The trigger: the crisis of the summer of 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was heir to the AustroHungarian Empire. On 28th June 1914, Ferdinand and his wife were killed in Sarajevo (Bosnia). (4) The killer was a member of the Black Hand group. This group supported the creation of a Great Serbia free from Austrian rule. In response Austria-Hungar y, backed by Germany, issued an ultimatum to Serbia, whom they held responsible for the assassination . Serbia rejected some parts of the ultimatum, and on 28th July 1914, Austria-Hungar y declared war on Serbia . Russia mobilised its military to support Serbia. Germany declared war on Russia, and France. Britain declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Italy did not support Austria-Hungary or Germany, which ended the Triple Alliance. The First World War (also called World War I, or WWI) had begun. A truly global war Two large blocs confronted each other : The central powers: Germany and Austria-Hungar y. The Triple Entente, or Allies: France, Russia and the UK. The two blocs sought new allies, which led to the globalisation of the conf lict. Fourteen European countries and their colonies were involved , plus Japan and the USA. It was also a "total war", in which all the human, economic and technical resources available were used . 2. The outbreak of war Analyse the trigger that started the First World War. How did countries initially align themselves? What do we mean when we say that the war was "global" and "total"? Did these factors make the First World War different to previous wars? Why or why not? K E Y Q U E S T I O N S ANALYSE HISTORICAL TEXTS Read and analyse the texts. What were the reactions to the outbreak of war? An afternoon in August [1914]. The streets were almost deserted when suddenly we heard a drum roll. We listened closely. The man announced the most terrible disaster, the greatest of all evils: a general mobilisation. It was the prelude to war, the accursed, infamous, horrible war. I was astounded that the announcement caused more enthusiasm than desolation. People seemed proud to be living when something formidable would happen. Even the less enthusiastic did not doubt for a moment that there would be an immediate, overwhelming victory. Louis Barthas, World War I Notebooks, 1914-1918 (Adapted) WE WOMEN GATHERED AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS: We protest against the madness and horror of war that entails the senseless sacrifice of human life and the destruction of the legacy of civilisation . We call on the governments of the world to put an end to this bloodshed and to start negotiations for a permanent peace, based on the principles of justice. International Congress of Women at The Hague, 1915 (Adapted) 4. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie Chotek, in Sarajevo, 1914 28
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