The War

World War I
Government propaganda had worked in

stirring up national hatreds before the war.
• Propaganda means ideas spread to influence
public opinion for or against a cause.
• Now, in August 1914, the urgent pleas of
European governments for defense against
aggressors fell on receptive ears in every
nation at war.
• Most people seemed genuinely convinced
that their nation’s cause was just.
Illusions fed the enthusiasm for war.
Almost everyone believed
that the war would end in a
few weeks. Soldiers
boarding trains, citizens
showered them with
flowers as they left,
believed that the warriors
would be home by
Christmas.
The Western Front:
• The Schlieffen Plan had
called for the German
army to go through
Belgium into northern
France. They would sweep
around Paris enabling
them to surround most of
the French army.
• The plan failed at a short
distance from Paris.
Both built trenches for shelter. Trench warfare
between France and Germany turned into a
stalemate(4yrs) and casualties mounted on both
sides.
Military leaders threw masses of men along the fields
hoping to break through the enemy's trenches (no man’s
land).
But running in an open

field made men easy
targets. Millions died.
It became war of attrition,
a war based on wearing
the other side down by
constant attacks and heavy
losses.
The Eastern Front:
• On the Eastern Front, Germany and Austria–

Hungary defeated Russia.
• Italy betrayed its German and Austrian allies,
by attacking Austria. Thus, it joined the Triple
Entente, but now were called the Allied
Powers.
War in the
Air:
• By the end of 1915, airplanes had appeared on the

battlefront for the first time in history.
• They targeted ground targets, especially, enemy
communications.
• The Germans used their giant airships –zeppelins- to
bomb London. It caused little damage but frightened
people.
• Germany’s enemies soon found out that zeppelins,
which were filled with hydrogen gas, quickly became
raging infernos when hit by antiaircraft guns.
World War I, 1914-1918
1914 - 1915: Illusions & Stalemate 1916-1917 The Great Slaughter
Western Front Eastern Front Trench Warfare War in the Air
"West" border of "East" border of Western Front: Military First time where
Germany Germany/Austria-Hungary leaders expected troop airplanes were used in
movement and trenches battle.
were unfamiliar in
military tactics.
Fighting against Fighting against Russia. Only move was to force “Zeppelins" famous
France. Building Russia suffered many 100's of men to run German aircraft.
trenches. losses toward the enemy lines
through "No Man's
Land"
Became bogged down Italy betrayed Germany in Millions of men died this
in trench warfare the Triple Alliance & way.
attacked Austria
Germany was successful on War of Attrition: war
the Eastern Front based on wearing the
other side down.
Because of the stalemate on the Western Front, both
sides sought to gain new allies who might provide a
winning advantage.
• In return for Italy entering the war on the Allied side,

France & GB promised it to have some Austrian territory.
• The British mobilized forces from India, Australia, & New
Zealand.
• The Allies seized German colonies in the rest of the
world. For example, Japan, a British ally, seized German-
held islands in the Pacific.
Why did the US go to war?
• At first, USA tried to remain neutral.

• Britain used naval power to set up a naval blockade
of Germany. It kept materials & other goods from
reaching Germany by sea.
• Germany had retaliated by setting up its own
blockade of Britain, with the use of unrestricted
submarine warfare, which included the sinking of
passenger liners.
Why did the US go to war?
• Lusitania (British passenger ship sunk by a German

submarine in 1915). 1,100 died (100 Americans)
• Germany promised to warn ships before attacking them – so
passengers could escape.
• Germany did not keep its promise and attacked without
warning.
• The entry of US (1918) into the war gave the Allied Powers a
psychological boost, new source of money and war goods.
World War I, 1914-1918
As the war dragged on, it became known as total war,
involving a complete mobilization of resources and people.
• European nations set up planned economies.
• Increased drafting of men (by force) and manufacturing
of supplies increased government powers.
• They censored the news media. They used propaganda
to bolster public opinion.
• Women took jobs formerly considered beyond their
capacity.
Women at war:
• Women entered the workforce in large
numbers.
• After the war, many lost their jobs to men
but gained expanded rights and status. By
1921, women started to vote in Austria,
Germany, Great Britain, and the United
States.
Increased Manipulation of Public Total War & Women
Government Power Opinion
-Draft (forced service -Propaganda used to -Women took on the
in military begins in convince people to fight jobs left behind that
US & Britain) (if they don’t fight they men had filled
-Government control are weak) -Women lost jobs &
over economy, --Atrocities exaggerated had lower wages after
transportation, so that people would the war
import & export feel justified in fighting -helped give women
a war. the right to vote

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World War I

Government propaganda had worked in

But running in an open

• On the Eastern Front, Germany and Austria–

• By the end of 1915, airplanes had appeared on the

• In return for Italy entering the war on the Allied side,

• At first, USA tried to remain neutral.

• Lusitania (British passenger ship sunk by a German

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