why was world war i a massive failure? crash course

by Caleb Schmidt 8 min read

Why was World War 1 a failure?

The loss of life was greater than in any previous war in history, in part because militaries were using new technologies, including tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns, modern artillery, flamethrowers, and poison gas.

How did World War 1 started crash course?

So most historians agree that the event that started World War I was the assassination of Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand on June 28th, 1914, but beyond that, there's not a lot of agreement. Others say the war really started after Franz Ferdinand bit it, like when Germany declared war or when Russia mobilized.

What were three causes of ww1 crash course?

nationalism, imperialism, militarism, creation of alliances (Central and Allied Powers); immediate cause: assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand (heir to Austrian throne) by a Serb on June 28, 1914.

What are the four reason to why World War I broke out?

The immediate cause of World War I that made the aforementioned items come into play (alliances, imperialism, militarism, nationalism) was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. In June 1914, a Serbian-nationalist terrorist group called the Black Hand sent groups to assassinate the Archduke.

What was World War 1 about short summary?

World War I, also known as the Great War, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918.

Who is to blame for starting ww1?

The Treaty of Versailles, signed following World War I, contained Article 231, commonly known as the “war guilt clause,” which placed all the blame for starting the war on Germany and its allies.

What were the 7 causes of World War 1?

World War One Causes. A lot of people have found World War One to be a little bit confusing sometimes. ... ​Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. ... ​Common Defense Alliances. ... ​Economic Interests. ... ​Millenarianism. ... ​Aggressive Military Strategy. ... ​Nationalism. ... ​German Leader Kaiser Wilhelm II.More items...•

How did World War start?

The assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914 set off a chain of events that led to war in early August 1914. The assassination was traced to a Serbian extremist group that wanted to increase Serbian power in the Balkans by breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

What caused World War 1 kids?

The war started when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. It all started when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie were assassinated. Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for this and so declared war.

What are the 5 causes of ww1?

I use the acronym M.A.N.I.A to help my students remember the 5 major causes of WWI; they are Militarism, Alliances, Nationalism, Imperialism, and Assassination. Each of these topics played a significant role in the reasons why WWI would begin.

What was the main cause of ww2?

Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 drove Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany, marking the beginning of World War II. Over the next six years, the conflict would take more lives and destroy more land and property around the globe than any previous war.

What ended WWI?

June 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918World War I / Period

Why was World war 1 started?

The spark that set off World War I came on June 28, 1914, when a young Serbian patriot shot and killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Austria), in the city of Sarajevo. The assassin was a supporter of the Kingdom of Serbia, and within a month the Austrian army invaded Serbia.

How did ww1 start for kids?

The war started when Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. It all started when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie were assassinated. Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the throne of Austria and Hungary. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for this and so declared war.

What were the 7 causes of World war 1?

World War One Causes. A lot of people have found World War One to be a little bit confusing sometimes. ... ​Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. ... ​Common Defense Alliances. ... ​Economic Interests. ... ​Millenarianism. ... ​Aggressive Military Strategy. ... ​Nationalism. ... ​German Leader Kaiser Wilhelm II.More items...•

When did war world 1 start?

June 28, 1914 – November 11, 1918World War I / Period

What was the name of the war that started in 1914?

World War I, also known as the Great War, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918. During the conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, ...

What was the first war in the world?

World War I , also known as the Great War, began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918. During the conflict, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan and the United States (the Allied Powers). Thanks to new military technologies and the horrors of trench warfare, World War I saw unprecedented levels of carnage and destruction. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead.

How long did the Western Front last?

Both sides dug into trenches, and the Western Front was the setting for a hellish war of attrition that would last more than three years. Particularly long and costly battles in this campaign were fought at Verdun (February-December 1916) and the Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916).

What was the Eastern Front?

On the Eastern Front of World War I, Russian forces invaded the German-held regions of East Prussia and Poland, but were stopped short by German and Austrian forces at the Battle of Tannenberg in late August 1914.

How did World War 1 affect women?

World War I brought about massive social upheaval, as millions of women entered the workforce to replace men who went to war and those who never came back. The first global war also helped to spread one of the world’s deadliest global pandemics, the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, which killed an estimated 20 to 50 million people.

Why did Austria-Hungary declare war on Russia?

Because mighty Russia supported Serbia, Austria-Hungary waited to declare war until its leaders received assurance from German leader Kaiser Wilhelm II that Germany would support their cause. Austro-Hungarian leaders feared that a Russian intervention would involve Russia’s ally, France, and possibly Great Britain as well.

Which countries were affected by World War I?

The political disruption surrounding World War I also contributed to the fall of four venerable imperial dynasties: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Turkey.

How did the First World War affect the world?

The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 saw the end of the war. However, the lasting effects of the First World War changed the world forever. Not only did the war cause the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the German Empire also dissolved. Many countries lost a staggering number of human casualties. It is estimated that an astonishing 37 million people lost their lives as a result of World War I.

What was the main catalyst for World War I?

Due to these above events, the assassination of Franz Ferdinand is generally regarded as the main catalyst for World War I. However, there are many other reasons why the war broke out, some of them which are harder to pinpoint.

What was the motivation behind the attack on Sarajevo?

