Cause and Immediate Effect of World War I

bang sign a secret military agreement pledging reciprocal Aid if either nation is attacked by an aggressive power the Mediterranean thus the Triple Alliance is formed backed by a the Triple Alliance dominates Central Europe from the Baltic to the Mediterranean 1900 William II becomes emperor of Germany he dismissed the ruthless but cautious bismar and launches an aggressive foreign policy of Vel po IC Germany says the new emperor must taking place in world affairs the Kaiser dreams of a gerand dominated central European Empire linked with Asia by a Berlin to Baghdad Railway this road controlled by the Rish is to run through Austria Hungary Seria Bulgaria and turkey and then to Asia Only tiny Seria outside the German orbit blocks the grandor scheme and Austria's ruler will gladly cooperate if necessary in crushing the little B of Nation but the Kaiser must reckon with France and Russia which have become alarmed at Germany's Growing Power in 1892 these nations signed a secret military agreement of their own pledging Mutual Aid should either be attacked by the German combination diplomats call this franor Russian PCT the Dual Alliance the Kaiser must also reckon with King Edward 7th of Britain and British Sea power England is jittery because the German combination plus Empire has upset the balance of power in Europe in addition Germany is making serious inroads on British trade and the rash is building battleships feeling herself menaced England seems ready to line up with Pusher 194 overlooking her traditional jealousy of France England signs a pact whereby Paris and London agreed to work together in foreign affairs for their Mutual Advantage this pact is not a military Alliance its friendly character is indicated by its name The anant Cordial nevertheless it gives the Kaiser something to think about three years later this agreement is extended to Russia the Anar thus becomes the trip anant but Kaiser is furious he claims that Germany's enemies seek to encircle her as an extra irritation Italy his Triple Alliance partner comes to an understanding with France and Russia thus Italy has a hand in each of the Rival European combinations in the event of War she can join the side that offers most Morocco 195 Europe's first war of nerves is underway Germany bluntly questions France's right to expand in Morocco an International Conference follows and the matter is decided in favor of France in 198 Emperor France jph of Austria Hungary announces the annexation of Bosnia and heroina a blow to the nationalistic Ambitions of Seria the Zar of Russia backs Seria as a sister Slavic nation and an enemy of the Central Powers he protests Austria's action and is supported by England but Germany sides with Austria Russia weakened by her war with Japan has to yield so Bosnia heroa is recognized as Austrian territory it is a great diplomatic victory for the German combination but it breeds hatred and fear in the serbs 1911 another crisis over Morocco Germany sends a warship to agader and informs France she has no right to an next Morocco England quickly sides with France David Lloyd George now Chancellor of the ex cheer speaks for the Brit says the Welshman if peace can be maintained only by allowing Britain to be treated as if she were no account in the cabinet of Nations then I say emphatically that peace at that price would would be intolerable but War over Morocco is averted when Germany receives concessions in Africa 1913 crisis in the Balkans King Peter of Seria following a Victorious Balan War over turkey orders occupation of several ports on the Adriatic the Austrian government takes alarm a strong servian State might draw millions of serbs from within Austria's borders and start the downfall of the Empire Austrian troops are dispatched to the border the Kaiser also is worried a strong Seria would threaten his Berlin to Baghdad dream Russia again backs Seria once more the war clouds Loom but again they dissolve England and Germany persuade the serbs to evacuate the Adriatic ports an independent state of Albania is formed on the coast Serb leaders are denied their cherished ambition and Outlet to the Sea meanwhile the munition makers have been very busy in Germany France England they turn out guns shells warships selling to potential enemies as well as friends they have armed Europe to the teeth and so again 1914 Europe still hopes for peace but is ready for war June 28th Arch duuk Ferdinand nephew of France Joseph and heir to the austr Hungarian Throne is assassinated with his wife in Saro capital of Bosnia the Killer is a Serb but an Austrian subject Austria blames Seria and public feeling m rapidly the Kaiser assures France Joseph he will stand by him regardless of what action Austria days pass with no action then on July 23rd Austria Hungary influenced by the German military click sends an ultimatum demanding that Seria accept within 48 Hours terms which practically mean National Extinction frantic diplomatic activity follows counil by Russia and England Seria yields to most of the demands and offers to refer the rest to arbitration but July 28 Austria urged on by Germany declares war on servian thereupon Russia mobilizes but the Zar promises the Kaiser to keep peace as long as a chance for peace remains August 1st Russia refuses to suspend mobilization Germany declares war on Russia France says she will do as her interests dictate and mobilizes Italy remains neutral for the Triple Alliance binds her only in a defensive War not an aggressive one Germany now demands that Belgium Grant her permission to cross Belgian territory to invade France