The Great War

This course will begin with the German-French struggle for hegemony during the Franco-Prussian War, focusing on its political and diplomatic aftermath, leading to a complex system of alliances. Next, we will investigate the increasing industrialization of the military with a special emphasis on the Great Naval Race. Rivalries in Africa and Asia will be explored as will the decaying Ottoman Empire. Next, we'll consider a series of crises between 1903 and 1914, which will eventually lead to the actual outbreak of the war. The conflict will follow a yearly progression, including other war fronts like the Eastern Front, the Russian Revolution, the Middle East, the War at Sea, and Africa. The Home Front, soldiers' personal experiences, original film clips, propaganda, and even poetry will make up the war years. Finally, the road to the end of combat in 1918, but the many small conflicts and the Versailles Settlement leaving so many unsettled issues that the next 20 years will be known as the 20-year truce.