Causes of World War I

www.tomrichey.net
World War I had several causes, which are usually summed up by four "MAIN" causes (Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism). In this lecture, Tom Richey discusses each of the "MAIN" causes and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.
(01:23) Militarism - The Anglo-German Arms Race, H.M.S. Dreadnought
(06:27) Alliances - Bismarck's Alliance System, Triple Entente, Central Powers
(08:46) Imperialism - an international forum for national rivalries
(09:16) Nationalism - Serbian nationalism in the Austrian Empire
(13:10) Assassination - Some people add an "A" at the end for the assassination of Franz Ferdinand

[@shahimagesyt]

*WW1 but as a group project:* Germany: Does 99% of the work. Austria-Hungary: Has no idea what's going on the whole time. Bulgaria: Says he's going to help but he's not. Italy: Disappears at the very beginning and doesn't show up again til the very end.

[@neddevine7692]

probably not 99% but Germany does deserve a lot of the blame

[@SovereignStatesman]

bayspotter: Just take the US out of the equation, and WWI becomes a border-skirmish as BOTH sides realize they can't make a dime off of it.

[@SovereignStatesman]

Russia: will get involved, but only by foreign pressure, and at the cost of maintaining national order against Bolshevism.

[@drunkenhighlord3198]

You forgot the ottoman empire

[@zigoloantic3733]

Bulgaria did help a lot, Bulgarians killed 250.000 Serbian civilians. That could be a heroic success from your point of Ferdinand view.

[@LigadOss]

If history taught us one thing is that Italy is the worst ally you could possibly pick.

[@tomrichey]

LOL TRUE!

[@dougdobbs]

Hmm, I wonder what that says in light of Italy's recent moves against ISIS in Libya? :)

[@Fearofthemonster]

+MLW WLM who said it?

[@carlos1c3b]

Romania would challange them.

[@snewbie2837]

**Hetalia

[@katiejohnsen8775]

our teacher taught us an acronym: M- militarism A- alliances N- nationalism I- imperialism A- assassination of arch duke

[@warfoxrommel5172]

same

[@Eliegent]

imagine having to do this online doe

[@SovereignStatesman]

The same teacher who said that the USA is "one nation, indivisible"? Because BOTH statements are false. Europe maintained a balance of power for 1000 years; it was only Lincoln's takeover of the USA that tipped it over to steal Germany as the gateway of Europe.

[@andymusiya7280]

Grt

[@shanayasin448]

same!

[@aneeshsingh650]

About 14 hours before the test, and I finally understand what WWI started :)

[@RN-nw5cc]

Aneesh Singh omg same I have a test tomorrow and it’s the night before 😂

[@sarawan9916]

sameee

[@DIOOVERHEAVEN]

How was the test

[@adriancastillo6892]

I got a test tomorrow on this two 😂😂

[@hellohi7012]

I have approx. 2 hours

[@lmperiun]

Totally in love with your material, it became my main source of history... I come from Brazil you see, and our schools don't really focus a lot on history, and our teacher are below average, being able to learn history from you really is a privilege, keep up the good work Can I make a request? Could you please do a lecture on medieval Holy Roman Empire and their relationship with Byzantium, thanks ^^

[@tomrichey]

Such kind words! I have had a quite a few viewers from Brazil lately and am honored to be able to teach history to people in another country. Right now, I'm focused mostly on modern Europe but I plan to do more lectures on ancient and medieval history in the future. It will take me several years to get all of my lectures online but it will happen!

[@GusRudder12]

Tom Richey Machinima Plus brought me here. subbed :)

[@dkupke]

Just a note if you do any other videos on the topic in the future: Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was an advocate for dealing with the Slavic Nationalists by promoting equality between Slavs, Austrians, and Magyars. He was in Bosnia to observe army drills, but he decided to pay a visit to Sarajevo, the provincial capital, as a good will gesture in the hopes he could win over the city's Slavic populace.

[@douglasjimenez7152]

currently pursuing a Master's in Education to teach middle/high school history, definitely plan on making your videos available to my students as study resources. Would've loved to have had these as an AP student in high school!!

[@tomrichey]

A pleasure to be able to help a beginning teacher! Appreciate your willingness to support my work in your future classroom!

[@Tboy439]

So you plan on dumbing down your students even before you teach them? This video doesn't even come close to the truth.

[@goofyahhsenpai9577]

@@Tboy439 your ass hole must be jealous of your mouth because of all the shit that comes out of it

[@joshuaklein2859]

@@Tboy439what is the truth?

