Education Through Communication: SUBJECT: History

History Branch

European History

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE TO SOME, BUT WE NEED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!

The First World War took place from 1914-1918 

THE FIRST QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

1. What caused the First World War?
2. Which countries took part in it? 

Causes of WW1

• Sarajevo-Bosnia is where the Austrian Prince (Archduke Franz Ferdinand) was assassinated by a Serbian Nationalist terrorist.
• The nationalist terrorist wanted Serbia to be independent from Austria-Hungary.
• One of the causes of World War 1 was the failure of the alliance system.
• the desire by the territories under Austria-Hungary Empire to become independent.
• competition over colonies by the great powers especially in Africa.

- An Alliance: a friendship between countries/ among countries to help each other militarily.

The Main Alliances (in WW1)

• Austria-Hungary: Germany, Italy...
• Serbia: Russia, France, Britain..

THE GERMAN KING (THE KAISER)

• German kings are called KAISERS.
• The leader of Germany was Kaiser Wilhelm II (King William II).
• Kaiser Wilhelm II had an ambition to rule the world.

SUMMARY

The First World War was fought from 1914 to 1918. It was fought between the Allied Powers i.e. Britain, France, Russia, USA and their Allies against the Central Powers i.e. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy and their Allies. In 1918, Germany and Her Allies (Central Powers) were defeated. An agreement to end the war was signed on 11 November 1918. This was an ARMISTICE (agreement to end war). It was signed between Germany and the Allied Powers. With the Armistice, Germany accepted that She had been defeated and negotiations for a formal peace treaty started in Paris, in January 1919, at the Palace of Versailles, in the Hall of Mirrors.

THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE AND THE VERSAILLES TREATY (1919)

• The Paris Peace Conference took more than 6 months to negotiate a peace treaty, the Versailles Peace Treaty. 
• 32 countries or states were attending/attended the Paris Peace Conference. 

The Following is some educational information on the German History: The Weimar Republic