1 International situation by the XX century.

After the Napoleonic wars in 1815 the most powerful countries

( England, France, Austria, Prussia, Russia) at the Vienna congress formed a system of continental security. The main idea-political balance- no country could be more powerful than the others. Almost all European monarchs signed the Holy Union.- they agreed to act together and discuss all problems at congresses – it was so-called

“ European Concert”. But they fought not only for peace, but against revolutionary movements: together they defeated revolutions in Spain and Italy.

After the revolutions of 1848 in Europe, formation of new states: Germany and Italy, some wars between the European countries , the balance was broken. New alliances began to be formed.

2. Situation on the Balkans

“ Gunpowder Barrel” for the world peace became the Balkans. There lived about 15 nationalities:

Slavs, Albanians, Greeks, Croatians , Macedonians, Serbs, Bulgarians and others. They belonged to different religions: Christianity, Islam. The Orthodox Serbs and Catholic Croatians have the same language, but different religions. Most of these countries were part of the Ottoman Empire, Croatians, Slovenians, Serbs- of Austro- Hungary. All countries fought for their independence. But after gaining independence from Ottoman Empire they began to fight against each other.

Many countries were involved into the Balkan wars.

*Character of the war-

3.Causes of the wwi

The First World War ( 1914-1918)

38 countries with the population of 1,5 billion people ( 87 %) of the world population took part in the WWI.

Main causes of the war :

1)

2)

3) contradictions between countries-

G reat Britain Germany

F rance Germany

R ussia Germany

R ussia Austro-Hungary

R ussia Italy

The USA-

*Formation of blocs- 1904-1907-Entente:

**1879-1882-

Pretext for the war- the assassination of arch-duke of Austro- Hungary Frantz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on the 28 of June,1914 by the Serbian nationalist.

4. Main events

The beginning of the war- Austro- Hungary declared war on Serbia in July, 1914. Then Germany entered the war, in August - Russia, very soon the war became the world war. All countries intended to finish the war in some weeks or months, but the war became very long. From September, 1914 at the Western Front there were no changes - the war became "trench war" there.

Russian offensive at the Eastern Front broke the German plan of " blitzkrieg war", but the Russian army was not successful. Only in summer, 1916, general Brusilov won at the Eastern Front.

*Other main battles-

September, 1914- on the river Marne

1916- Verdun slaughter

Autumn, 1916- at Somme

October, 1917- Caporetto battle

Other changes during the war: in April, 1915 Italy declared war on Austro-Hungary ,

In April, 1917 USA entered the war against Triple Alliance.

The end of the war- in November, 1918, Germany capitulated. The Triple Alliance lost.

2. Questions for test

a. International relations at the beginning of the XX century.

b. Formation of the military blocs

c. The beginning of the WWI

d. Main battles of the WWI

e. Results of the WWI

f. Consequences of the WWI for the international relations

Military blocs at the beginning of the WWI:

1. Entente, Berlin- Rome- Tokyo

2. Entente, Triple Alliance

C) Soviet bloc, American bloc

D) American bloc, Japanese bloc

Dates of the WWI:

A) 1910-1914

B) 1914-1918

C) 1916-1918

D) 1914-1917

Main causes of the WWI:

A) contradictions between USA and Japan

B) contradictions between the USSR and Germany

C) redivision of the world

D) war between Russia and Japan

Pretext of the WWI:

A) assassination of arch-duke Frantz- Ferdinand

B) assassination of Serbian king

C) assassination of Austro- Hungarian Emperor

D) attack on Poland

Position of the USA during the WWI:

A) it entered the war in 1917 against Triple Alliance

B) it was neutral

C) it declared war on Germany in 1914

D) it declared war on Japan in 1917

Countries of anti- German bloc before the WWI:

A) USA, Russia, Italy

B) Russia, France, Italy

C) Russia, France, Great Britain

D) USA, France, Great Britain

Glossary

Belligerent- воюющий	Cause-причина- себеп	Contradiction-противоречие- қарама-қайшылық
Bloc- блок- одақ	Entente- Антанта	Triple Alliance- Тройственный союз
Pretext- повод - сылтау	Trench war- окопная война	Offensive- наступление-шабуыл
Blitzkrieg war-молниеносная война

Reference

Mandatory

Новейшая история стран Европы и Америки, любое издание

American History, any edition

Recommended

Eric Goldstein. The First World War. Peace Settlement, p. 101-107