August 3rd Belgium refuses as Germany invades France England Bound by treaty to defend Belgium's neutrality essential to her own security demands assurance that Germany will respect it but Germany invades Belgium August 4th England declares war on Germany the first world war has begun in the west German troops follow a pre-arranged plan smashing through Belgium they drive deep into France Paris by October the Germans shout city after City falls in the East German troops under Von Hindenberg crushed the Russians at the Battle of tannenburg then they invade Russia the IL equipped and badly LED Russians become demoralized in France the Allied Forces with their backs to Paris r at the mar and forc the Germans back to the a river a new type of machine gun and trench warfare Begins the fighting reaches a deadlock that will remain for nearly four years as others enter the struggle Montenegro Japan Portugal and Romania join the Allies but turkey straddling the Strategic dardel joins the Central Powers in 1915 the Allies WI a diplomatic Victory Italy comes in on their side the war now involves most of the world with the exception of the Americas war on the sea in the Battle of Jutland Germany tries to break the British blockade that is slowly strangling her but British Sea power is too strong and British warships continue their patrols so Germany resorts to unrestricted submarine warfare in 1950 a ubo sinks the Lucitania 1200 people including 104 neutral Americans are lost the United States protests Germany maintains she has no recourse but to continue the subc Warfare American public opinion aroused by the plus Allied propaganda financial and business interests and German sabotage becomes increasingly bitter against the r finally President woodro Wilson severs diplomatic relations between the United States and Germany on April 2nd he addresses Congress recommending that America declare war to make the world safe for democracy April 6th Congress passes a resolution which declares the United States and Germany are at War other neutrals follow the American example they are Panama Cuba Siam Liberia China Brazil Guatemala Nicaragua Haiti and Honduras the conflict began between Austria and Serbia has spread over the world March 1917 Revolution in Russia a long oppressed people Rises against the Zar who is forced to abdicate Bolsheviks led by Nikolai Lenin and Leon Trotsky establish a Communist Regime with Russia wrecked by internal War they are forced to conclude A Separate Peace with Germany prolonged negotiations culminate in 1918 the Treaty of brosk under the treaty Russia loses half a million square miles and 65 million people she surrenders Poland Lithuania corland lonia and Estonia she renounces all claims to Finland and the Ukraine and recognizes their independence she gives up aravan and cars in the Caucasus on the oil Port of Batum to Turkey she also agrees to pay germany1 and one half billion dollar during the peace negotiations Latvia Finland Lithuania and Estonia declare their independence bre Lov one of the most humiliating treaties in history completes the collapse of the old Russian Empire victorious in the East Germany again takes the offensive in the west hard troops smash through to the marn Allied Forces again fight with their backs to Paris but led by General John J persing nearly a million American troops are now in France they helped slow the German Drive July 18th Marshall fos commanding the combined Allied armies declares everyone is to attack as soon as he can for as long as he can a great offensive forces the Germans to withdraw from their dearly one positions again the mar is the scene of an Allied Victory the fresh Yankee troops hearten the weary allies as fos in one Mighty effort throws his full strength into battle the advance continues in the face of stubborn resistance news comes of Victories on other fronts on September 29th Bulgaria surrenders on October 31st turkey signs an Armistice November 4th Austria Hungary quits and prisoners taken in the Relentless Advance stream to the rear in Germany the people are faced with starvation caused by the British blockade Revolution breaks out on November 9th the Kaiser abdicates and flees to Holland November 11th 198 18 an Armistice is signed when delegates of the new German Republic meet Marshall foren the war is over crowds celebrate the end of the bloody struggle it remains only to draw up the terms of Peace in December President Wilson sails for France to conduct the negotiations for the United States Wilson's 14 Points were the basis for the armus and he now believes his idealistic dream of a just peace and a strong League of Nations will prevail at the historic Palace of Versailles in Paris Statesmen assembled to draw up the peace treaties in January 1919 the first meeting of the peace conference opens here Wilson insists that the league integral part of the peace treaty and here he learns of the secret treaties concerning The Spoils of War these treaties which include promises to Italy and powers on the Allied side threaten Wilson's ideals of a just peace also threatening them are the demands of embittered peoples and Statesmen to make the Germans pay conference is dominated by Lloyd George Wilson clemo France and Orlando of Italy the Italian presently withdraws leaving the others to carry on the work July 28th 1919 the Treaty of Versailles is signed between the Allied powers and Germany let's see what this treaty does first it deprives Germany of all her colonies German East Africa goes to Great Britain and to Belgium the cameroons are divided between Britain and France British also get togoland Southwest Africa