AMERICAN VICTORY 1918
Why were the European Powers fighting each other?
Serbia was exporting terror to its neighbour Bosnia. The famous shooting of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo was the most flagrant example of Serbian aggression. Bosnia was part of Austria's multi-ethnic empire.
Austria (the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled by the Hapsburg family), attacked Serbia in retaliation for their Archduke's assassination. Franz Ferdinand was next in line to succeed the elderly Emperor as ruler of the Austro-Hungarian state.
Russia stepped in to defend the Serbs, {Russia saw herself as the protector of Slavic people everywhere).
Germany, then also an empire, ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm the Second, was Austria's ally, pledged to defend Austria against Russia.
France had a treaty which committed her to assist Russia against Germany.
Great Britain, (England, Scotland and Ireland), was allied with France and the small country of Belgium. To defeat her old enemy France, Germany's 1914 plan of attack meant violating the neutrality of Belgium. The weaponry of the time meant that a long and bloody war became inevitable.
Other nations fighting against Germany and Austria were to include Japan, Italy and Portugal.
The Ottoman Empire (today split between Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia etc), fought against the British, French and Russians.
Great Britain and France could enlist troops from their colonies or former colonies e.g. Australia, New Zealand, India and many parts of Africa. Germany used its own colonial troops to attack British possessions in Africa. German naval vessels fought the British on the world's three largest oceans. The main European killing grounds were in France and Belgium (the Western Front), but there was fierce fighting in Italy, the Balkan countries, Russia and what is now Poland.
Serbia was exporting terror to its neighbour Bosnia. The famous shooting of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo was the most flagrant example of Serbian aggression. Bosnia was part of Austria's multi-ethnic empire.
Austria (the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled by the Hapsburg family), attacked Serbia in retaliation for their Archduke's assassination. Franz Ferdinand was next in line to succeed the elderly Emperor as ruler of the Austro-Hungarian state.
Russia stepped in to defend the Serbs, {Russia saw herself as the protector of Slavic people everywhere).
Germany, then also an empire, ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm the Second, was Austria's ally, pledged to defend Austria against Russia.
France had a treaty which committed her to assist Russia against Germany.
Great Britain, (England, Scotland and Ireland), was allied with France and the small country of Belgium. To defeat her old enemy France, Germany's 1914 plan of attack meant violating the neutrality of Belgium. The weaponry of the time meant that a long and bloody war became inevitable.
Other nations fighting against Germany and Austria were to include Japan, Italy and Portugal.
The Ottoman Empire (today split between Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Saudi Arabia etc), fought against the British, French and Russians.
Great Britain and France could enlist troops from their colonies or former colonies e.g. Australia, New Zealand, India and many parts of Africa. Germany used its own colonial troops to attack British possessions in Africa. German naval vessels fought the British on the world's three largest oceans. The main European killing grounds were in France and Belgium (the Western Front), but there was fierce fighting in Italy, the Balkan countries, Russia and what is now Poland.
What was the US Government's and the US nation's attitude to the First World War?
They wanted to stay out. From 1914 to 1917. the USA was determined to avoid involvement. Some Americans supported the British and the French, others favoured Germany. Others wanted to remain neutral and stay out of a war between Europeans.
Germany was seen as the main enemy of the civilised world because she had attacked her neighbours France and Belgium.
Many Americans were drowned in the Atlantic when German submarines (the U-boats), sank passenger liners and cargo ships.
The Zimmerman Telegram revealed the makings of a German plot encouraging Mexico to invade the USA.
Industrialists and bankers in America had a great deal to lose if Germany won. Russia, (ruled by Communists after the 1917 Revolution), withdrew from the war, making it likely that Germany would defeat Great Britain and France.
They wanted to stay out. From 1914 to 1917. the USA was determined to avoid involvement. Some Americans supported the British and the French, others favoured Germany. Others wanted to remain neutral and stay out of a war between Europeans.
Germany was seen as the main enemy of the civilised world because she had attacked her neighbours France and Belgium.
Many Americans were drowned in the Atlantic when German submarines (the U-boats), sank passenger liners and cargo ships.
The Zimmerman Telegram revealed the makings of a German plot encouraging Mexico to invade the USA.
Industrialists and bankers in America had a great deal to lose if Germany won. Russia, (ruled by Communists after the 1917 Revolution), withdrew from the war, making it likely that Germany would defeat Great Britain and France.
If the USA joined Britain and France against Germany in 1917, why did the Americans avoid combat involvement for almost a year?
In 1917 the American Army was small, ill-equipped and untrained for the horrors of trench warfare.
America would only fight on the battlefields when her forces were massive enough to intervene decisively. American commanders chose to avoid a piecemeal involvement which might mean supplying soldiers to fill the gaps among war-weary French and British armies.
Are the American battlefields of World War One worth visiting?
Yes. Monuments and remains, museums and cemeteries are spread over the entire 'Western Front' from the Belgian coast to the French border with Switzerland. Walking over the battlefields and appreciating the geography of the region is essential to a true understanding of the miseries of trench warfare.
In 1917 the American Army was small, ill-equipped and untrained for the horrors of trench warfare.
America would only fight on the battlefields when her forces were massive enough to intervene decisively. American commanders chose to avoid a piecemeal involvement which might mean supplying soldiers to fill the gaps among war-weary French and British armies.
Are the American battlefields of World War One worth visiting?
Yes. Monuments and remains, museums and cemeteries are spread over the entire 'Western Front' from the Belgian coast to the French border with Switzerland. Walking over the battlefields and appreciating the geography of the region is essential to a true understanding of the miseries of trench warfare.
c. MDM 2015
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