[@Tboy439]

@@joshuaklein2859 ...Do you still want to know the truth? It will get a little lengthy, but ley me know and I will get to it when I get time.

[@niranjan10]

Good lecture, but I had my headphones and at 3:53 I had my ears blast.

[@tomrichey]

G Niranjan Yeah, I should probably have some little warnings or something for people not to use headphones! haha

[@niranjan10]

:)

[@Runamoinen]

Wow, Tom. Even most Americans relinquished such prejudices about the Balkans by now. I was a 1-year-old kid when the Yugoslav war broke out and I'm 25 now. Like most of my generation I was brought up to treat everyone with respect and without prejudice, in spite of the war and media nationalism. I wouldn't dream of hurting anyone for the sake of politics and I'm sure an overwhelming majority of people here feel the same. Also, I'm afraid the mentioning of the Civil War in Yugoslavia in the 90's as a valid reason of the conflict that sparked WWI 80 years earlier is rather misguided (unless you take into consideration a jingoistic notion that the South East European nations are always at each other's throats, which would make the whole idea false in a historical perspective, since with the exception of the misguided Serbian-Bulgarian war of 1884 and the Romanian-Bulgarian conflict at the end of the Second Balkans War, these nations had not been in any sort of conflict with each other since the early XIV century). In fact the ones who had attained independence were in a coalition against the Ottoman Empire, and had friendly relations among each other. The integration of the cultural and national movements of the various Slavic nations, and stronger ties of the nations who had gained independence from Turkey with Western European nations like France (who were rivals of Austria), made Austria-Hungary insecure about losing its influence in the region (especially evident in the 1906-1908 Pig War (or Customs war) between Serbia and the Habsburg Monarchy) as well as its internal stability. The assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo was not completely unexpected, as there was a fear among European aristocracy of possible coups, especially after the much glossed over the assassination of the Serbian pro-Austrian King Alexander in 1903 and his replacement with the pro-Entente King Peter by the very same organization that killed the Austrian Archduke (the members of the organization were tried and executed by the Serbian authorities towards the end of WWI). After reading this, I expect all of you to take into consideration the complexity of the situation in WWI and stop with "the Balkans are a shithole and its people animals" jingoistic nonsense. It is both offensive and untrue. Even here in Serbia, where YOUR government did a significant amount of collateral damage to civilian buildings in 1999 (bridges with cars still on them, news agencies, the ministry of defense in Belgrade), similar to what you gasped at in the picture, all Americans are treated as welcome guests. I don't expect you to apologize for yourself or your nation, but please refrain from filling the heads of young Americans with fear and hatred, instead of actual knowledge. You're a teacher for goodness' sake!

[@tomrichey]

Thank you for this. I've been meaning to make a video with Charles Cather (we have been in touch) and clear up these comments, which were made in ignorance. I'll work on trying to put this project together over the holidays.

[@Runamoinen]

+Tom Richey Thank you for your understanding. I hope that through this kind of dialogue and mutual positive effort we can make this world better for everyone.

[@andysm1964]

I agree with you about the Balkans , been there ,and going in July.i found the people, all backgrounds, both pleasant and friendly, certainly helped this Brit out. I think in Tom`s defence , he was highlighting the tinderbox of different ethnic and imperial rivalries that have shaped events over the decades that led to events of the 1990s. .. at no time did he refer to them as animals, so that's very disingenuous, one cannot escape this has happened, to forget, risk that I may happen again. The are a lot of people from all nationalities and ethnic/religious backgrounds that are working to prevent this from happening. So, Tom, I know American`s can be cautious of their own shadows when travelling overseas,if you are reading this, please venture to this area it will give both you, and the locals confidence in building for change, for a brighter future. You see the difference but similarities of all the Balkan people.

[@btsstan1202]

H

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

My Dude.

[@yurif4n]

5 hours before my mid term and this is a perfect video for learning/reviewing the causes of WW1

[@BellatorVindicta]

I'm from Croatia and I can guarante 99.9% that you can visit Croatia! Nothing bad will happen you there. We are now tourist nation for the last 20 years and everyone is welcome. I know that you were joking but i want to adress this for people who take it seroiusly :)

[@madamehussein]

Bismark also made a non-aggression pact with Russia. After Willhelm II fired Bismark, this treaty wasn't renewed.

[@neddevine7692]

oof

[@Tboy439]

Bingo!!!.

[@isatoujobe7353]

Your lectures made lots of my exams and systematically increased my know;edge of European History. Thank you so much

[@tomrichey]

+isatou jobe Glad I could help!

