CAUSES OF WORLD WAR ONE

Before 1914, Europe was considered the most impactful continent of the whole entire
world. Though, many countries did not want to work with each other, which lead to
enemies. On June 28th, 1914, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip who
was a member of the terrorist group “The Black Hand” from Serbia. This assassination was
to send a message to the Hungarian Empire to give Serbia independence. The citizens and
the government were furious about their actions and produced three ultimatums for Serbia

1. To push down protests for Serbian Independance

2. To bring all the members of the Black Hand and have them arrested under Austria-
Hungarian government.
3. The Hungarian Military would be able to enter Serbia’s land freely to help

Serbia said yes to the first two demands, but not the third since this would affect their
independence fully, and Hungary saw this as a full refusal, so Hungary declared war on
Serbia on July 28th, 1914.

The assassination though, was not the sole reason this war started. It was the tipping
point. As mentioned before, the countries in Europe were not willing to work with each
other, which caused many enemies.

The FOUR main causes to WWI were:

- Nationalism
- Alliances
- Imperialism
- Militarism

NATIONALISM
Meaning: A strong feeling of loyalty in one’s country.

The European countries did not live peaceful with one another. They argue over land a lot.
(France lost land to Germany in a war and they wanted it back). Russia supported Serbia
though, because they did not want Austria-Hungary to expand even more. Britain also
supported Belgium and wanted to restrain Germany. Italy wanted some of Austria-
Hungary’s land. Austria-Hungary wanted to destroy Serbia’s independence, and take their
land, and Turkey wanted better territorial control and to secure its frontiers against Russia.

Countries were also weary of each other and did not trust others at all.

The Spark:

The spark was lit when the assassination of Franz Ferdinand took place. This event brough
Europe into the July crisis (28 days before WWI). Austria-Hungary wanted to use this
assassination to bring down Serbian independence. They would give them an ultimatum
that would not technically make sense for them to agree upon for an independent state, so
they declined, and Austria-Hungary declared war on them for this reason, because they
stated they completely refused all agreements.

Russia came into help Serbia since they were allies, and Germany saw Russia as a treat
and ordered them to stand down, and then Germany declared war on Russia on August 1st,
and then France on the 3rd. Germany invaded France through Belgium, which made Britain
declare war on Germany on the 4th, which was when WWI officially started.

Militarism

Countries were perceived through their wealth, and their military power. Every state in Europe
had large armies who were always ready to go to war if they had to. Ideology at the time was
that if you were powerful, no country would risk attacking. The modern technology during the
time made it so that the militaries was planning to get stronger and stronger during a brief
period.

- The British and the Germans had a great naval defense using new ships
- France had 1.2 million soldiers and Germany had 1.9 million active soldiers.
- Russia had 1.4 million soldiers and Germany yet again at 1.9 million active soldiers

Many people believed that the only way to make peace was to be prepared for war.
Navies were needed to protect global trade, which is funny since the navies weren’t used for
major battles a lot, only once. Germany realizes that they can’t keep with Britain's submarines,
so it will focus on new things. Majority of fighting was done between armies ironically

Alliances

There were two major alliances during World War I.

TRIPLE ENTENTE: Britain, France, Russia

TRIPLE ALLIANCE: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy

In the general scheme of things, alliances should prevent war, but since many countries were
prepared to go to war, it inevitably happened.

The domino effect: When one country threatens another, their alliances also come in to help
them. All these war declarations happened due to the alliances. They made the war worse in
some ways. Even Germany’s plan “The Schlieffen plan” was to attack France by crossing
Belgium, which crossed the line of Belgium’s Neutrality, which brought England into the war
while Belgium still stayed out of it.

Imperialism

By 1914, the world was mostly “discovered” by Europeans, or enslaved those nations.

The world was divided up into empires, countries, and spheres of influence. An imperial country
either owned or controlled its colonies.

Britain, France, Russia, The Netherlands, and Belgium controlled a lot of territory and Germany
felt as if they deserved more than that. If a country did not willingly go into an empire, it would
still go into it by force.

