Sheet

1. Ten to thirteen million dead: 2. Twenty million are wounded

3. France is devastated

4. Vienna and Berlin near starvation

5. Influenza, typhus, cholera took millions

6. Social revolution in Central and Eastern Europe



Send questions and suggestions to Professor Gerhard Rempel, Department of History, Western New England College. Last Revised 12-18-95.