[@deleme220]

7:59 So beautiful... Listen with headphones... I loved it...😉

[@anonymousFBninja]

tom- i don't write comments often. but i really want to take the time to do so. I'm taking european history in college this semester, as well as last semester. I watch your lectures either before or after i've read the text book to either prep me for internalizing what i'm about to read. or to fine tune my understanding what i've just read. you really do incredible work with how you explain not just the events, but the feelings of the times. Ii really appreciate your work, and i wanted to express that sentiment as well as my gratitude for sharing your knowledge in this forum and in the way that you do. keep up the great work!

[@tomrichey]

+J Six Thanks for the kind words! Glad I can help you, my friend.

[@cesarisam]

I laughed so hard through this entire lecture, loved it.

[@kaleighsavage3017]

I'm a college student and I use your videos just to keep me refreshed before quizzes and tests, entertaining to just chill and listen to. My text book is pretty annoying because it simplifies things as well as leaves out a bunch of the effects on the non-western world (thank you community college). I took AP World History back in high school and my teacher was in the same spirits as you, must be an AP thing. Wonderful! not monotonous at all. shout out from Olympia, Washington!

[@madamehussein]

Also, Arch duke Franz Ferdinand was actuallty quite popular in Bosnia. He wanted to rebrand the Austro-Hungarian empire as the Austro-Hungarian-Slavic empire, in order to further stability. Serbs were actually lynched in Sarajeco after the arch duke was killed. In addition, Franz was vehemently opposed to war with Russia. Austria-Hungarys chief of staff (Conrad von Hotzendorf) had urged the emperor to start war over 20 times in 1913 alone. Arch duke Franz Ferdinand was the only person to hold him back. Conclusion: In killing Franz Ferdinand, the black hand killed the only man in A-H who could give the slavs what they wanted, and the only man who could have prevented the war.

[@banana10928]

No one: Literally no one: Not even baby yoda: Tom: DREADNOUGHT

[@existentialexplorations4900]

Thank you Tom. A useful, informed and succinct account of the causes of WW1. I have subscribed and look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@d.s.ebersole9647]

Excellent!! Where were you when I was going to college? You would have been a remedy for my attention deficit.

[@Guisytoez._.]

you have a great way of making your videos interesting! I lowkey wish some of my teachers were like you😭

[@孙明亮-w8z]

Not sure if you're being serious or not, but Archduke Franz Ferdinand was in Sarajevo because it was suppose to be a holiday since June 28th was his wedding anniversary with Princess Sophie.

[@mayomayo1180]

Great videos..me and my friend are using these videos to cram in study for exams in college and learn more in 15 mins with your vids than in an entire year with my lecturer ..Thanks from Ireland

[@badatdota2811]

If Franz Ferdinand had survived it would be so much better......

[@JJ-pm4ob]

did you even watch the video? The war would have happened even if he survived.

[@stopreadingthisusername9528]

Ferdinand's assasination was only the spark everyone needed, even if his assassination never happened WWI was pretty inevitable either way.

[@neddevine7692]

@@JJ-pm4ob some other foolish thing in the Balkans

[@Tboy439]

@@stopreadingthisusername9528 ..You are correct.The war had been in the planning since 1815. The reason why it HAD to be Franz Ferdinand at this point is because he was diametrically opposed to ever going to war against Russia for any reason. And Russia was the main target.

[@lizandrasoave1289]

Very goog work! Among the several movies about this war, there is one that I like too much, called "De Mayerling à Sarajevo" or just "Sarajevo". Is a 1940 French movie, of the German director Max Ophüls. It tells the story of love between the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Duchess Sophie Chotek, and about their morganatic marriage, since they know each other until their murder by Gravilo Princip. All inside the context of pre war...

[@tomrichey]

Wow... You've seen movies from around the world! Regrettably, I haven't watched very many movies that aren't made here in America... but I should! I'm thankful that you've found my channel - great to have another informed viewer and commenter!

[@stefanradovanovic1893]

amm... dude :D am from Serbia... not cool by your side about the prejudice :)! The war in *91-95 here was the factor of all kind of element's but mostly by stupidity of leaders in those countries... :/ and... we do not like to kill each other " WTF. " ?! are you talking about ?! There are tension's still but come on...

[@hadis9109]

+Stefan Radovanovic and Prejudice wins again..!

[@rogervallecillo292]

Yes my friend this guy is poster boy for the old saying The pot calling the kettle black.

