The Great War Begins

Taking Sides:
- Russian mobilization towards Austrian & German borders
Considered declaration of war by Germany
- Germany declared war on France
- Central Powers: Germany & Austria (later by Bulgaria & Ottoman Empire)
- Allies: Britain, France & Russia joined by Italy & Japan
- Belief that duration of the war would be short

Bloody Stalemate: The Western Front
- Schlieffen Plan: German strategy to quickly defeat France first
- First Battle of the Marne:
Allied counterattacks drove Germans back from Paris
German war on two fronts
- Trench warfare: due to modern firepower ("no man's land")
Trenches extended from English Channel to Switzerland
"Race to the Sea": flanking efforts failed
- Verdun: German offensive; The Somme: British offensive
(Resulted in at least a million casualties)