German’s new search for colonies made other nations suspicious to see what their up to.

Imperialism: was intricately linked to nationalism (larger Empire = stronger country) and
militarism (need military power to conquer & build an Empire)
The Schlieffen plan

Germany thought It would take Russia 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months) to mobilize and
thought they could defeat France in 3 weeks if they went through the fields of Belgium, and
then do a surprise attack on France. Germany invading Belgium brought Britain into the war,
also Canada. The plan failed and advancing Germans and defending French & British dug
elaborate trench systems that would become the Western Front later in the war.

CANADA GOING TO WAR

When world war one first broke out, Canada was under the British government, and they
only went in when the British went in. Canada was not allowed to declare wars on other
countries. Britian requested 25,000 Canadian soldiers, which Prime Minister Robert
Borden agreed to. The government also passed the War Measures Act, giving them the power
to do whatever it needed to sustain Canada during the war.

When the war started, the public was supportive of Canadians being a part of the war with
the British, even the Francophones. Canada decided to support the British completely, and
started to make the first Canadian Army, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)

When the war began, the Canadians only had 3000 full time active soldiers, but the other
soldiers were part time soldiers (militia), which made up the CEF. To meet the demands of
the army, massive enlisting was rampant across the country. Privates get about 1 dollar a
day on the job. Many of them joined in thinking that the war would end by Christmas, but
now we know that was not the case.

The economy during 1914 also made people go into the army to get some money.

Women were only allowed to help during the war, either on the Homefront (which was
mostly consisted of women) or nurses and ambulance drivers.

The CEF imposed these rules for a potential soldier:

- Must be a man
- 5’3 in height minimum
 - Between 18-45 (though some men lied)
- Good eyesight, healthy teeth, arched feet.

When the war dragged on though, less rejections were happening since they needed way
more men.

Recruiters also rejected the minorities of Canada such as the Asian applicants and the
Black applicants. Though, some military units did allow some Indigenous in since they had
great sniping and scouting skills.

To train the new CEF, a camp was set up in Valcartier Quebec where over 30,000 men
trained there to become a soldier. They were then sent to England where they were trained
again since the British “insisted.” Their way was more formal, instead of a camp just set up
in 1914. The British wanted to assimilate Canadian troops into their own, but the
Canadians resisted. Sir Sam Hughes said that the regiments of Canada should stay
together. The Canadian soldiers did not either respect or understand the British Military,
and finally by February 1915, they were on their way to the front lines.

The minister of Militia Sir Sam Hughes insisted that the men should use the Ross Rifle
since it was an excellent weapon to use. This rifle was manufactured by a friend of Hughes.
The Ross rifle was a great gun, but it was useless in the mud, and in the trenches. It would
jam frequently. Because of this, Canadian soldiers used the rifles of dead people when
their either broke or jammed. Eventually in 1916, Canadian soldiers were given Lee Enfield
rifles and Sir Sam Hughes was fired by Robert Borden after he failed to see the problems
with the Ross Rifle.

THE CANADIANS AT BATTLES

War was already at a stalemate. Both sides have dug trenches to hide in for years, and
these trenches would span up to 600km (about 372.82 mi) in length.

Attrition war – Gradually wearing down the enemy

Machine Gun – Made in the trenches for survival

Artillery – Made skies above trenches deadly.

Barbed Wire - Placed in front of each trench lime, this slowed down the enemy as they
would have to cut

through it, or go around it

Front Line - Closest position to the enemy & no man's land

Artillery line - Each side used artillery to "soften up" the enemy before an assault - these
guns were always kilometers behind front lines

Over the top: Soldiers ordered to leave the trenches and assault the enemy trenches
through no man's land

No man’s land: Deadly area between the trenches on both sides; if the enemy was caught
there was no way out

Shell: Explosives launched from artillery could be fille with gas or metal fragments -
responsible for most casualties during the war

Shrapnel: When a shell exploded tiny fragments of metal radiated out from the point of
detonation. shrapnel ripped through flesh

Dog Tooth: Trenches were never dug in a straight line, there were corners & angles to
reduce the impact of a detonation

THE BATTLE OF YPRES

Canadian soldiers were apart of most of the battles along the western front from 1915 to
1918.