[@cameronaragon8853]

Can you please make a video on the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917, as well as the aftermath

[@aleksaobradovic3337]

Hey Richey, you are wrong about the Former Yugoslavian nations.. We don't want to kill each other. It is peaceful here now. You should come and see the situation before you say something, really

[@omarsaletovicprins9632]

Aleksa Obradovic Hvala.

[@sboengoma]

i really needed this thanks Tom

[@michaelvaughn1454]

This video is so understandable it's not so complicated like the other ones thanks Tom Richey😁

[@barbarawinkle1042]

Love your videos! Informative plus a great southern accented sense of humor. Thanks!

[@TiroeRicaricaWestern]

2:00 The Dreadnought! Great informative video, so funny that part abut the ship

[@JErMos9]

Thanks for the lectures and the live hangouts!

[@tomrichey]

My pleasure, man! Thanks for supporting my work!

[@ethanleblanc1161]

The main reason why Franz Ferdinand went to Sarajevo in the first place was mainly to get away from the military politics he was so heavily in charge of and he wanted to essentially take a vacation with his wife, which was usually not condoned at all during their marriage. Franz Ferdinand rarely could ever do much with Sophie unless it involved military matters. He sternly believed that he was respected enough in the Balkan peninsula to go to Bosnia in 1914. That's the reason why he went to Sarajevo.

[@mainaccount4948]

Rip Headphone users 3:47

[@andrewzhang3808]

Oh my god, I was listening and all of a sudden he shouts it, I got scared out of my soul

[@eliarroyo4508]

Big fan of your youtube channel. I am currently working on getting a bachelors in history.

[@tomrichey]

Thanks! Always glad to hear when my lectures are helpful at the college level - especially from people majoring in history.

[@ashleejowett6342]

thanks! I'm currently studding for my WW1 history test and this taught me a lot!

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Fun Fact: Arch Duke had a rudimentary bullet-proof vest that he'd wear for those sorts of occasions. He decided not to wear it that day. Also, sort of an over-simplification of the Italian switcherooni. Italy wanted what was best for Italy. It didn't like either side, and though it had a common lineage with Prussia, in terms of Nationalism (which would kinda come into more depth later...>.>) it was reallly salty over Austria holding lands that they considered part of Italy proper. That's contentious, but you can look at a map and see the chunk that was held by Austria at the time. Anyway, basically, the Allies offered them more and, ever the pragmatists, they took the better offer.

[@libbycirillo1875]

This is so helpful and your analogies are excellent.

[@alexanderpak9810]

You’re hilarious. Love your lectures!

[@artemisrafti3956]

You should have mentioned that Bismarck's alliance system consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia, known as the Three Emperor's League. This had the effect of diplomatically isolating a revanchist France. What made Bismarck's alliance system increasingly untenable were the geopolitical clashes in the Balkans between Austria-Hungary and Russia. Bismarck tried hard to keep his two allies from destroying his alliance system. When Kaiser Wilhelm II came to power, he undid Bismarck's alliance system by refusing to renegotiate an alliance treaty with Russia in which the Tsar was eager to implement, and emphasized relations with Austria-Hungary. This had the effect of insulting Russia. This gave France an opportunity to ally itself with a major power, Russia, after being diplomatically isolated from Bismarck's alliance system for two decades. France and Russia formed an alliance against Germany, and everything was history from there.

[@abdullahhamoud1206]

Love that video, first one to see mixing history with fun, specially when commenting about how nice Archduke Franz's car LOL

[@tomrichey]

Thanks! If you're gonna get shot, you might as well be in a cool car. Franz Ferdinand was the Tupac of his time!

[@shaikfuad9396]

shoutout from Singapore! Good job tom!

[@tomrichey]

SINGAPORE! A place I'd very much like to visit!

[@jamesobrien2845]

Tom Richey makes more intelligent videos than Matt Damon. Matt Damon can't compete. Case closed.

[@kinkgirl88]

James OBrien omg! He does look like Matt Damon! Ha

[@oswaldojara92]

Hallo Tom am Os'wald Ojara, a Ugandan. I really love your lectures. I should be very greatful if I will find where you concentrated on the causes of World War 2.

[@Jojo-sz7hb]

Hi Sir! Great stuff, all your videos are helping me through my A-levels. May I ask where the other further videos are for WW1? Anyways have a great day and keep doing these videos :)

[@forgoodtalk2648]

to what extent was alliance system responsible for the out break of world war 1?

