Because I’m doing World War 1 in History this term I’m going to use this blog to write information for school but it’s also relevant to Gallipoli. So before I write out why the ANZACS were at Gallipoli, I will write about why there was World War 1, the causes of WW1, which went from 1914 to 1918. But before I can even do that I have to explain what was happening in Europe before WW1 because a war doesn’t just happen.
There are long term factors and short term factors that led to the war, like:
National rivalries
Jealousy over territories
Competition over economic progress
Competition over the size of armies and navies
Competition over the race to colonise new parts of the world.
I'm writing this because they will be my study notes. You don't have to read it!
19th Century Europe: What was happening.
Economic differences:
The Industrial Revolution had changed Western Europe with new technologies and mass production which also meant governments had money to improve healthcare, sanitation, infrastructure (roads, canals, railways) and there was more relief for the poor. There was rising literacy rates and a higher standard of living for most people.
BUT, the Industrial Revolution didn’t help many of the Eastern European nations like Austria-Hungary, the Balkan states (Bosnia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania) and Russia.
The different levels of economic growth and standard of living led to rivalry between the nations.
I'm putting in maps because it helps be remember where all the countries are - especially the Balkan states.
There were lots of wars and newly independent countries in the 50 years before WW1.
There were many wars over territory which led to countries becoming independent, and countries losing territory.
Crimean War (1853-56): France, UK and the Ottomans declare war on Russia. It was over who protected Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Russia lost naval bases in the Black Sea.
Italian Wars of Independence (1860s). Italians drove Austria and Spain out of Italy and became Independent Italy (Italy gave France Nice in exchange for aid).
Austro-Prussia War (1866) – Prussia won against Austria which made Prussia to dominant force amongst the German States, and Austria was alone politically from other German states (connected by language, race and culture).
Austria-Hungary Empire (1867). Austria, after losing to Prussia was weak so it ceded (gave up) to Hungary and shared the rule.
German Empire established (1871) A new united German state, incorporating all German states except Austria was established.
German nationalism: German people had a common identity through their shared language and culture, but it was never united under a central rule – as a nation. It had been fragmented before which put them at a disadvantage compared to France and England.
Then the Ottoman Empire was defeated many times and lost a lot of territory.
Russo-Turkish War (1878). Ottoman Empire was defeated by Russia who wanted to have the Balkan States of Serbia, Montenegro, Romania and Bulgaria under its control (see the map of the Balkan states).
Austria gains Bosnia from Ottoman Empire (1878). Austria-Hungary takes Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Ottomans. Bosnians are Muslim and prefer Ottoman rule, but in 1908 Austria annexed (took over) Bosnia.
Montenegro gains independence from the Ottoman Empire (1878).
Bulgaria gains independence from the Ottoman empire (1878).
Romania gains independence from the Ottoman Empire (1881)
It wasn’t good for the Ottoman Empire by 1878 all Balkan nations were freed from Ottoman rule (except Albania which wanted to stay with the Ottomans because its mostly Muslim).
United Kingdom seized control of the Suez Canal in Egypt (1882), which means the UK took control over Egypt.
1894 – France and Russia for the Franco-Russian Alliance
1904 – Britain and France formed the Entente Cordiale alliance.
First Balkan War (1912-1913) – Ottoman Empire lose more territory. After Serbia, Montenegro, Greece and Bulgaria won, the Ottoman Empire was completely pushed out of Europe.
Balkan Wars – predecessor to WW1
The Balkan Wars set the stage for WW1, which started a year later.
Austria-Hungary was alarmed by Serbia’s power which was now an ally with their enemy Russia.
The Ottoman empire was ready to go in and fight with German and Austria-Hungary because it wanted to win back some of the territory it lost in the Balkans.
So, it was a real mess in Eastern Europe.
In the 1870s, the newly united Germany wanted to consolidate (strengthen) its place in Europe, and started to develop a system of alliances. Germany and Austria Hungary became friends – allies – the Dual Alliance in 1879.
Italy had joined the alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1882
No one really thought there’d be armed conflict because so many of the royal families were related. By 1901, Europe was relatively peaceful. Queen Victoria had been head of the British throne for 60 years and her descendents had married royal houses all over Europe. All these heads of monarchies were first cousins:
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II
Russia: Tsar Nicholas II
Germany: Kaiser Wilheim
Britain: Prince of Wales
Britain: Prince of Wales
But Germany's rising power alarmed Britain and Russia, drawing both countries into closer alignment with their long-time rival, France.
· Fear of Germany encouraged France and Russia to form an alliance in 1894.
· This pushed Germany closer to the Austria-Hungarian Empire.
·
Both these rival blocs made military service compulsory so they had mass armies ready. And because military technology was increasing they had to spend large sums on armies.
Both these rival blocs made military service compulsory so they had mass armies ready. And because military technology was increasing they had to spend large sums on armies.
· During the 1900s, there was a big rift between Russia and Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary wanted to crush Serbia, so Russia supported Serbia.
ALLIANCES
TRIPLE ALLIANCE TRIPLE ENTENTE
Germany France
Austria-Hungary Russia
Britain
Italy (initially neutral in WW1) Italy (switched to Triple Entente in May 1915) Turkey (joined in October 1914)
THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR 1
Remember what was happening in the Balkans in the late 1800s and early 1900s? It was a very unstable area.