The second battle of Ypres was when chemical warfare was first introduced. The Germans
had launched a Chlorine gas attack on the Canadians. Chlorine gas when exposed to the
eyes will burn them. Breathing the gas will suffocate anyone and they will die. Over 6000
men died during that battle. Though, the others survived by peeing on their clothes, and
shoving it down their throats, because of the Ammonia inside of urine, which would
crystallize the gas. This information was found through a science teacher in Hamilton. This
was Canada’s first major battle of the war.

The use of gas was illegal in the 20 th century agreed by most major powers. After this battle
though soldiers were given gas masks in case of another chemical attack.

Chorine gas was added to phosgene and mustard gas which was more deadly. It corroded
exposed skin, deadly if inhaled, damaged exposed eyes, and on top of that it was odorless.

Even though this way of fighting was dirty, it still created a statement in the war, and it
would drive up costs for the other countries to produce these gases, and also to protect all
of the soldiers affected by the gas.

THE BATTLE OF SOMME 1916

This battle was the biggest battle of WWI of all time. It lasted for 140 days and had the
highest 1-day casualty rate ever, over 57,000 British men killed in one day, and 1.25 million
were dead. This battle was done with poor commanding by the British soldiers. They are
plan was the shell the Germans and go over the top of No Man’s Land. Britain did this and
made more of a mess for themselves. The British assumed though that the Germans were
dead from these shell attacks. During this battle, the tank was introduced into warfare.

This battle was when the Canadians back at home started to not support the war entirely.
They started to notice the high causality rate. The enlistment rates started to decrease too
during this time, due to the war's realities. Many blamed the military or the government for
dragging this war for way too long. Causalities were up, but enlistments were down putting
less men on the field.

THE BATTLE OF HAMEL 1916

This battle for the Canadians was especially important to them. Inside of the battle were
soldiers from the Newfoundland first regiment. 733 out of 801 men from the regiment were
killed in this battle. They went towards the enemy line thinking there would be little
oprresion, but the Germans knew about this attack. 2am July 1 st of 1916 was when this
attack first took place, whne they took a 5-hour march to the trenches. 8:45am they were
ordered into battle. They crossed No Man’s land, and many died. In less than a half hour,
this battle ended. The shortest battle of WWI

CANADIANS IN BATTLE PART 2

THE YEAR 1917:

January: Germany tries to encourage Mexico to declare war on America, with a telegram

February: Germany returns to Unrestricted submarine warfare – U-boats will attack all ships
sailing towards England

April: America finally enters on the allies side, but it would take them a while to get their
soldiers actually in France.

October: Russia has a revolution' - becomes a communist country (USSR) and quits the war.
Germany is no longer fighting a two-front war

After three years of fighting in these wars, no side has won anything meaningful. If anything, all
countries lost millions of dollars trying to support the war efforts, such as ammunition, food,
artillery, and vehicles.

VIMY RIDGE 1917

The French and the British were not able to take over the ridge. The Canadians were in
charge of taking Vimy Ridge, as a large allied spring assault. Canadian general Arthur
Currie planned the attack using all four Canadian divisions for the first time.

Currie did use British tactics, but in his own way.

- Soldiers were given maps and descriptions of the attack planned, but not the date.
- Soldiers rehearsed this attack with scale models
- Soldiers were told to continue fighting even if their officers were killed.
- Planes mapped the ridge, and showed the place with the machine guns and the
higher ground
 - Supply and Sabotage tunnels were built under No Man’s Land and their own
trenches for this plan to begin on the morning of April ninth, 1917.