[@Sp4wn82]

Oh my.. that's a question no to be answered with some short or quick words. That alliances, to be more precise those of Russia and France (and Britain because of the invasion of Belgium) was not in itself responsible for WWI. But, the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke triggered the furious response of Hapsburg. Though the Archduke was in fact rather unpopular, his murder was a good pretext..like the last straw that broke the camel's back. The Serbs were fermenting anti-Austrian propaganda, subversion and inciting unrest in that multinational empire for some time. Bosnia Herzegovina was annexed just 1-2 years before the assassination and surprise, Serbs lived in Bosnia and spread this nationalism among the population. So in Vienna the Hapsburgs were positively annoyed by Serbian ambitions in the Balcans. The Archduke lobbied for more lenient treatment of the new Slav subjects, so to say more concessions (if you have so many different nationalities in your empire you better see to keep them content. The more so if your new borders are on periphery with souvereign Slavic states like Serbia. Slavs on your side of the border and Slavs over there. Now the Serbs then were largely orthodox Serbs. Who is orthodox as well? The Russians! A kindred nation and a large one bound by religious ties. Peter I of Serbia has no hard time to appeal to Nicholas II of Russia for support. Yep, both are Slavs and Russia considers Serbs like southern brothers. After the assassination now Serbia receives an ultimatum by Vienna. That ultimatum is designed to be rejected and Vienna counts on just that. Declaration of War is written up simultaneously when the ultimatum is handed to Belgrade. If you don't do this and investigate the assassination blaa.. it's on. (btw: did Austria Hungary ever proof the nationality of the assassins, e.g. were the murderers of the Archduke really and doubtless Serbs? Princip was allegedly Serb but he could also have been a Bosnian and thus subject of Austria-Hungary) Kaiser Wilhelm approves this move and assures full support in case of war. But there's a problem.. the Serbs receive support of the Russian Empire.. sth. like.. you can count on us like on a stone wall. If Austria-Hungary goes to war with you we will help you. But in Vienna the war supporters still fantasize about restricting this conflict to a punishment raid. Go in, crush Serbian snakepit as source of unrest in the Balcans and that's it. Russian response is quick: if you step on Serbian soil, we will fully support our southern brethren a.k.a. we declare war on you. Russia is connected to France.. Germany promises to support Austria Hungary against Russia and will take on the Russians. But the French are allied with Russia as well. Britain is not at that time. No one on the Central Power side is really sure about, will Britain enter the war or not? If Germany keeps true to its commitment to take on Russia they will have war with France as well. That's hard. The worst thing ever to happen to a state located so central in Europe is at hand: a war on two fronts. To the West France and Russia in the East. Much text I know.. but here it comes.. France and Russia are allied. Russia was no more close to Germany. Bismarck always saw to it to keep Russia on the good side and Wilhelm II didn't care about that and alienated the Russian czar. So he lined up on the other side later. On the same side of the line where Germany's historic enemy stands: France. Ok in short.. Vienna wants war against Serbia. Serbia is allied to Russia, Russia with France. To support Austria-Hungary Germany will take on Russia. Russia is allied with France. So, Germany has to fight on two fronts. So there was no thing like local punishment march anymore as it had been in the last 100 years since defeating Napoleon. You attack this tiny little Serbia and their big brother Russia steps in. France is there too, waiting to take revenge for the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Germany had a master plan, the Schlieffen Plan which envisioned how to deal with another war against France but maybe this plan was designed for how to handle a war on two fronts. Russia meanwhile mobilizes. That's no clear declaration of war against Germany yet. It's directed against Austria-Hungary to protect Serbia. Germany demands Russia to stop mobilization and Russia says no. There's no choice, that will mean war anyway. So according to the Schlieffen Plan it requires a quick blow against France and the quickest least defended border is the Belgian-Franco border. Belgium was neutral though and this neutrality was agreed by Britain and Prussia then. If Germany marches through Belgium, Britain will not keep neutral as it contemplated before (no real gains to be expected but losses in economy, staying out of this conflict seems a better solution). Its thus not too far of the stretch to say: Germany triggered the Triple Entente (Allies) to form the way we know about in history books. Without the violation of Belgian neutrality and just being a fight against France and Russia Germany would have won WWI. Problem was: Germany overestimated Russian strength and underestimated British treaty compliance. Correction: they knew very well that Britain will be at war with Germany by violating Belgian neutrality. But they had no choice to fulfill the plan of quick dash against France from the north. Because on the Franco-German border there were massive fortifications. Its not that Germany couldn't handle that but there was a deadline of 960 hours or so... defeat France before Russia can fully mobilize.