Three major imperial powers were all actively involved:
Austria-Hungary Russian Empire Ottoman Empire
· Austria-Hungary controlled parts of the Balkans, and
· in 1908 Austria-Hungary annexed (took control over) Bosnia-Herzegovina.
· Serbia wanted Bosnia-Herzegovina.
· Russia supported Serbia.
The Emperor of Austria-Hungary sent his nephew & wife to Bosnia-Herzegovina (Archduke Ferdinand and wife, Sophie).. He thought it would charm the Bosnian-Herzegovinians who, on 28 June 1914 did enthusiastically line the streets to welcome them.
BUT, some Bosnian SERB nationalists shot Ferdinand and Sophie.
Austria-Hungary (with Germany) immediately sent an ultimatum to Serbia.
Remember? Austria-Hungary and Germany were the dual alliance that was formed earlier.
So, Germany supported Austria-Hungary.
Serbia only agreed to 9 of the 10 ultimatum demands (they didn’t want Austria-Hungary to investigate the murder of the F & S).
So Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on 28 July 1914.
· Now remember that Russia supported Serbia. So Russia wasn’t pleased and it started mobilizing for war against Austria-Hungary and Germany.
· Germany demanded Russia stop planning for war.
· Russia didn’t respond
· So Germany declared war on Russia on 31 July 1914.
· Germany had asked France what their plans were going to be, but France only gave a vague response saying it would “follow its own interests”.
· Germany decided to invade France through Belgium.
· On 3 August 1914, British Prime Minister Asquith sent a message to Germany saying that Britain would declare war if Germany didn’t withdraw its troops from Belgium by midnight.
· Germany didn’t, so on 4 August 1914 Britain declared war with Germany.
Italy had joined the Triple Alliance in 1882– but chose to be neutral, then switched to the Triple Entente in May 1915,
Turkey joined the Triple Alliance in October 1914.
Turkey joined the Triple Alliance in October 1914.
CAUSES OF WORLD WAR 1
There were four main Causes of World War 1, both short term and long term.
NATIONALISM
This is when people have a sense of pride and belonging to one’s nation. It generally comes from people who share a common language, culture and history. Although today it is a different as so many countries are multi-cultural so nationalism might be more to do with people having pride and feeling they belong to a country.
Nationalism can unite people. Before WW1 the small Germanic kingdoms united to form the German Empire in 1871. It also led to Germany and Austria-Hungary’s co-operation because German language speakers ruled both countries.
Even in Australia back then, the six separate colonies joined at Federation to become Australia in 1901.
Nationalism can also divide people. Before WW1 Bosnia-Herzegovina wanted independence. It was under control of the Austrian-Hungary Empire. BUT, the population of Bosnia-Herzegovina were made up of different ethnic groups, including Bosnians, Serbs and Croats. They didn’t see they were linked historically, ethnically of culturally to Austria-Hungary. So most of the Bosnian-Herzegovinians wanted to join with Serbia. The Bosnians were mostly Muslims, the Serbs were Orthodox Christians and Muslims. The Austrian-Hungarians were mostly Roman Catholics.
Imperialism is the policy of countries enlarging their territories by controlling other countries. By 1914, England, France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Netherlands and Spain had “colonized” or taken control of a quarter of the world’s population! This meant these nations had bigger empires, more resources and were wealthier. It also gave them strategic power.
Look at how far the world was colonized by 1914.
Imperialism caused conflicts. Not just between the people they conquered but also between other European nations who were wanting to enlarge their empires.
Britain had the largest colonial empire, France had a lot too, but Germany didn’t have many as it had only become a unified state in 1871.
ALLIANCE SYSTEM
World War 1 might have only been an Austrian-Hungary versus Serbian War if there hadn’t been a complicated network of alliances that we formed before 1914.
Between 1879 and 1907 the leading nations formed alliances when to protect each other.
When the newly united Germany was formed in 1871 it wanted to strengthen its power in Europe so went into an Alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1879. This was called the Dual Alliance. Italy joined them in 1882 and it became the Triple Alliance.
An Alliance was a formal agreement when each nation promised to give military support to other nations in their alliance if they were attacked.
France and Russia were concerned about Germany’s growing strength so they formed an alliance in 1894. Britain had a policy of Europe having a balance of power so it was also concerned with Germany’s growing domination. Britain formed an alliance with France in 1904, and with Russia in 1907. France, Russia and Britain had formed the Triple Entente
Bosnia-Herzegovina was part of the Triple Alliance because it was supported by Russia.
SO, when there was conflict between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Austria-Hungary ALL countries (colonies and dominions) in the Triple Entente and Triple Alliance were involved.
MILITARISM
Even when countries colonized it involved a war. Countries wanting to expand their territory or empire needed to have guns, ammunition and soldiers. There was new technology so by the early 20th century modern weapons were also needed. Countries were preparing for war, even though they said they weren’t. They would spend a lot of money on building up their armies and weapons in preparation for the next conflict.
Leading up to WW1 the countries had been preparing for war. Some like Austria-Hungary had already been in wars so were preparing anyway.
So Militarism was a factor contributing to WW1 because all countries had been preparing their military forces. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and France had already made military service compulsory.
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