Currie wanted to use the rolling barrage AND with shells instead of the standard British way
to shell the ridge, to maximize their affect. When the fight started, the Canadians came out
of the tunnels to fight the Germans on the ridge, slowly. The Canadians long range guns
took out the German’s artillery people. The Canadians took over the ridge on their first day.
Over 3500 dead and over 7000 wounded in three days of fighting.

Canada felt more of an independent state after this fight. It was a unifying force that
brought Canada together, instead of feeling like they were under some monarch. They even
got their own first separate recognition apart from the British at the Treaty of Versailles,
and got their own seat, and France had granted Canada their own memorial of Vimy Ridge.

HILL 70

This was a “hill” connected to the village of Passchendaele. This battle was stalled though
due to heavy rain (like all of WWI). The British wanted to divert the German reinforcements
away from Passchendaele, so the attack can be further south near the town of lens.

Arthur Currie and his corps were ordered into this battle field after his success at Vimy
Ridge. They were ordered to make a frontal assault, but Currie had thought it would be a
better idea to capture the hill, because it was 70m high from sea level, taking the high
ground from the town of lens. If they could take it, then they would use the artillery they
would have to destroy the Germans.

The Canadians practiced this attack even before it started. When the attack did start on
August 15th, the Canadians successfully captured Hill 70. It was a brutal fight, chemical
warfare was still used during this battle. Many Canadians used hand to hand combat trying
to defeat the Germans as well, and they captured the hill.

After taking over the hill, they tried to take down Lens and failed. More than 9000
Canadians were killed in this battle, but they estimated that the killed around 25,000
Germans.

These Canadian Corps after receiving their Victorian cross however, would go right to
Passchendaele.
Battle of Passchendaele

This was also known as the third battle of Ypres. They were ordered to this battle in
October. The land was below sea level, which led to muddy/wet land. General Currie didn’t
want to attack the Germans here on this land, but he was ordered to by his superior. They
started their attack on October 26th, 1917. This attack costed 4000 men to be killed, and
another 12,000 wounded. On November 6th, they captured the village of Passchendaele,
and on November 10th the Canadians cleared any German that was on the front of
Passchendaele.

LAST 100 DAYS

August 8, 1918: Canadians were a part of a counter assault that pushed Germany back.
Canadians advanced 13km (about 8.08 mi) into German defenses, but the Germans
rushed in to stop it. The Canadians suffered another 4000 causalities and 12,00 wounded
before the war ended. This day was also known as the black day for the German army,
since it was obvious that they were on the verge of collapse.

September 2, 1918: Through intense fighting, the Canadians broke through the German
defenses.

September 27, 1918: All allies finally crossed the Hindenburg line.

November 11, 1918: An armistice was made and marks the end of the great war.

CHANGES TO THE HOMEFRONT

Canadian women finally entered the work force for the first time, and they filled up the
spots that the earlier men used to work in because they were currently in the war.

Over 30,000 women after 1918 had said they had worked in war industries. Women from
the city said that they worked on farms to help with the crops. The women also became
heads of the households. Unfortunately, they were paid less than men, and they were told
to leave the workforce after the men came back from the war to work again. Women
formed volunteer groups to support the men in the war though, through food drives and
dances.
Women also volunteered to be nurses and ambulance drivers overseas. 3141 women
served with the Canadian Corps, and 2500 went overseas, where they served near front
lines to treat the wounded. Nurses were called bluebirds due to their attire. 58 of those
women died on the job due to the war, or disease. In 1918, 2 Canadian hospitals were
bombed, and several women died on the line of duty. Katherine Mcdonald was the first
women to be killed on the line of duty.

The right to vote was given to women in 1917 from the Military voters act, which tells that
all women serving overseas are allowed to vote. The wartimes elections act allowed
women who were related to a man overseas/in the war (wives, daughters, mothers) were
allowed to vote as well. In 1918, Federal Women’s franchise act allowed women over the
age of 21 to vote. In 1920, the Dominions Elections act was said, and allowed women to
run for office.