[@mikebluediamond]

Hello Mr. Richey. Is there any chance that you could do a video about the building of Romania. It seems like you have great xp about Europe and Balkans and you know what you are talking about. If you could explain the beginning and even before that, all the way to 1918. We all know what happen after 1918 but is kinda blurry what happen before that. Looking forward to hear a positive response from you. Mike B

[@christinamorus4861]

OMG! I take serious exception to your categorization of the Balkans! (Both in the lead up to WWI and now!)

[@tomrichey]

If I had it to do over again, I’d do that part differently.

[@spantzzmcwang9964]

when do the Germans take away Alsace-Lorraine from the French? If you could give me an exact date please

[@Anonymousse49]

January 1871, the proclamation of the Second Reich in Versailles. It followed the 1870 Franco-Prussian war that France lost. The terms of peace were big reparations and also the Alsace-Lorraine. Peace :)

[@Afrikaans36]

Here's a question; what drew the bulgarians, also orthodox slavs, into the war on the side of austrians/hungarians and their former rulers, the ottomans?

[@bracken1000]

Militarism and imperialism are circumstances, not causes. The initiating causer of World War I was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip. The continuation of the war was due to poor decisions by politicians and Emperors.

[@benitapais7692]

The best tutorial section. Thanks a ton

[@Selam975]

What was the economic impact of world war 1 although the short and long term causes? It will be nice if you make a new video about these as well?

[@33GarrisonProductions]

Thanks. Information was helpful

[@syedssafiaquadri8861]

I am an Indian.You are superfragilisticexperodicious explanation.Can you please let me know some more additional causes in further videos.Kindly thanking you for explaining in such an awesome way.You are a 100 times better and better from my boring social teacher

[@drakon5076]

I have always the impression, that the americans have a very simplified view on the WWI and the reasons that leads to this war. Even though the german Kaiser had a fundamental lack of diplomatic skills, and was never able to fully grasp what he set in motion with his imprudent speeches, he was not fully to blame for the Daily Telegraph Affair. A british major had some privat talk with the Kaiser, wrote some passages down in form of a fictive interview and sold it to the Daily Telegraph. Bismarck's intention was not primarily peace, but political stability for the young german empire without serious external threats. An empire that should not be recognized as an aggressor by the other major powers, but instead should be seen as a part of the european balance of power.

[@SoKoLDS]

Your videos are awesome. They have uni level detail.

[@masqueradian2028]

This was extremely helpful, thank you!

[@fraudulent2315]

such great description. I needed this. :)

[@MeghansOutdoorAdventures]

Hey Tom! Shoutout from the UK! Your videos are great! Its a really nice review right before the exam! I have a video request... I was wondering if you could do a video focusing on the major events of both world wars and/or a video of what happens after WWII in Europe?

[@ashleylaflor22]

Tom can you answer a question for me please? I am a little confused about the total casualties of WW1. I am currently taking a college course, twentieth century Europe, and the information my professor provided said the total of casualties was at about 50 million. Is this a matter of opinion by historians or is there misinformation floating around in the field of WW1 history?

[@dougdobbs]

If I may... military casualties and total casualties are two different things, as I'm sure you know. Military casualties are easier to total up at the end of the war. You've got lists of who was involved and who isn't there anymore, plus graves registration, etc. With civilians you are on much slipperier ground. When a village is shelled, who was blown to bits, who fled to their cousins in America and who was left dead and identifiable are very difficult to sort out. So thus you end up with widely differing casualty figures, which are really estimates. Does that make sense?

[@tomrichey]

Doug Dobbs Thanks for shedding some light on this for my friend, Ashley Loren. Also, casualties includes wounded, missing, basically anyone who can't pick up a rifle once the battle is over. I think in the video the figure I used was only military deaths, so a total casualty figure of 50M would not surprise me.

[@ashleylaflor22]

Thank you for helping me with these questions Dong and Tom. Tom I LOVE your videos, am a history buff and I always refer to your videos for help or any insight on any era, and of course I enjoy your videos because they are also entertaining, once again thank you!

[@renebarendse2864]

The figures are as follows: Russia 2,5 million, Serbia: 600,000: Italy 400,000: USA: 75,000 (by comparison: Portugal: 35,000): Austria: 1,2 million: Britain: 800,000, Ottoman Empire: 1,2 million (Armenians not added in) France: 1.3 million,: Germany: 2 million

[@Science1314]

Why exactly did Italy leave the central powers?

