WORLD WAR I

BE READY TO EXPERIENCE WWI

CONTENTS

1. A few words...

2. WWI Interactive timeline 1 and interactive timeline 2

3. WWI breakout part 1

4. WWI breakout part 2

5. WWI breakout part 3

6. The peace

7. The consequences

8- Kahoot!

The World on the Brink of the Abyss: The Beginning of the Great War

Imagine for a moment a golden hall, filled with maps and tobacco smoke, where the most powerful men in the world whisper and shout in veiled voices. It is 1914, and Europe—a proud and radiant continent—resembles a house of cards, swaying under the weight of invisible tensions. A continent filled with secret alliances, centuries-old rivalries, and dreams of glory. But like a summer sky concealing a storm, no one wants to imagine what is about to be unleashed.

At the heart of this drama lies Sarajevo, a city in the Balkans, as distant to some as the horizon itself. There, a young Serbian nationalist, Gavrilo Princip, believes he has a mission: to strike at the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which he sees as an oppressor. On June 28, amid the narrow and bustling streets, he approaches the open car carrying Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie. Two shots pierce the air. Two lives come to an end. And though the world keeps spinning in that moment, the echoes of those bullets will soon resonate in every corner of the planet.

The days that follow unfold like a slow-motion domino effect. Austria-Hungary accuses Serbia of conspiring in the assassination. Serbia denies it, but the empire's fury cannot be calmed. In an attempt to assert its strength, Austria sends an ultimatum to Serbia—a list of demands so harsh that accepting them all would be humiliating. Serbia concedes to almost everything, but it is not enough. Austria declares war.

But this is not merely a conflict between two small nations. Alliances begin to activate, like gears in a vast machine. Russia, Serbia’s protector, starts mobilizing its troops. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, pledges unconditional support. France, allied with Russia, also prepares for war. And then there is Britain, watching, waiting. Should it intervene? Should it stay out? Meanwhile, fear and adrenaline course through Europe.

Then, Germany—exuding a confidence bordering on arrogance—hatches a plan. If war is inevitable, it is better to strike first. Its strategy, the Schlieffen Plan, calls for a swift attack on France through Belgium, a small neutral country. But Belgium does not yield easily. When German troops cross the border on August 4, Britain enters the war to defend Belgian neutrality. Now, there is no turning back.

By late October 1914, the map of Europe is ablaze. On the Western Front, French, British, and German soldiers clash in epic battles that devastate the countryside. In the East, Russia advances, but struggles. The war, which many believed would be over by Christmas, becomes a bottomless pit of horror and suffering. Meanwhile, ordinary people—farmers, workers, students—are dragged into the conflict, leaving behind their lives and dreams.

Look around you. They were just like you. Young people with ambitions, shared laughter, and hopes for a bright future. They could not imagine that the world they knew, full of progress and promise, would be forever changed in those fateful days of 1914. And what about us? What can we learn from their history? How can we avoid the mistakes of those who believed conflict was the only way forward?

The fate of millions was decided in those frantic months—by choices made out of fear, pride, or sheer misunderstanding. Remember this: the past always has something to teach us, if we are willing to listen. And you? What would you have done if you were in that golden hall, facing those maps, knowing that the future of the world was in your hands?

1. INTERACTIVE TIMELINE 1

INTERACTIVE TIMELINE 2

2. WWI: THE BREAKOUT PART 1

s tries to remember how everything came to be...

this information shouldn' go unnoticed. Read his recolection carefully, and then compile it in an "event organizer"

1914 - The Beginning of the Great War

On June 28, 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife in Sarajevo triggered a series of events that led to the outbreak of World War I. Initially, the event went almost unnoticed, but it soon became the spark for a global conflict. Long-standing tensions among Europe’s great powers, fueled by colonial, economic, and military rivalries, found an outlet in this incident.