THE CONSCRIPTION CRISIS

In 1917, Canada decided to force men into the war since enlistment rates weren’t keeping
to par with causality rates. Sir Robert Borden believed in the need to support the British
Empire, and the post-war influence that Canada might receive from other nations, such as
being treated as an independent state. In 1914, Borden promised NO conscription, but
after he visited the western front, his mind changed.

In August of 1917, Borden passed the Military Services act, which would make it mandatory
for men ages from 18-45 to be forced into the war. 1917 was an election year, and
conscription was the only issue for that December election. If Laurier was picked for prime
minister, conscription would be gone. If Borden was picked, it would still all be the same.

The British part of Canada was supportive of the conscription movement since it was
helping their people and their country, but the French Canadians didn’t like it, especially
the leader of the military hated the French back then even though he was fired. Less than
5% of volunteers were French, which already set the stage for them.

90% of ballots were for Robert Borden.

One way to get exempt from elections though, was to apply for exemption. 93% of people
who were forced into the battlefield applied for this. 87% approved. Then, the possibility of
exemption was removed during early 1918. MSA (Military Service Act) was hated in Quebec
which even started riots that killed a ten year old boy. By the police. The farmers of Canada
also didn’t like it, since how would they feed their population.

Of the 620,000 men (about half the population of Hawaii) who served in the CEF, 102,000
of them were conscripts. Fewer than 48,000 went overseas. 24,000 served on the front
before the war ended.

THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

When the armistice was agreed on November 11, 1918, it was well known that Germany
couldn’t continue their fight in the war. When the Americans joined the war, it tipped the
scales of power that Germany couldn’t handle by themselves, and including the fact that
Russia withdrew since 1917.

This treaty was signed on June 28th, 1919, marking the 5th year anniversary of Franz
Ferdinand’s death. This was taken after months of negotiations with the big three, that
didn’t even include Germany in the discussions one bit until the signature date.

The Big Three consisted of:

Georges Clemenceau:

France had one very simple belief – Germany should be brought to its knees so that it could
never start a war again

In truth they were afraid of another German invasion

Woodrow Wilson:

America proposed his famous 14 points to support peace & create the League of Nations

In truth he wanted his government to be isolated from future foreign wars.

David Lloyd Geoge:

Great Britain wanted the Germans to pay, but did not want them crippled

In truth wanted to be able to trade with Germany after the war.

Germany’s military was reduced to a measly 100,000 men, compared to their 3 million sized
army before. Germany wasn’t allowed an Airforce, and only 6 naval ships and no submarines.
The western part of Rhineland and 50 kms (about 31.07 mi) east of the river Rhine was made a
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). No Germany soldier or weapon was allowed into this zone. The
allies kept on holding this zone for 15 years.

The Austrio-Hungarian Empire was dismantled. It was already failing even before the war, and
when the leader had left the country, and also not having a heir to the throne the nation was
gone. Yugo Slovakia was formed, which was what the Black Hand wanted, for Italy switch sides
at the end of the war.

The League Of Nations was formed in 1919.

Alsace-Lorraine (given back to France)

The L of N took control of Germany's overseas colonies

Germany had to return land taken in the treaty of Brest-Litovsk to Russia. The Economic impact:
Adding to these economic losses, Germany was forced to repay the allied nations for the cost of
the war. First demand was 266 gold marks (768 billion dollars (about $2,400 per person in the
US) today) later reduced to 33 billion dollars (about 402 billion today) Germany made final WWI
reparation payment on sept 29, 2010.

The reason for this? The Germans also had to admit that they were the main/only cause of the
war, and this did not sit well with the Germans. The Germans thought that they would be
consulted with during the armistice agreements, but they weren’t. Kaiser Wilhem was exiled,
and the Germans were now struggling more than before. When the terms were made public,
the Germans were outraged. Their two choices were to sign the treaty or be invaded by the
allies.

This treaty was totally unfair on the German part, especially on the German citizens that had
nothing to do with this, but Canada did reap many rewards from this war, such as them getting
recognized that they are an independent state, a separate country from Britain.

We were given two seats at Versailles & signed the treaty under Britain