[@ralphbernhard1757]

The so-called "Anglo-German Naval Arms Race" is very famous. Also a misnomer. Of course, it "started" much earlier, and the modern part (steam ships after the age of sails) was officially declared with London's "two power" standard. *It was in fact a "European Naval Arms Race" at the time.* As clearly defined by the British 2-Power Standard... en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naval_Defence_Act_1889 ...which doesn't mention countries. It just simply stated "build more ships that the next two countries with a margin of 10%", making it (at the time/in reality) a *European Naval Arms Race* which was "started" by GB. According to this own policy, GB was also trying to outbuild Russia and France, carrying out own naval programmes. *The "international" naval arms race of course, did not start in 1905/06* with "the Germans". It also did not end in 1919 with the scuttling of the High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow. That was only the "Anglo-German" part of it... *In reality, the naval arms race continued throughout WW1: only the rivals morphed as time passed.* Simplifying it down to "Anglo-German" is a little bit of name branding, just so the people know who "the enemy" is...

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

The absolute most significant thing you have left out. Franz F. was the war inhibiter of his country while the Aus-Hun govt. wanted war and have suggested it several times before his death. With the killing of FF the Aus-Hun govt. can now go to war with his killing as the "perfect" excuse. FF wanted to give all the peoples within Aus-Hun more control on a local level. The really weird thing is that the guy whom opposed war was seen as the enemy. During the Yugoslav war it again were the Serbs who fucked everything up.

[@anertia]

That famous painting of the Sarajevo incident is inaccurate, the actual story is much more interesting: They tried to kill Franz with a bomb, but it hit someone else instead. The Archdude later visited that person in the hospital and there he was shot.

[@dachoist]

Ex Yugoslavia is as peaceful as it gets. That thing about us liking to kill each other is pure fiction. We lived together for thousands of years and really had only one war in the whole of history. How many times have British and French waged war? Yet no one is afraid of Calais even though there had been countless wars. And we do speak the same language and have similar cultures. The war was unfortunate and bloody, there are bad apples everywhere and sometimes evil wins. But this meme that Balkan peoples hate and want to kill each other is stupid and infuriating. Hope you have a good day.

[@airapapa1940]

Typical American egocentrism. Insufferable really

[@jpLatterDaySaint]

Are there any videos on the course of WWI? WWII?

[@LaxGoalieWestPoint]

I laughed way too hard at 7:58

[@markanaahmed8145]

i thank you alot because the way you use is helpfull

[@tetsu4106]

What were the consequences?

[@marilenatoader3190]

Franz Ferdinand was advised not to go but he went anyway because he was defiant towards the emperor and the throne he was going to inherit, he had a different vision of the future of the empire and he wanted to prove himself👑

[@Bobababy99]

Hey Richey, can you talk about imperialism involving European Countries and Asian colonies ? I have a test on that next week.

[@tomrichey]

***** I doubt I'll have that done by next week. A formal Imperialism lecture will probably have to wait until next year.

[@naveenbabu6918]

that is a good explaination you told

[@Cotswolds1913]

One thing about the manufacturing numbers, the British Empire in total would be well over 21% of world manufacturing, and the largest economy in the world in terms of GDP.

[@correiavr]

I enjoyed a bunch of your previous videos, but that "Yugoslavia" explanation was pretty "american-biased" and uninformed sadly... For a region that has been so exploited over the past few centuries by so many different entities, i would say the Balkans are doing just fine these days, and if you truly are afraid of going there, then you probably had little bit too much of that sweet US propaganda that Clinton fed you guys over there in the 90's. Keep in mind that I'm not from the Balkans, and my opinion is in no way biased by "nationalist" feelings of any kind. I simply have spent enough time in the Balkans recently, to know its an amazing place to go to, it has amazing food, amazing landscapes, and the people are warm and very welcoming. And yes, the former "Yugoslav" countries are in peace with each other, and there is a pretty good feeling of safety in all of them.

[@tomrichey]

Yes, this has been brought to my attention a number of times. Trying to set up a time to get Charles Cather on my channel.

[@correiavr]

+Tom Richey Dont take my comment as an offense Mr. Richey, because that was not my intention in any way. Its just tiresome to constantly see people that think former-Yoguslav countries are fond to killing each other and to violence, which is not true at all. And if there are still today, some bad feelings between them, its due mostly to foreign interventions, some of them from the USA. After all, the reason Yugoslavia ended as it did in the 90's, and the reason all these nationalist feelings exist there today, is partially due to US intervention. There are many sources out there that explain the fall of Yugoslavia and the role the US had in it...

[@audreymchugh3589]

Ricardo Correia a

[@oussematrabelsi9429]

then you probably had little bit too much of that sweet US propaganda that Clinton fed you guys over there in the 90' lol trust me most Americans forgot about that.

