16
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014
THE GREAT WAR 1914-18
POSTER SERIES
WHY WE WENT
TO WAR
By August 4, 1914, Australia was at war. How
did this fledgling nation become involved in a conflict
so far from its shores? This year marks the centenary of
the start of World War I. Follow this poster series as we
explore the history behind World War I – the Great War.
HOW DID
AUSTRALIA
REACT?
I
n 1914, Australia had strong ties
to the “mother country”. Most
of Australia’s trade was with the
British Empire and people were
attached to the king. We were
very much a British outpost.
Despite there being little
concern in Australia about
a threat on home soil, the
population understood the threat
that Germany posed to Britain.
Melbourne was the epicentre
of Australian politics. Federal
Parliament met at the Exhibition
Buildings and the prime minister
and governor-general were based
in Melbourne.
Both sides of politics agreed
that Australia was obiligated
to support Britain. Debate in
parliament was about what
nature that support would take.
On the eve of war, Australia
pledged to send 20,000 troops
overseas and place the Australian
naval fleet under British control.
Many Australians were jubilant
at the news. People massed
outside newspaper offices to
receive the news and later lined
the streets with great fanfare to
farewell the first troops. Some
optimists thought the war would
be over in months. No one could
foresee the heartbreak and
devastation that was to come.
WHO HAD POWER?
B
efore the war,
European states vied
for territory, power
and influence and
formed alliances to further
their aims.
Germany, Italy and
Serbia were ambitious new
states eager to extend their
influence. Others – Russia,
Austro-Hungary and the
Ottoman Empire – were large
multi-ethnic empires falling
into decline. France and Britain,
with vast overseas empires,
were the envy of Europe,
particularly Germany. Britain’s
empire comprised a quarter
of the world’s population and
stretched across the globe.
Australia was a proud
member of the British Empire.
Australians were British
subjects and 97 per cent
claimed British ancestry or had
been born in the UK .
NORWAY
500KM
SWEDEN
GREAT
BRITAIN
RUSSIAN EMPIRE
GERMAN EMPIRE
FRANCE
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN
EMPIRE
ROMANIA
ITA
SPAIN
BULGARIA
LY
P OR
TUG
AL
SWITZ
OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Allied
powers
Central
powers
Neutral
powers
SOURCES AND USEFUL LINKS
Ô awm.gov.au Ô www.dva.gov.au Ô army.gov.au
Ô anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au Ô ergo.slv.vic.gov.au Ô ccc.sl.nsw.gov.au
WHAT SPARKED CONFLICT?
FAST FACTS
■ Germany, Austria-Hungary
and Turkey formed what was
to be referred to as the Central
Powers.
■ Great Britain, France,
Belgium, Russia and Serbia
formed as the main allies,
referred to as the Entente
Powers. Others countries were
to join during the course
of the war.
■ Turkey had
signed a secret
treaty with
Germany and
modernised
its army under
German guidance.
On October 28,
1914, Turkey was
drawn into the
conflict, declaring
war on Russia.
C
omplex treaties and alliances
between rival European states
in the years before the World
War I had sought to maintain
a balance of power but instead
created a hostile climate where
a small conflict could quickly
grow. Europe became a “tinder
box” needing only a single spark
to ignite.
On June 28, 1914 the heir
to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, Archduke Franz
Ferdinand and his wife
Sophie were assassinated
by a Serbian nationalist in
Sarajevo, Bosnia. Austria-
Hungary responded by issuing
an ultimatum to Serbia, which
in turn appealed to Russia for
support. Russia mobilised her
forces but Germany encouraged
her ally Austria to invade Serbia,
nonetheless. France refused
German demands to stay neutral
and backed her ally Russia.
Germany declared war on
Russia and then France and
fearing a war on two fronts,
invaded France through Belgium,
hoping to land a knockout
blow. The violation of Belgian
neutrality brought Britain and
ultimately Australia into the war.
Should the worst happen after everything
has been done that honour will permit,
Australians will stand beside our own to help
and defend her to our last man and our last shilling
— Australia’s future prime minister ANDREW FISHER
Newspapers in Education Poster 1 in a series of 10
to complement The Great War education kit 2014.
Compiled by Karina Grift.
Ô With thanks to the Shrine of Remembrance, shrine.org.au
Ô Check out News Corp’s 100 Years of Untold Stories for a great online
student project and diggers’ diaries: themercury.com.au/anzac-centenary
TH E
R ALLY TO
ENLIST
TO M OR ROW
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