01 / 21

Conducting
World War I

Explore how the Great War was fought: from trench warfare and new technologies to total war and the global mobilization that reshaped the modern world.

AP World History

The Spark That Ignited a World War

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip. This single event triggered a chain reaction of alliance obligations, mobilization orders, and ultimatums that plunged Europe into war within weeks.

Two Alliance Blocs at War

Allied Powers France Britain Russia (until 1917) USA (from 1917) Central Powers Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria vs

Key Terms: The Language of WWI

Total War
A conflict in which nations mobilize all available resources: military, economic, industrial, and civilian: for the war effort.
Attrition
A strategy of wearing down the enemy through continuous losses in personnel and material until they can no longer fight.
Stalemate
A situation where neither side can gain a decisive advantage, leading to prolonged, deadlocked fighting.

The Western Front: Trench Warfare

Allied Trenches No Man's Land Barbed Wire Central Powers Trenches Cross-Section of the Western Front ~700 km of trenches from the English Channel to Switzerland

By late 1914, the Western Front had become a continuous line of trenches stretching from Belgium to Switzerland. Soldiers endured mud, disease, rats, and constant bombardment. Offensives gained mere meters at the cost of thousands of lives.

New Technologies of Destruction

Machine Guns
Could fire 400-600 rounds per minute, making infantry charges across open ground suicidal.
Poison Gas
Chlorine and mustard gas caused blindness, burns, and suffocation: a terrifying new weapon first used at Ypres in 1915.
Tanks
Introduced by Britain in 1916 at the Somme. Designed to break through trench lines and barbed wire.
Aircraft
Initially for reconnaissance, then aerial combat and bombing. Air warfare was born during WWI.

The Concept of Total War

World War I was the first truly total war: a conflict that demanded the complete mobilization of a nation's resources. The distinction between the home front and the battle front blurred as entire societies were reorganized for war.

1
Economic mobilization: Governments took control of factories, set production quotas, and rationed food and materials.
2
Propaganda: Mass media was used to maintain public support, demonize enemies, and encourage enlistment.
3
Women in the workforce: With men at the front, women filled factory, transport, and agricultural roles at unprecedented scale.
4
Conscription: Most belligerent nations imposed mandatory military service, drafting millions.

Western vs Eastern Front

Western Front Eastern Front
Geography Narrow, dense terrain Vast open plains
Warfare Style Static trench warfare More mobile, sweeping advances
Key Belligerents France, Britain vs Germany Russia vs Germany, Austria-Hungary
Outcome Stalemate until 1918 Russia withdrew (1917 Revolution)
Casualties ~5 million killed ~3.5 million killed

Key Turning Points

1914
Battle of the Marne
Allied forces halt Germany's advance on Paris, ending the Schlieffen Plan and beginning trench warfare.
1915
Gallipoli Campaign
Failed Allied attempt to open a new front against the Ottoman Empire. Devastating losses for ANZAC forces.
1916
Battles of Verdun and the Somme
Among the bloodiest battles in history. Over 1.5 million casualties combined with minimal territorial change.
1917
Russian Revolution and US Entry
Russia's revolution led to withdrawal; the US joined the Allies, shifting the balance of power.
1918
Armistice
Germany signed the armistice on November 11, ending the war after the failure of its Spring Offensive.

How to Analyze WWI on the AP Exam

1
Identify the causes: Distinguish between long-term causes (M.A.I.N.) and the immediate trigger (assassination).
2
Describe the conduct: Explain how the war was fought: trench warfare, technology, total war, and multiple fronts.
3
Analyze the global scope: Note the involvement of colonial troops, non-European theaters (Africa, Middle East, Asia), and economic warfare.
4
Evaluate consequences: Connect the war's conduct to its outcomes: collapse of empires, Treaty of Versailles, and seeds of WWII.
5
Use evidence: Cite specific battles, technologies, policies, or statistics to support your arguments.

Beyond Europe: The Global War

Though centered in Europe, WWI was fought on every inhabited continent. Colonial empires drew millions of soldiers and laborers from Africa, Asia, and the Pacific into the conflict.

Africa
German colonies in East and West Africa were contested. Over 1 million Africans served as soldiers or carriers.
Middle East
The Ottoman front included Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and the Arab Revolt. Britain made conflicting promises to Arabs and Zionists.
Asia-Pacific
Japan seized German territories in China and the Pacific. India contributed 1.3 million troops to the British war effort.

Naval Warfare and the Economic War

British Blockade
The Royal Navy blockaded German ports, cutting off food and raw materials. By 1918, over 400,000 German civilians had died from starvation and disease.
U-Boat Warfare
Germany responded with unrestricted submarine warfare, sinking merchant and passenger ships. The sinking of the Lusitania (1915) and the Zimmermann Telegram helped draw the US into war.

The United States Enters the War

The US declared war on Germany in April 1917 after years of neutrality. Two key provocations pushed America into the conflict:

1
Unrestricted submarine warfare: Germany resumed sinking all ships in the war zone, including American vessels.
2
The Zimmermann Telegram: A secret German proposal to Mexico promising US territory in exchange for an alliance against America.

The Home Front: Society Transformed

Women's Roles
Women entered factories, drove ambulances, and ran farms. This contributed to women's suffrage movements gaining momentum after the war.
Propaganda
Governments used posters, films, and censorship to maintain morale, encourage enlistment, and suppress dissent.
Dissent and Control
Anti-war movements were suppressed. Governments expanded surveillance, censorship, and emergency powers over civilian life.

Common Mistakes on WWI Questions

✕ Oversimplifying Causes
Saying "the assassination caused WWI" ignores the deeper structural causes: militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism.
✕ Ignoring Non-European Fronts
AP exams test global awareness. The Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific theaters were critical parts of the conflict.
✕ Confusing the Two Fronts
The Western Front was a static trench war; the Eastern Front was more mobile. Mixing them up loses key analytical points.
✕ Forgetting the Home Front
Total war means the home front matters. Women's labor, propaganda, economic mobilization, and social change are testable topics.

Summary: How WWI Was Conducted

Dimension Key Features Historical Significance
Military Strategy Trench warfare, attrition, stalemate Demonstrated limits of 19th-century tactics
Technology Machine guns, gas, tanks, aircraft Industrialized killing on unprecedented scale
Total War Mobilization of economies and civilians Expanded state power; changed gender roles
Global Scope Colonial troops, multiple theaters Fueled anti-colonial movements after the war
Naval and Economic Blockades, submarine warfare Proved economic warfare could be decisive

Question 1 of 5

Which factor most directly explains why the Western Front became a prolonged stalemate?

Question 2 of 5

The concept of "total war" during WWI is best characterized by which of the following?

Question 3 of 5

Which two events in 1917 most significantly altered the course of World War I?

Question 4 of 5

How did the British naval blockade of Germany illustrate the concept of economic warfare?

Question 5 of 5

This passage best supports which of the following conclusions about WWI?