[@Evangeline-Liauw]

Thank you so so SO much! Any possibility you could do a video on World War II and the Cold War?

[@maxpushkin7]

Not going to lie, but I watched a few baseball brawls after this.

[@arsumbris6392]

State the cause of WWI as briefly and accurately as possible: England's European policy since Napoleon was to prevent the rise of a competitor European industrial hegemony that centralized Europe. Germany became England's primary industrial competitor. This motive to eliminate Germany persisted until the end of WWII. From this perspective, the two wars can be considered one 30-years-war punctuated with a brief cease-fire and re-armament phase in the middle.

[@mastodonjack7908]

i wish i had a teacher like you

[@nightmarecho]

Nice one! Greetings from Bulgaria

[@standupcomedy2713]

Sir explain about impact of congressof vuenna

[@PetroniusArbiter2]

I'm almost shocked that you said the Archduke's assassins "basically caused World War I." They only provided a convenient excuse for Austria-Hungary to do what they really wanted to, which was to attack Serbia. How to do that? Send Serbia an ultimatum that was completely unacceptable, and do it quickly, underhandedly, and covertly, before the Germans had a chance to change their minds. Ultimate objective, add Serbia to Austria-Hungary's collection of subject states. If the Archduke hadn't been shot, odds are good Austria would have simply found some other excuse. ...So in that broader sense, imperialism was a much more important factor than you're crediting. Austria wasn't interested in acquiring territories in Africa and East Asia, but for centuries it had been mad, mad, mad about picking up pieces of the declining Ottoman Empire. How the Turks got suckered into allying with them is completely beyond me.

[@andysm1964]

very well said, pretext for war, not an excuse.. it would have happen anyway..even at that stage, the British ,& empire , were in two minds whether to honour the Triple entent..get out of jail card,Serbia was not covered by the agree , only Russia and France.. Britain, pilled in when honouring their treaty with Belgium, after the German`s implemented the Von Schliefann plan by going throw Belgium to attack, France.

[@aaronadame1694]

Hello Tom! I really enjoy all of your videos. I'm currently studying for the upcoming AP Euro exam. I was wondering if you had any videos on imperialism? We're covering that topic in our class and I was trying to find one of you videos on that subject, but to no avail.

[@GivzzProductions]

this helped a lot thank you!

[@adityanjsg99]

You are so good....!

[@hazevilleflowers5477]

You are amazing sir😄👍

[@buckyryan2804]

thanks for the video

[@twisted_fo0l]

one thing bismark did wrong, he created two powers that are roughly the same size. he should have aimed for three. if one attacks two, three helps two. if two attacks one, three helps one. ala 1984

[@sasaskric]

the cause of the war is a little deeper than what you said in this 16:43 minute

[@tomrichey]

I had no intention of implying that the Serbs started the war. Through the course of this lecture, I emphasized the situation in Europe and the manifold rivalries that put Europe on the brink of war just waiting for the right provocation. While the assassination may have spurred things, we don't think that the Serbs "started the war," so to speak.

[@ga43ga54]

can you please do a video on the freedom struggle for Indian Independence

[@priyalakhanpal6367]

Thankyou so much for making this video

[@527Kenny]

In memory of all those that sacrificed so much without ever knowing the truth. The German Austrian Hungarians needed to build their railway through Serbia to access the Ottoman Oil fields. Britain, France and Russia needed to stop them. The failure of the Germans to break through at Gallipoli and the fall of Mosel in Nov 1918, meant it was all over.

[@jerneje]

ex-yugoslavian streets are much safer then US streets these days :p

[@tomrichey]

priiix Given the crime rate in some US cities, that very well could be the case!

[@si4632]

🤣🤣🤣

[@randyking3057]

Good stuff.

[@tomrichey]

Thanks! Lots of videos on this topic on KZbin so I hope this is able to separate itself from the pack - comments and likes help!

[@babikerhussein6536]

am from sudan..please am looking for informations about the political system of the minoans..am writing a book about the western civilization and how it migrated north-west in straight line from crete to sparta to athens to rome to paris to london and then to the furthest point north-west of the world to the U S

[@user-bv8lx7ny6f]

Italy : hey allies look its a shooting star Allies : what... where (looks up at sky) Italy stab stab stab

[@taalvandekoran3534]

Amazinggggg! Greatings from Amsterdam

[@tomrichey]

Goedemiddag!

[@taalvandekoran3534]

Hahaha! @@tomrichey

[@deadmeme3338]

My lazy euro teacher has the same slides as you. I got participation points for mentioning "canons" THANKS