The motivation behind the attack was to break away from the Austro-Hungarian occupation of the Balkan states in order to form a united Yugoslavia. Gavrilo Princip is apprehended in Sarajevo. In the aftermath of the attack, Austria-Hungary placed the blame on Serbia and declared war.

Why did Germany declare war on Russia?

Unable to fend for themselves, Serbia turned to Russia for help. However, at the same time, Germany declared war on Russia. Germany also saw this time as an opportunity to finally break out what they called the Schlieffen Plan. The Schlieffen Plan referred to Germany’s plans to invade Belgium and France in order to collect soldiers and in turn improve their chances of winning a war against Russia. At the time, Germany did not have a military anywhere near the size of their Russian counterparts. However, in the end the plan backfired, when Great Britain brought their troops in to protect neutral Belgium, which caused a disastrous clash between Britain and Germany.

What was the battleground known for?

A battleground during World War One. Battlegrounds were known for their horrendous conditions that habored diseases. World War I was the first global war of the 20th century, taking place between July 28, 1914 and November 11, 1918. The causes of the war are complicated.

Why did the arms race happen?

The countries developed new and more capable weapons, each competing to outdo one another. The arms race is linked to the emergence of the First World War. By the time of the war, the countries had gathered piles of weapons and other military resources, indicating that the countries were ready for a bigger war.

How did the arms race affect Europe?

The countries developed new and more capable weapons, each competing to outdo one another. The arms race is linked to the emergence of the First World War. By the time of the war, the countries had gathered piles of weapons and other military resources, indicating that the countries were ready for a bigger war.

Which country resigned from the Great War?

Russia withdrew from the Great War and descended into civil war.

How long did it take for the Italian troops to be demoralized?

After two years, the Italian troops were utterly demoralized. They had suffered heavy losses amid miserable weather, and they barely understood what they were fighting for. Cadorna had repeatedly failed to provide the supplies they needed.

What was the breakthrough that Nivelle predicted?

The major breakthrough Nivelle had predicted never occurred. Instead of breaking the German lines, he broke his own men’s morale. After years of struggle, the costly failure was the last straw. On April 29, a unit at Châlons-sur-Marne refused to take orders. Others followed its lead.

What was the Russian Revolution?

The Russian Revolution. Revolutionary politics in Russia was fuelled by poor morale in the army. It became a vicious cycle, in which political turmoil destroyed the last of the Russian military’s will to fight. By 1917, morale was already low in the Russian army.

How many French soldiers died in the Chemin des Dames?

They inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans but suffered massive injuries themselves. 187,000 French soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured. The major breakthrough Nivelle had predicted never occurred.

When did Russia attack the Tsar's palace?

Attacking the Tsar’s palace at the start of the Russian Revolution. Then, on June 30, Russia launched its part in the promised great offensives. Faced with new German tactics of defense in depth, the advance ground to a blood-soaked halt.

Was the French attack a disaster?

It was an embarrassment for the French, but not the disaster it could have been. Although the troops refused to take part in attacks, they were still defending their country and continued to fight when attacked.

What would have happened if the Gauls had defeated Caesar?

And of course the Roman Empire was largely dependent upon constant expansion and looting, so if only the Gauls could have defeated Caesar, none of this would have happened. In short, no wonder Caesar was assassinated, he was about to start World War I in 1900 years.

Who decides whether to go to war?

It's still diplomats who decide whether to go to war. So understanding what makes governments and diplomats decide to go to war is very important. But looking at the diplomatic causes of the war also reveals something to us about the pitfalls of writing history.

Was the glory of war a popular idea?

The idea of "the glory of war" was a very popular concept all over Europe, and really there's no evidence that the German people of 1914 were any more or less militaristic than the French or the Russians, They all had poetry that celebrated heroic sacrifice and dying for the Mother- and/or Fatherland.

Can you support Crash Course on Patreon?

You can directly support Crash Course at https://www.patreon.com/crashcourse Subscribe for as little as $0 to keep up with everything we're doing. Free is nice, but if you can afford to pay a little every month, it really helps us to continue producing this content.

Is militarism a strong national defense?

Also one nation's militarism is another nation's strong national defense, and when you live in the country, as I do, that spends more on defense than any other nation, it's probably not that good of an idea to call people militaristic.

What is the course "World War II" about?

World War II, A War for Resources: Crash Course World History #220. In which John Green teaches you about World War II, and some of the causes behind the war. In a lot of ways, WWII was about resources, and especially about food.

What was the war about in WWII?

In a lot of ways, WWII was about resources , and especially about food. The expansionist aggression of both Germany and Japan were in a lot of ways about resources. There were other reasons, to be sure, but the idea that the Axis needed more food can’t be ignored. —. —.

What was the most significant event that led to the deaths of the people in World War II?

involved in World War II. In the most stark terms, the absence of food led to the deaths,

Why did the Americans give up coffee and chocolate?

Americans gave up coffee and chocolate so that the troops could be well fed.

Which countries lacked the resources to meet basic needs?

meet basic needs. Both Germany and Japan lacked the resources

Was starvation an issue for the Brits?

it stronger than Germany’s attempts at self-sufficiency. Starvation never became an issue for the Brits,

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