Ww1

Front 1

Alliance system

Back 1

To seek national security in the face of the above hostile bilateral relations, European countries divided themselves into 2 opposing camps:

Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the Triple Alliance in 1882, as opposed to the Triple Entente formed by Britain, France and Russia in 1907.

The alliance system fuelled the suspicions and hostilities between the 2 camps.

A regional conflict might escalate into large-scale wars.

Front 2

Triple Alliance

Back 2

Was an explicit military alliance, between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.

Front 3

Triple Entente

Back 3

Was just an understanding in nature which did not necessarily involve military assistance, between Britain, France and Russia.

Front 4

Economic conflicts

Back 4

Most European powers had been industrialised by the late 19th century. To protect their local industries and prevent competition from foreign goods, many of the introduced protectionism.

As industrialisation led to a greater demand for markets and raw materials, all major powers had established overseas colonies.

Front 5

Colonial rivalry

Back 5

Before the formation of the Triple Entente in 1907, Britain, France and Russia had colonial conflicts in Africa and Asia on occasion. The rivalries between Germany and France, such as the Moroccan Crises in 1905 and 1911, even lasted until the outbreak of WW1.

Front 6

Extreme nationalism

Back 6

Nationalism originally referred to the belief and actions to enhance national glory and the sense of identity. However, by the late 19th century, nationalism had gone to an extreme. Many European countries went into conflicts with one another for the sake of national interests. Extreme nationalism promoted absolute loyalty to the states and advocated foreign expansion to boost national glory.

Influenced by extreme nationalism, the European powers refused to compromise in economic and diplomatic affairs in order to avoid being viewed as the weak. Extreme nationalism encouraged the European powers to compete for national interests, and this finally led to the outbreak of WW1.

Front 7

France extreme nationalism

Back 7

France desired to take revenge on Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. It wanted to defeat Germany.

Front 8

Pan-Germanism

Back 8

The ruler of Germany and Austria-Hungary promoted ....

Front 9

Pan-Slavism

Back 9

Russia proposed _.

Front 10

Armaments Race

Back 10

_ did not give the European powers a stronger sense of security. On the contrary, it only heightened the international tension and even created a war fever in some European countries (such as Germany) that increased the possibility of war.

Front 11

Germany Armaments Race

Back 11

Germany was the first country to carry out conscription in the late 19th century. All the adult males had to accept military training and serve military service. This practice was followed by other powers to facilitate nationwide mobilisation within a sort period of time.

Front 12

Europeans Armaments Race

Back 12

In addition, the European powers, especially Germany, France and Russia, began to increase their military expenditure consistently to expand their armies and navies as well as improve their weapons.

Front 13

Britain's and Germany's Armaments Race

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In 1900, Kaiser William 2 of Germany announced to double the number of warships.

Britain launched dreadnoughts to challenge Germany a few years later and initiated a competition in building dreadnoughts between the tow countries.

Front 14

Hague Conference

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Although conflicts and hostilities loomed over Europe in the early 20th century, the European powers held 2 conferences in 1899 and 1907 at The Hague in the Netherlands in order to prevent war through disarmament. The Hague Conference urged Europe to establish the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The powers also agreed not to start a war without warning and promised to respect human lives, personal property and religious beliefs during wartime.

However, as the European powers feared that disarmament would make them become the targets of invasion, the conferences failed to achieve its basic aim of disarmament.

Front 15

Algeciras Conference (1906)

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It attempted to settle the First Moroccan Crisis of 905 According to the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale, Britain recognised French control over Morocco. However, Kaiser William 2 of Germany , who was displeased with the arrangement, visited Morocco to declare his support for the country to resist France.

To resolve the crisis, Western powers held a conference in Algeciras in Spain. Among the participating countries, Germany subsequently felt isolated. Although Morocco did not become a French colony, it came under the French sphere of influence.

The peaceful settlement failed to stem the discontent of Germany, which realised that it was the target of hostility form many European countries. As a result, Germany became even more determined to strengthen its military power after 1905.

Front 16

Treaty of Fez (1911)

Back 16

It attempted to settle the Second Moroccan Crisis.

France sent troops to Morocco when civil unrest broke out in 1911. Germany reacted by sending gunboats to express its discontent. Fearing that German occupation of Morocco might threaten British naval supremacy, Britain declared that national honour was more precious than peace and again backed France.

Another crisis subsequently arose in Europe.

The crisis was resolved as Germany made concession. As Germany had not finished its military construction to let its dreadnoughts sail overseas, it dared not take the risk of declaring in the same year, Morocco officially became a French protectorate.

Germany´s relations with Britain and France further deteriorated.

Front 17

Greater Serbia Mobement

Back 17

In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was unable to suppress minorities´ nationalism in the Balkan Peninsula. Serbia even promoted the Greater-Serbia Movement in order to expand its territories, particularly to the western coast, to boost its national strength.

Front 18

Bosnia Crisis

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In 1908, the Bosnian Crisis broke out. Austria-Hungary took advantage of the civil unrest in the Orroman Empire to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. The annexation hindered the development of the Greater-Serbia Movement. Although a large-scale war did not break out, the relations between Austria-Hungary and Serbia and their respective camps were severely damaged.

Front 19

Treaty of London (May 1913)

Back 19

It attempted to settle the crisis brought by the First Balkan War in 1912.

In 1912, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Montenegro allied to declare war on the Ottoman Empire. They tried to take advantage of the decline of the empire to paartition its territores. The First Balkan War broke out. After the victory of the alliance, the powers held a conference in London, Britain.