goes to the union of South Africa Germany's Samoan Islands go to New Zealand our Pacific Islands north of the equator plus her rights to kiaa and shantong China go to Japan her Island south of the Equator plus German New Guinea go to Australia on her Western Front Germany restores alus Lorraine to France her Frontier districts of mour eupen and malm go to Belgium herar District rich in coal is to be governed by the League of Nations with Provisions for a pleite in 15 years to determine French or German ownership the rash also agrees To demilitarize the Left Bank of the r in zone 32 M deep on Germany's Eastern Front Wilson's principle of self-determination is attempted Poland is reestablished and districts inhabited chiefly by poles are handed over to Poland to give the polls access to the Sea the Polish Corridor is provided separating Germany from East Prussia this Corridor is criticized as a certain source of future trouble in a pleite between Germany and Denmark the province of schleswig goes go to Denmark danig overwhelmingly German becomes a free city under League protection opaaa is to hold a pleite to determine polish or German ownership the German City and District of meml goes to Lithuania to provide that new state with a Baltic Port minority problems Arise at once with Po and Germans occupying many of the same districts Poes come under German rule Germans under polish rule as humiliation Germany admits she started the war to indemnify the Allies in money and materials for all the damage caused is also added in the treaty the money Indemnity alone amounting to $31 billion Germany is compelled to limit her Army and Navy and to abolish conscription the rice has been stripped of her wealth our colonies and her power the first job of the peace conference is done the Allied Powers ratify the treaty President Wilson returns to the United States and tours the country seeking to arouse public opinion in its favor he pleads in vain aware of the documents faults and fearful of entanglements Congress rejects the treaty and the League of Nations meanwhile additional pacts Lop territory off other defeated States the treaties of sanman new and tranon deal with Austria Hungary and Bulgaria the new new state of Czechoslovakia already has declared its independence Bohemia and Moravia the bases of this state contain 3 million Germans to include them will affront the principles of self-determination to exclude them it is thought will fatly weaken the new Republic so a compromise bounds Czechoslovakia by the mountain ranges of ancient Bohemia thus Czechoslovakia not only includes a German but also a Hungarian minority Yugoslavia which also has declared its independence presents another difficult problem it combines sery with Bosnia and heroina plus land inhabited by croats and slovin the boundary with Austria is settled by pites but the bordering territory of istria and the nearby territory of the Southern trol with its population of 400,000 austrians become the Pawns of expediency for they are handed over to Italy starting more minority problems fom becomes a free City like Danzig but thus little CIA becomes great and finally gains access to the Sea Romania presents more minority problems she demands Transylvania where hungarians jle Romanians and the treaty makers finally give it to her thus another million hungarians are alienated from their Homeland moreover the former Russian territory of bessarabia which has voted for Union with Romania following the bolic uprising is allowed to continue as Romanian territory so Romania expands greatly by the war bulg ARA adds her quot of minority Troubles by the Treaty of nelli she is forced to yield territory to Romania Yugoslavia and Greece after further negotiations Greece also takes over Bulgaria's aan Coastline leaving the Little Kingdom a landlocked Nation the boundary between Austria and Hungary is determined by pleite and the dual monarchy is split into separate independent nations by these treaties Austria is limited to a small landlock territory the fears of Fran are realized and the disintegration of the great dual monarchy is complete finally there is turkey the first peace treaty that of s leaves her little more than Anatolia its terms are so drastic that the rising Turkish nationalists refuse to accept it but the Allies are tired of fighting and so Greece alone goes to war with turkey to enforce the pack Greece can't beat the sick man of Europe however and so in 1923 the Treaty of Lozan is drawn up its terms are hard but less so than those of its predecessor in Europe the old Turkish provinces of Constantinople Eastern th and galipoli remain in Turkish hands while in Asia in addition to Anatolia turkey retains cicia and Adelia but Syria goes to France Palestine goes to England under mandate system most of the deines islands go to Italy and from other Turkish territory three semi-independent Arab states arise under the protection of England they are Iraq trans jordania and and the head Jazz with the signing of this treaty the first world war is officially over further disput are referred to the League of Nations summer 1923 a new Europe a hopeful World a prospect of enduring peace but already tomorrow's leaders are toiling and scheming for jealousies and hatreds still smoldering the hearts of men these leaders will fashion new armies to replace the old they will regiment whole people for conquest and revenge for the new map of Europe is hastily and in places roughly drawn the task of the peacemakers is not done Europe's history does not end at Versailles the ultimate effect of the first world war await the question future [Music]