Brad Vaughan
HIP Project 2010
WWI: Who or What was to
blame?
Overview: One the most devastating events in the twentieth century was World War I. It lasted from
July 1914 until November 1918 and involved all the industrialized great powers of Europe. It pitted the
Triple Entente powers or the Allies (Great Britain, France and Russia) against the Central Powers
(Germany and Austria-Hungary). By 1915-16, this essentially European war became a world war when
Turkey and Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and Italy, Japan, Romania, and eventually the United
States joined the allies.
Hook Exercise: WWI
Trench Life
1. Read the following extract from ‘German Deserter’s War Experience’ then list words to describe what it was like to be in a trench in World War One. It was dark, and it rained and rained. From all directions one heard in the darkness the wounded calling,
crying, and moaning. The wounded we had with us were likewise moaning and crying. All wanted to have
their wounds dressed, but we had no more bandages. We tore off pieces of our dirty shirts and placed the
rags on those sickening wounds. Men were dying one after the other. There were no doctors, no bandages;
we had nothing whatever. You had to help the wounded and keep the French off at the same time. It was an
unbearable, impossible state of things. It rained harder and harder. We were wet to our skins. We fired
blindly into the darkness. The rolling fire of rifles increased, then died away, then increased again. We
sappers were placed among the infantry. My neighbour gave me a dig in the ribs."
2.
a. What links the front line and support trenches?
Why are blocks placed in trenches?
b. Why are machine-guns placed just behind the front
line? Why are they so close to the bunkers?
c. Why is there wire between the front trench and the
machine-guns?
d. Look at the barbed wire in No-Man's Land that is
at angles to the front trench and also look at the
position of the machine-guns. Why is the wire at
such an angle?
3.
a. What prevents bullets striking a soldier's chest
when he is on the trench board (fire step)?
b. What is the purpose of the sump? What was
normally placed over it?
c. Barbed wire entanglements were often 40 yards
(36m) from the front trench. Considering the
types of weapons used on the Western Front,
what would be their main defensive function?
Background Essay
Who or What was to blame for World War I?
In the years before 1914, various pacts were drawn up between the major nations in
Europe. On one side you had the colonial powers of Great Britain, France and Russia, and on the
other side were Germany, Austria and Hungary. Both sides had been building up their armed
forces and on June 28th 1914 when the Austrian Grand Duke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated
at Sarajevo in Serbia. This area, known as the Powder Keg region, now had a spark that would
light the powder keg exploding all of Europe into turmoil.
Austria declared war on Serbia, and Serbia’s ally Russia mobilized their army to come to
Serbia’s aid. Germany who was an ally of Austria then declared war on Russia and within days
France and Britain declared war on Germany. As a result, fighting was to break out on the
Eastern and Western flanks of Germany.
The Western Front stretched from the Belgian coast to Switzerland. It was fortified on
both sides with trenches, barbed wire and artillery. For three-and-a-half years there was
stalemate with neither side making any significant progress from the original battle lines that
had been drawn up. During this period of time, millions of lives were lost in useless offensives.
On the Eastern Front, the war was more mobile, and although each side enjoyed more
successful advances, because both sides were evenly matched, what would be a significant gain
one month would turn into a defeat the following month.
The balance of power was altered with the entry of the U.S.A. into the conflict in 1917,
which followed German submarines sinking neutral American ships. Increased support from the
French and British colonies also enabled the extension of the Fronts, notably the invasion from
the south by Australian troops.
Eventually, the strain on Russia took its toll and this led to the Revolution in 1917, and
the Bolshevik government arranged an armistice with Germany in 1918. This provided a brief
period of relief for the overstrained German war machine, as they could now transfer troops from
the Eastern to the Western Front. This only prolonged the inevitable and with the increased input
of fresh American troops, the German lines were finally broken and overrun. To the south, the
Italian army defeated the Austrians and the German government was forced to surrender and sign
the Peace Treaty at Versailles.
Document A
1. Which two nations increased their military spending the most during this time period?
________________________________________________________________________
2. Why could this increase or decrease the chance of conflict?
________________________________________________________________________
3. What reasons could these nations have for building up their militaries? ________________________________________________________________________ Document B
1. Who were the members of each alliance system?
________________________________________________________________________ 2. How did the alliance system contribute to the outbreak of World War I?
________________________________________________________________________
3. How did geography play a role in the forming of alliances?
________________________________________________________________________
4. What were the names of the alliance systems?
________________________________________________________________________
Document C
1. What role did the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand play in the start of the war?
________________________________________________________________________
2. What role did the Austrian ultimatum play in the start of the war?
________________________________________________________________________
3. What responsibility did the alliance system play in the outbreak of war?
________________________________________________________________________
Document D
1. What position did the German delegate take in his speech?
________________________________________________________________________
2. What reason did he give for the cause of the war?
________________________________________________________________________
Document E
1. According to the author, who was responsible for the outbreak of World War I?
________________________________________________________________________
2. What evidence did he cite as to support his claim?
________________________________________________________________________
Document F
1. Can this ideal become a reason for going to war?
________________________________________________________________________
2. What reasons does that author offer for going to war?
________________________________________________________________________
3. What type of “ism” could this be labeled as? Why?
________________________________________________________________________
Document G
Note from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman to German Ambassador to Mexico
(written January 19,1917 in Berlin). Intercepted and released on March 1, 1917 by British Naval
intelligence.
"On the first of February we intend to begin submarine warfare unrestricted. In spite of this it is
our intention to keep neutral the United States of America. If this attempt is not successful we
propose an alliance on the following basis with Mexico: That we shall make war together and
together make peace. We shall give general financial support, and it is understood that Mexico is
to reconquer the lost territory in New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The details are left for your
settlement. You are instructed to inform the President of Mexico of the above as soon as it is
certain there will be an outbreak of war with the United States…Please call to the attention of the
President of Mexico that the employment of ruthless submarine warfare now promises to compel
England to make peace in a few months.”
1. What nation composed this telgegram?
________________________________________________________________________
2. Why would they ask Mexico to join the war effort against the United States?
________________________________________________________________________
3. What was promised to Mexico in exchange for joining the war effort?
Part II
Directions:
1. Formulate a thesis based on your previous knowledge as well as the knowledge gained
from these documents.
2. Write a well organized essay proving your thesis. The essay should include information
from the documents as well as your prior knowledge.