Europe was divided into two main blocs: the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) and the Triple Entente (France, Russia, and Britain). For years, diplomatic efforts had managed to defuse tensions, but the Sarajevo assassination disrupted the fragile balance. Austria-Hungary blamed Serbia for the attack and issued a harsh ultimatum, which Serbia partially rejected. On July 28, 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Russia, allied with Serbia and a defender of Slavic nations in the Balkans, mobilized its troops against Austria-Hungary. Germany, allied with Austria-Hungary, perceived Russian mobilization as a direct threat and declared war on Russia on August 1, 1914, and on France, Russia’s ally, on August 3. Germany’s military strategy, known as the Schlieffen Plan, aimed to quickly defeat France by invading through neutral Belgium. This violation of Belgian neutrality prompted Britain, Belgium’s guarantor, to declare war on Germany on August 4.

The Outbreak of War

Within weeks, Europe’s major powers were at war. The scale of mobilization was massive: over 10 million men were called to arms in the early months. Any hope of a quick war was soon dashed. Initial battles, such as the Battle of the Frontiers, resulted in enormous casualties and revealed the grim reality of a prolonged and costly conflict.

Germany’s invasion of Belgium encountered unexpected resistance, delaying its advance towards France. Despite this, German forces reached the outskirts of Paris in early September. However, in the Battle of the Marne (September 6–13), Franco-British forces halted the German advance, marking the beginning of trench warfare. Both sides dug defensive lines stretching from the North Sea to Switzerland, creating a static and deadly Western Front.

The Eastern Front and the Balkans

While trench warfare dominated the Western Front, battles on the Eastern Front were more mobile. Germany achieved major victories over Russia at Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes, inflicting heavy casualties. In contrast, Austria-Hungary faced humiliating defeats against Russia and Serbia, highlighting its military weaknesses and dependence on Germany.

The Global Impact and New Players

In November 1914, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, opening new fronts in the Caucasus against Russia and in the Middle East against Britain. European colonial possessions also became battlegrounds. Japan, allied with Britain, declared war on Germany and seized German colonies in the Pacific. In Africa, both the Allies and Central Powers fought over colonial territories.

Life at the Front and at Home

The war brought suffering not only to the battlefield but also to civilian populations. Economies were transformed to support the war effort. In Germany, Britain’s naval blockade caused severe shortages of food and essential goods, affecting civilians deeply.

Conditions at the front were harrowing. Soldiers lived in trenches plagued by rats, mud, and constant artillery bombardment. Casualties were staggering; by the end of 1914, 350,000 French, 250,000 Germans, and hundreds of thousands from other nations had died.

The Legacy of 1914

By December 1914, it was evident that the war would be long and devastating. The initial offensive strategies of both sides had failed, and the conflict turned into a war of attrition, where victory would depend on endurance and resource mobilizatio

Now, you are ready to discover Goddamn this war! Go to the sidebar, click on on the picture to access the book.

2. WWI: THE BREAKOUT PART 2

Now, complete this graphic organizer. 

 

 Finally, to finish with the second part of the breakout, read the graphic novel's years 1915 and 1916

5. WWI: THE BREAKOUT PART 3

6. THE PEACE

THE BIG FOUR

LET'S COMMENT

7. THE CONSEQUENCES

Political Consequences:

• Treaty of Versailles: Imposed harsh penalties and territorial losses on Germany.
• Dissolution of Empires: Ended the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and German empires, leading to new nation-states.
• Emergence of Nation-States: Redrew maps and created new countries in Europe and the Middle East.

Economic Consequences:

• War Reparations & Instability: Massive financial burdens led to economic hardship in several nations.
• Global Depression: Economic disruptions and trade shifts contributed to long-term instability and the eventual Great Depression.

Social & Cultural Consequences:

• Loss of Life & Trauma: Unprecedented casualties affected societies, leading to widespread grief and a questioning of previous ideals.
• Shifts in Social Roles: The war accelerated changes in gender roles, including the advancement of women's rights, and spurred workers’ movements.

Geopolitical Consequences:

• Redrawn Boundaries: Many national borders were redrawn, often creating new conflicts.
• Rise of New Ideologies: Political discontent paved the way for ideologies such as fascism and communism, setting the stage for future conflicts.

Technological & Military Advances:

• Innovations in Warfare: New technologies, including chemical weapons and improved aircraft and communications, changed military strategies.

8. Kahoot!